Environmental Education at Deer Flat

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Traveling Trunks

Enhance your science curriculum by borrowing a free traveling trunk. The trunks are designed to help you meet your student’s needs and bring the wonder of the natural world indoors. Each trunk contains a teacher’s manual with topic information and suggested activities, hands-on materials for the activities, as well as related children’s books and videos.

Download a Traveling Trunks flyer or browse through available trunks below.

Activities in these trunks are correlated with Idaho State Achievement Standards. Contact us at 467-9278 about borrowing one of the trunks. Borrowers must pick up and return the trunk from the refuge and may keep the trunk for 2 weeks.

Available Trunks

All About Owls (Grades 3-8)
Idaho is famous for its birds of prey. Explore the unique adaptations of nocturnal birds of prey and dissect owl pellets to learn what they eat. This trunk includes a mounted barn owl, displays to explain owl wings and eyes, a great-horned owl skull, books and a video about owls, as well as pellets for students to dissect. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Bird Beaks (Grades 4-10)
Birds use their beaks as tools for many tasks. Conduct hands-on experiments to explore why birds have different kinds of beaks. Includes eight experimental beak kits, a variety of bird skulls, and a book about birds and their beaks. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Bug Box (grades 1-6)
Insects are everywhere and are a great model for learning about lifecycles. Observing real insects, reading about them, and making crafts will help solidify your lessons about the bug world. This trunk contains many books, magnifying cubes, and lifecycle blocks for your classroom use.

Fire! (Grades 2-12)
Discover the fascinating science of fire. From fire ecology to fire safety, this trunk covers it all. Includes hands-on activities to help students better understand the basics of fire and the history behind it.

Fish! (Grades 1-7)
Explore the world of fish with hands-on activities. This lesson focuses on defining characteristics and habitat needs of fish, as well as the art of fish printing (Gyotaku). Includes preserved samples of local fish, a fish skeleton, rubber fish for fish printing, and coloring activities and songs. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Jaws & Levers (Grades 4-12)
Simple machines are everywhere, even in nature! Explore the physics of mammal jaws and the functions of different classes of levers, as well as the biology of wolves and coyotes. Includes different types of levers and tools, a coyote skull, display panels, and a book about wolves. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Refuge in a Box (Grades K-12)
Take a field trip to the refuge without getting on the bus! This trunk has touchable skins, skulls, and sign (e.g., bird nests) from a wide variety of Idaho wildlife. Includes a National Wildlife Refuge System video, descriptions of the touchable items in the trunk, and activities and books about discovering, conserving, and appreciating life on earth.

Scat and Tracks (Grades 3-9)
Budding biologists learn about animal sign while practicing critical thinking, comparing, memorizing, and observing skills. This lesson challenges students to use knowledge of an animal’s lifestyle and size to identify its scat and tracks. Includes artificial scat and tracks to use in the activities, as well as books about scat and tracks. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Shoots and Leaves (Grades 1-6)
Plants make the world go round! This trunk is full of activities to complement your lesson about plants. Includes papermaking supplies; books to read aloud; seed, bark, and leaf identification games; craft ideas; and a video. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Suitcase for Survival (Grades 3-12)
Take a closer look at species you wouldn't normally think about. From elephant ivory to giant python skins, this trunk examines endangered species, biodiversity, and the reasons why some species are in peril. Includes confiscated animal items from all over the world, as well as books and videos on these vulnerable species and the niches they inhabit. Also available as a Classroom Program.

Junior Duck Stamp Art Trunk (Grades K-12)
All the supplies and reference materials you need to have your students create their own entry into the Idaho Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. Use in conjunction with the Junior Duck Stamp Youth and Leader Guides for a complete curriculum!