Clean Rivers Start at Home Traveling Trunk
Place-Based Curriculum for Curious Students
The Clean Rivers Start at Home traveling trunk program brings a place-based curriculum about the impact of single use plastics to your classroom.
This educational traveling trunk program provides classroom teachers, scout leaders, homeschool groups, and families with the lesson plans and materials to explore the creation, use, presence, and effects of single-use plastics within our local and broader communities.
- 4 Easy to Use Lesson Plans and All the Material Included
- Grade Level: 6th - 8th
- Focus: Our Usage and the Impact of Single-use Plastics
- Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards
Bring Science and Stewardship to Your Classroom!
Each trunk is filled with an interactive model of a watershed, custom-designed news articles, alternatives for common single-use plastic items, historical examples of the evolution of the water bottle, and much more.
The trunk has been developed so that all materials will be used in the easy to follow, step-by-step lesson plans that address state and national curriculum standards.
check out a trvelling trunk
We will provide you with background information, lesson plans, files for printing student handouts, and all of the materials.
When you receive the trunk, we will provide a brief orientation to the materials and answer any questions.
Each trunk may be reserved for up to a four-week period.
Clean Rivers Start at Home Lesson Plans
Lesson One: Here, There & Everywhere
Overview
- Topic: Awareness of Single-Use Plastics
- Guiding Question: How are we using plastics responsibly and irresponsibly?
Next Generation Standards:
MS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity
- Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
- Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
Lesson Two: From Start to Finish
Overview
- Topic: The Life Cycle of Single-Use Plastics
- Guiding Question: How does the life cycle of single-use plastics impact the environment and people?
Next Generation Standards:
MS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity
- Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
- Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
Lesson Three: How Single-Use Plastic Pollutes
Overview
- Topic: Impacts of Single-Use Plastics
- Guiding Question: What happens when single-use plastics enter the environment?
Next Generation Standards:
MS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity
- Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
- Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
Lesson Four: Taking Action
Overview
- Topic: Reducing Plastic Pollution
- Guiding Question: What actions can we take to reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use?
Next Generation Standards:
MS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity
- Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
- Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
Getting your Trunk
Come to Us: Pick-up and Drop-off at the Missouri River Relief Office in Columbia, MO.
- OR -
We Come to You: Pick-up and Drop-off at School/Organization within a 30-mile radius of Columbia, MO.
Your trunk will be provided on the first day of your reservation period, or in the event of a late return before you, it will be provided on the next possible day.
Once you have decided on your preferred options, please complete the Request Form to reserve a Clean Rivers Start at Home: Traveling Trunk.
You will receive a confirmation by email after your request has been submitted. Your trunk is not reserved until you receive a confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each trunk includes a lesson binder, a thumb drive with lesson materials and resources, a 3D watershed model, samples of plastic at each of its life cycle stages, examples of reusable alternatives for common single-use plastic items, objects used throughout history for carrying water, a unique and informative youth magazine designed specially for this curriculum, and more!
In addition to public, private and homeschool teachers and youth leaders, libraries, nature centers or other groups engaged in education programming may check out a trunk.
Traveling Trunks may be checked out for up to four weeks.
What if multiple teachers from one school want to use the Trunk?
That would be fabulous! Please indicate this on your request form in the section "What else would you like us to know?" Include the possible extended dates if needed and list all of the teachers' names and email addresses, as well as the total number of students participating in the program.
What if I'm late returning the Traveling Trunk?
Please do not let this happen. If you return a trunk late, then the next scheduled group will receive the trunk late. Please be considerate of your fellow educators and return the trunks on time.
What if something is damaged?
We know that things happen. So we ask that you let us know ASAP about any damaged or missing items, so the next group can enjoy the traveling trunk as much as you did.
For more information, please email our education director, Kristen Schulte at kristen@riverelief.org
A Big Muddy Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting the Clean Rivers Start at Home traveling trunk program and the creation of place-based education resources for our community.
