"ANCIENT PEOPLE OF SOUTH FLORIDA" TRUNKS BRING HISTORY TO PALM BEACH COUNTY CLASSROOMS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 14, 2006) - The Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County have recently added a new trunk to the Traveling Educational Trunk program, an innovative, fun way for fourth-grade students to learn about the early Native American tribes of South Florida. Sponsored by Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust, the interactive program allows teachers to enhance the learning experience for their students by bringing trunks filled with reproduction Native American artifacts into their classrooms.
The new Ancient People of South Florida trunk contains exciting artifacts and information about South Florida's earliest inhabitants, the Calusa, Tequesta, and Jeaga Indians. Through photographs, prints by Florida artist Theodore Morris, reproduction artifacts, maps and books, students will have the opportunity to explore how these tribes lived prior to and just after the arrival of Europeans.
Last school year, over 1,000 students in Palm Beach County used the Seminole and Miccosukee trunks in their classrooms, the first trunks offered through the program. The Seminole and Miccosukee trunk contains photographs, books, and fascinating tools of daily life such as sweetgrass baskets, miniature wood corn grinders and patchwork clothing.
The trunks include teachers' guides with lesson plans, background information and activities that correlate with the objects inside the trunk.
"This is a powerful, memorable 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. We believe this will spark interest among students to learn more about the rich history of Palm Beach County."
Trunks are available for all teachers in Palm Beach County to use for a two-week period of time, on a first-come first-serve basis, and must be reserved 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 the Traveling Educational Trunk program, or to reserve a trunk, contact The Historical Society of Palm Beach County's Education Coordinator, Tony Marconi, at (561) 832-4164, ext. 104.
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