nature discovery Traveling TRUNKS
 These
traveling educational trunks help make natural history
come alive for your classroom. Each trunk is filled with
interdisciplinary and scientifically-accurate educational
materials such as grizzly hides, wolf skulls, age-appropriate
lesson plans, posters, videos, audio cassettes, games and
puppets.
Trunks are sent statewide to Montana teachers,
reaching over 2,000 students annually. An example of one of
the Montana Natural History Center's trunks is the Songbird
Blues Trunk -- the centerpiece of an education program designed
to increase awareness of the great diversity of migratory
songbirds and the perils they face.
More than 88 trunks are currently circulating
in 17 states, Mexico, and Canada and reaching over 100,000
elementary school students each year. Teacher training workshops
and field programs augment the effectiveness of the trunks.
RENTING A
TRUNK
|
Contact us, (406)-327-0405, to
reserve a trunk. |
Trunks can be rented for two (2) weeks
for $25 or three (3) weeks for $35. This charge covers
costs incurred in the maintenance and processing of
these trunks. Schools are responsible for missing items
from trunks. Schools are responsible for shipping charges,
as well as insurance costs. The maximum shipping cost
is estimated at $40.
These trunks can also be picked
up at the Montana Natural History Center at the
new location of 120 Hickory Street Tuesday through
Friday from 10:00 - 5:00 pm. A limited
number of scholarships are available if you cannot
find funding to cover rental and/or shipping costs.
FUNDING
The Traveling Nature Discvoery Trunk
program is funded by program fees and supplemented
by grants and donations to keep costs low for participating
schools. Scholarships may be available for rural schools
to offset shipping costs.
We are delighted that Missoula's
Southgate Mall has generously underwritten our traveling
trunk program so that we may keep our rental rates low
and still offer a quality program for teachers, students,
and local youth groups who enjoy the trunks.
THANK YOU ...
GUIDE TO EDUCATIONAL TRUNKS IN
THE NORTHERN ROCKIES
Check out the Northern
Rockies Regional Educational Trunk Guide,
a guide to all of the trunks available in the Northern
Rockies region!
This fantastic resource was co-produced
in 2001 by the Montana Environmental Education Association
and the Museum of the Rockies. To add trunks or make
corrections please contact the Montana Natural History
Center. |
The Songbird Blues Trunk won the 1995
international award for public awareness education from the
Partners in Flight program.
AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE - Coming Soon!!!
BULL TROUT
Take a plunge into the world of
the Northwest's native Bull trout. With this multifacted
eductional trunk, experience the historical decline and
subsequent efforts to return our Bulls to their native habitats.
Includes actual bull trout eggs, sac fry and fry for observation.
Also includes resources, curriculum, videos, mark recapture
population estimation activities, and other exciting hands-on
materials.
Grade level: 3-8
CLARK FORK PEND OREILLE WATERSHED
This trunk offers a glimpse into our local watershed. Take
an imaginary journey using a hand-painted floor map and wooden
figurines to tell the stories of historical characters whose
lives were dependent on water. Curriculum and multimedia materials
addressing watershed issues are included. Themes covered are
the water cycle, water quality, bull trout, aquatic life,
and human impacts.
Grade level: 3-6
FIREWORKS
Hands-on learning about fire ecology. Themes include: wildfire
behavior, forest change, plant and animal adaptations to fire
and management of wildland fire. Included is a curriculum
guide, tree cookies, posters, games, puzzles, books, slide
show, videos, and everything you need to experiment with fire
(plus a fire extinguisher!). For more information, take a
look at the fire lab's website about the fireworks trunk.
Grade level: 1-9
* Cannot be shipped due to weight.
FOREST
STEWARDSHIP
Created by Swan Ecosystem Center in Condon, MT, this trunk is a powerful tool to get students outside using the tools of the trade in forest stewardship. Equipment, art, research materials, forester's tools, lesson plans, and more help support your forest and science curriculum. Trunk also requires visit with local forester. Call 327-0405 for more details.
Grade level: 5-12
FUNGAL JUNGAL
Developed by the Western Montana Mycological Association,
this mushroom educational trunk includes an amazing slide
show highlighting various species of mushrooms, collection
trunks for the classroom, identification posters, videos,
dried mushroom specimens, and a teacher's guide full of activities
and flashcards.
Grade level: 5-8
Learn more about fungus: www.fungaljungal.org
GEOSPATIAL
This toolbox contains data CDs, workbooks, and Global Positioning
Systems (GPS) units. It is accompanied by a curriculum guide
with over 25 lessons for introducing students to map reading
and interpretation, GPS mapping, and using GIS.
Two versions for Grade levels K-5, 6-12
GLACIAL LAKE MISSOULA
This trunk provides everything necessary to conduct a detailed investigation
of the dramatic ice-age floods that shaped our landscape over 12,000 years ago.
Full of lessons, maps, pictures, and extension activities your students won't
be able to get enough! A great geology source and an amazing natural history
detective story with evidence in our own backyard.
Grade level: 6-9
HEALTHY AIR, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Air pollution in the intermountain west is the focus of this unit, empowering
learners to protect our precious air quality. Hands-on activities integrate the
subject areas of science, mathematics, health, social studies, and language arts.
Includes an experiment trunk for creating miniature inversion layers, puppets,
posters, books and a curriculum guide. Grade level: 3-5
LIVING WITH WINTER
This trunk is designed to supplement ecological studies with
the opportunity to think about complex relationships and systems.
Concepts such as snow metamorphosis, animal and plant adaptations,
and energy transfer are examined through the inquiry-based,
experiential activities. The trunk includes posters, pelts,
books, videos, and games.
Grade level: 5-8
LOONS
This exciting hands-on trunk consisting
of a loon mount, costumes, puppets, books, posters, and more
was created by Donna Love, author of Loons and member of the
Montana Loon Society. Discover the legend of loons and there
remarkable lives with this engaging trunk.
Grade level: K-6
MINING
This trunk brings geology, Montana history and the story of mining for minerals into the classroom with hands-on learning. Themes include: rocks and minerals, formation of rocks, history of mining and equipment, how minerals are found, why mining continues and what mined minerals are used for. The kit includes curriculum guides, examples of rocks and minerals, posters, examples of mining equipment and tools, examples of products made from mined minerals and everything you need to learn about mining in Montana. Grade level: 3-8
MOUNT JUMBO
Two-to-four week thematic unit that involves students in a
hands-on exploration of the geologic and human history of
this Missoula landmark. Specific plant and animal relationships
are also covered. A slide show, books, transparencies, field
guides, posters, and biological specimens are all included.
Grade level: 3-5
NATIVE PLANTS
Learn the magic of Montana's native
plants! Created by the Montana Native Plant Society, this
trunk is rich in materials, field guides, curriculum, and
visual aids to identify plants native to this Rocky Mountain
palouse prairie region.
Grade level: 3-8
POND LIFE
This well-known Project WET resource has found a home at the
Montana Natural History Center. Everything you need to bring
the wonders of ponds and wetlands to your students, including
books, slides, posters, flannel board, games, viewing tank,
hands-on activities, and curriculum guides.
Grade level: preschool-4
PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEM
Lying in the shadow of the Rockies, the prairies comprise
nearly one third of the continent. Discover this unique ecosystem
and the many creatures that depend on the grassland habitats.
The trunk contains curriculum materials, books, videos, prints,
and hides.
Grade level: K-12
SONGBIRD BLUES
Explore the natural history of migratory birds with this award-winning
trunk! Learn about their life in Mexico and Montana, and find
out about the increasing problems they face in their summer
and winter homes. Help students appreciate songbirds and learn
how to help insure that their songs always herald spring in
the Rockies. The trunk includes a curriculum guide, specimens,
books, puppets, tapes, videos, and a felt storyboard.
Grade level: K-6
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Many of Montana's animals face the danger of extinction due
to habitat loss. Learn of the tenuous existence of these animals
and what steps are being taken to recover their populations.
Inside the trunk you will find hides, specimens, books, posters,
videos, plaster tracks, and a curriculum guide.
Three versions: #1 for Grades 2-6; #2 for
Grades 5-8; and, #3 for Grades 7-12
WETLANDS
Wetlands are an excellent tool for
teaching basic science concepts and a great introduction to
the outdoor classroom. Curriculum guide include.
Grade level: 3-6
WOLVES AND HUMANS
Absent from Montana for nearly 50 years, the gray wolf is
coming back, but not without controversy. Explore the natural
and cultural history of wolves and invite students to consider
how we can coexist with one of nature's wildest and most symbolic
animals. Included in the trunk is a curriculum guide, hides,
fur samples, skulls, plaster casts, videos, and cassette tapes.
Grade level: K-12
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