EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Traveling Trunks
Traveling Trunks are available for loan for your class or group! Each portable trunk comes equipped with a three to five day unit plan and materials for hands-on learning! Each unit is based on ability and learning style groups to meet the needs of today's diverse classrooms.
Bats
Students search ability-level materials to answer questions about the behaviors, habitats, and roles of bats. Complete with preserved bats, puppets, and activities, this trunk will surely drive your students batty!
Birds
"Birds of a feather flock together." After this unit, your students will be able to tell you why. Classification, habitat specificity, and character traits are the focal points of this trunk. Students will test beak shape and function, differentiate among "real" bird body parts, and learn to classify groups of birds. An anchor activity is included to ensure that all students are engaged at all times. You shouldn't have trouble keeping all of your ducks in a row!
Populations
Is your school getting crowded? Are there more neighbors nearby than before? When will population growth slow down? These are questions to investigate with this trunk. Students will be able to explain how fast human population is growing, what factors keep populations in check, and what our future may hold.
Mammals
This trunk includes an interactive game of "Natural History Jeopardy" to help students learn about mammals, endangered species, animal rehabilitation, and invasive species. Furs,skulls, and games are also available in this trunk!
Habitats
Why are wetlands important? Students will answer this question as they investigate the characteristics of habitats. They will learn that there is more to a habitat than what they see and discover how humans affect the habitats of organisms in negative and positive ways. An optional activity is to protect a wild habitat near your school.
Fish
Show your students a fish and they will be hooked for a moment; teach them with this fish unit and they will be hooked on fish for life! This trunk is designed to teach your students how to identify characteristics of fish. It shows how fish relate to their environments and explores the niches fish assume in those environ-ments. Students will play "Fishy Bingo" as an assessment tool or as a review.
Ohio & Erie Canal History
How did Canal Fulton get its name? Take a step back in time to the early 1800s. Students will be able to define the era that brought great cultural and economic change to the Midwest. Students will use the "time capsule" containing props and reference materials to create learning style appropriate presentations.
Fossils
Break out of the stone age and use our fossil trunk to teach your students about life and land as they once were. Did you know that Ohio once was covered by a shallow sea? A set of guided notes, examples, and activities for creating fossils will ensure that your students are not left in the dust.
Insects
Insects are all around us and impact our daily lives in many ways. Students will learn the characteristics of the many different types of insects. They will explore the life cycle of Ohio's beautiful butterflies. Basic resources to plan a butterfly garden to attrict these visitors to the school site are also provided.
Plants
This trunk begins with an investigation of the diversity found within the plant kingdom. Students will learn about the special characteristics of plant structure and life cycles. The focus then turns to our largest plants and trees. Trees are important for the environment and economy. While studying trees, students will identify some of the more common trees found locally.