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Cultural Resources - History & Archaeology

Archaeology Trunk

Sign up to use our trunk introducing students to archaeology. This trunk contains artifacts, models, activities, videos and resource materials. The trunk focuses on regional prehistoric and historic archaeology projects.

Grade level: 1st-7th grade

Contact: Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0272, call (406) 994-5282

Cost: $35 per week, plus shipping costs onto the next school.

Bannack Homesteading

This trunk covers the early years at Bannack, Montana's First Territorial Capital. It includes artifacts, a Bannack video and activities designed to allow children the opportunity to participate in homesteading type activities.

Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 3-6

Contact: Dale Carlson, Bannack State Park, 4200 Bannack Road, Dillon, MT 59725, (406) 834-3413, bannack@smtel.com

Cost: Return postage via UPS or U.S. Mail

Bannack Mining

This trunk includes activities and artifacts depicting the gold mining history in Bannack. Hard rock and placer mining are covered.

Grade level: K-12, with a focus on 5-8

Contact: Dale Carlson, Bannack State Park, 4200 Bannack Road, Dillon, MT 59725, (406) 834-3413, bannack@smtel.com

Cost: Return postage via UPS or U.S. Mail

Basque Culture

Students explore Basque culture, past and present, with artifacts, clothing, a flag, cards, music, and curriculum packet. The trunk is available for a maximum of two weeks.

Grade level: 2-12

Contact: Jeni Stillwell, The High Desert Museum, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702, (541) 382-4754

Cost: $10.00 per week plus shipping; refundable deposit required

Dinosaur Trunk

Contains real dinosaur bones, casts and molds of bones, teeth and eggs along with the latest information about dinosaurs for use in the classroom. These materials, accompanied by resource books, a CD-ROM, videos and posters can be used to create activity stations in the classroom or support more teacher-directed activities.

Grade level: 1st-7th grade

Contact: Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0272; call (406) 994-5282

Cost: $35 per week, plus shipping costs onto the next school

Dinosaurs

This trunk provides activities and lesson plans pertaining to dinosaurs in Montana, especially those in the Glendive/Makoshika State Park area. Included are posters, bones, and videos. Geared toward younger students, although older students may be able to use some of the contents. Because the trunk is very large and may be costly to ship, it is recommended that a number of schools or organizations in an area arrange to share the trunk for a few weeks, transporting it from one place to another as needed.

Grade levels: K-12; geared mainly towards K-6

Contact: Ryan Sokoloski, Makoshika State Park, Box 1242, Glendive, MT 59330, (406) 377-6256, e-mail Ryan

Cost: Shipping

Frontier Cowboy Trunk

This trunk focuses on the American cowboy in the 1880s to 1890s. The cattle drive and cowboy life are explored through books, photos, clothing, and a curriculum. Available for two weeks at a time.

Grade level: 5-8, adaptable to K-12 and up

Contact: Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS, 266 Warren Lane, Deer Lodge, MT 59722; contact Education Specialist at (406) 846-2070, ext. 226

Cost: Return shipping or next destination

Japanese-American Culture

Contains special objects from traditional and contemporary Japanese-American culture. The trunk is available for a maximum of two weeks.

Grade level: 3-12

Contact: Jeni Stillwell, The High Desert Museum, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702, (541) 382-4754

Cost: $10.00 per week plus shipping; refundable deposit required

Lewis & Clark Expedition

This trunk covers the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as well as daily life on the journey. The trunk includes video, books, beaver skin, wool blanket, writing utensils, sewing utensils, trading items, and personal items such as clothing and eating utensils. A curriculum is included.

Grade level: K - 12

Contact: Lynette Kemp, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, PO Box 489, Whitehall, MT 59759; (406) 287-3541, kempcaverns@in-touch.com

Cost: Return postage.

A Life Cycle of Giving: Gift and Exchange Among the Plateau Indian Nations

Follows Indian life from birth to death, examining objects that were made and exchanged by Plateau people. Available for a maximum of two weeks.

Grade level: 3-12

Contact: Jeni Stillwell, The High Desert Museum, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702, (541) 382-4754

Cost: $10.00 per week plus shipping; refundable deposit required

Mining

This trunk brings geology, Montana history and the story of mining minerals into the classroom with hands-on learning with 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.

Grade level: 3-9

Contact: Lisa Bickell, Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 327-0405, youthcoordinator@montananaturalist.org

The Oregon Trail

This trunk is filled with objects and activities that represent different aspects of life on the Oregon Trail.
The concepts covered by the trunk include family life, journeying through a new land, and the hardships of the 2000-mile trek. The trunk is available for a maximum of two weeks.

Grade level: 2-12

Contact: Jeni Stillwell, The High Desert Museum, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702, (541) 382-4754

Cost: $10.00 per week plus shipping; refundable deposit required

Pictograph Cave Interpretive Trunk
(Life at Pictograph Cave)

Focuses on archaeology in Montana. Contains pictograph and artifact replicas, a video, slide show, and lesson plans.

Grade level: 4-12

Contact: Terri Walters, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings, MT 59105, (406) 247-2955 or Montana Historical Society, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620-1201, (406) 444-4789, e-mail Terri

Cost: Shipping