SEMINOLE AND MICCOSUKEE ARTIFACT TRUNKS BRING HISTORY TO PALM BEACH COUNTY CLASSROOMS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (March 8, 2006) — The Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County have teamed up to launch the Traveling Artifacts for Education (TAFE) program, an innovative, fun way for fourth-grade students to learn about the Native American tribes of Florida. Co-sponsored by Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust and the Scaife Family Foundation, the interactive program allows teachers to enhance their students learning experience by bringing a trunk filled with authentic Native American artifacts into their classrooms.
The Seminole and Miccosukee Artifact Trunks are the first of three sets of trunks being offered through the TAFE program. They contain fascinating tools of daily life such as sweetgrass baskets, miniature wood corn grinders, patchwork clothing, photographs and books. Also inside the trunks are teachers’ guides with lesson plans, background information and activities that correlate with the objects inside the trunk. The program was initially designed for fourth-grade students, but now teachers from all over the county are excited to incorporate it into their classrooms. The trunks are also popular among elementary and middle school art teachers, who use them for after-school activities.
- The next set of trunks, which will contain artifacts from the Calusa, Tequesta and Jeaga tribes, will become available next fall.
"This is such a creative way for students to receive a hands-on learning experience without ever having to step foot outside the classroom,” said Harvey Oyer, chairman of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. “We are delighted to bring this innovative new approach to learning into our elementary school classrooms. Through the Traveling Artifacts for Education program, it is our hope that we will spark an interest in students to learn more about the extraordinary history of Palm Beach County.”
Trunks are available for all teachers to use for a two-week period of time, on a first-come first-serve basis, and can be reserved up to two weeks in advance. There is no charge for using the trunks. They can be picked up and returned at The Historical Society of Palm Beach County, 139 N. County Road, Ste. 36, Palm Beach.
For more information about theTraveling Artifacts for Education Program, or to reserve the Seminole and Miccosukee Traveling Trunk, contact the Historical Society of Palm Beach County’s Education Coordinator, Tony Marconi, at (561) 832-4164, ext. 104.
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