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Traveling Trunks

Teachers can take their students on a truly deep dive into Florida’s history in our digital interactive exhibit, Chassahowitzka Springs: Florida’s History Revealed and its accompanying Traveling Trunks. 

The Traveling Trunks are designed to enhance the digital exhibit and bring the hands-on, experiential learning of the museum into the classroom. Each trunk contains 9 interdisciplinary lesson plans built on the STEAM approach to learning that combines science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to explore the complexity of our state’s geology, ecology, and history.

Students will be able to examine both real and reproduction artifacts from the museum collection—from ancient fossils and limestone rock to human artifacts such as pottery and arrowheads. Activities include engineering challenges, measuring water quality samples, researching and designing a historical monument, and more. 

These challenging lessons are designed for a range from 3rd-8th grade but can easily be adapted and extended to other grades and age groups if needed. All the materials needed for the activities and lesson plans are provided in the trunks—perfect for the busy teacher!

Traveling Trunks are available to rent for free to any private or public-school teacher in Citrus County. If you are interested please call the museum at 352-341-6428 or email lindsey.gilbert@citrusbocc.com for more information.

How much does it cost to use a trunk?

There is no fee to use the trunk. Citrus County teachers receive the trunk free of charge!

How do I receive and return the trunk?

Trunks can be picked up/dropped off at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum at 1 Courthouse Square, Inverness, FL 34450, Monday – Friday from 8-5 p.m. Museum staff can also coordinate delivery and pick-up at your school free of charge. Call 352-341-6428 to arrange delivery services.

How long can I use the trunk?

The loan period for the trunk is three weeks. If multiple teachers at your school would like to use the trunk, we can extend the loan period based on your needs.

What are you return policies?

Teachers are responsible for returning all the items in the trunk, except one-time use materials which are indicated on the inventory list. When you receive your trunk, be sure to check the inventory and let the museum know about any items that are missing or damaged. When returning the trunk, make sure that all inventoried items are in the trunk.

What is in the traveling trunks?

The traveling trunks are divided into three sections, with a total of ten lesson plans to choose from. The trunks contain a binder with a hard copy of the teacher’s guide as well as a flash drive with electronic resources. All the materials needed for the lesson plans and activities are inside the trunk.

  1. Florida’s Natural History
    1. Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift
    2. Florida Fossils
    3. Human Migration
  2. People and the Springs Through Time
    1. Florida Archaeologist
    2. Hard Life on Yulee Sugar Plantation
    3. Design a Monument
  3. Restoring our Springs
    1. What is the Hydraulic Cycle?
    2. One in a Million
    3. Are We Paying Attention?
    4. Rising Tides Engineering Activity

A special thank you and acknowledgement to the Duke Energy Foundation that provided $5,000 for the creation and completion of the Traveling Trunks. The Duke Energy Foundation is committed to making strategic investments to build powerful communities where nature and wildlife thrive, students can excel and a talented workforce drives economic prosperity for all. The foundation has made a significant impact in our local community and K-12 education. We are excited for the opportunity to create these engaging and interactive STEAM activities and lesson plans for the educators in Citrus County with the help of  Duke Energy. 

Outreach Lessons
Museum staff members are also available to present outreach lessons to your classroom. We have covered topics from genealogy to citizenship and voting. We are happy to work with educators to create custom presentations on social studies, history, and humanities content. Please contact Lindsey Gilbert Hinnrichs at 352-341-6429 or email lindsey.gilbert@citrusbocc.com to discuss details and schedule a date.

Visit us soon!

Make plans to visit us online or in person. Call us for more information 352.341.6428.