Missouri River Scientists Traveling Trunk
Place-Based Curriculum for Curious Students
Missouri River Scientists brings a place-based curriculum about the Missouri River 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 management of the endangered Pallid Sturgeon in a very real and engaging way.
- 4 Easy to Use Lesson Plans and All the Material Included
- Grade Level: 4th Grade and Above
- Focus: Recovery and Management of the Endangered Pallid Sturgeon
- Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards
- Available to Educators Within a 30-Mile Radius of Columbia, MO
What do past participants have to say about the trunk? Click here to find out!
Bring the Excitement of the Missouri River to Your Classroom!
Each trunk is filled with a replica model of a Pallid Sturgeon, custom-designed newspaper, fossils from the Missouri River watershed, magnifying glasses, dam building material, a Secchi disk, 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.
Checking Out a Traveling Trunk
Each trunk provides you with background information, lesson plans, student handouts, and all of the necessary materials. When you receive your trunk, a Missouri River Relief staff member will provide a brief orientation to the materials and answer any questions you may have.
After completing the Missouri River Scientists program, teachers and students will receive a Missouri River Scientist certificate.
Trunk Reservations
Each trunk may be reserved for up to a four-week period. Trunks are available for reservation year-round.
Once you have decided on your preferred options, please complete the Request Form to reserve a Missouri River Scientists: Traveling Trunk.
You will receive a confirmation by email after your request has been submitted. We do our best to grant requests based on trunk availability. Your trunk is not reserved until you receive a confirmation.
About the Missouri River Scientists Lesson Plans
The lesson plans included in this trunk originate from the "Missouri River All-Stars" afterschool program. Due to this program's success, we have redesigned the program to be a traveling trunk. These lesson plans are tried and true; several years ago, we partnered with Mizzou: College of Education to look at students' and teachers' learning after participating in the program. This research is now published in the Science Education Journal.
Lesson One: Discovering the Missouri River
Overview
- Focus: What is the relationship between the Missouri River and the Pallid Sturgeon?
- Topic: Missouri River Environmental History
Next Generation Standards
- 4-ESS2-2. Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.
- 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
- 4-LS1-2. Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.
- 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Lesson Two: Structure and Behaviors of the Pallid Sturgeon
Overview
- Focus: How do the Pallid Sturgeon's structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat?
- Topic: Pallid Sturgeon History and Adaptations
Next Generation Standards
- 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
- 4-LS1-2. Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.
Lesson Three: Forces that Shape the Pallid Sturgeon Decline
Overview
- Focus: How have human alterations to the river affected the Pallid Sturgeon?
- Topic: Pallid Sturgeon Status and Reason for Decline
Next Generation Standards
- 4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
- 4-ESS3-2. Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
Lesson Four: Scientific Arguments for Pallid Sturgeon Management
Overview
- Focus: How do scientists use claims, evidence and reasoning when debating solutions?
- Topic: Scientific and Evidence-Based Reasoning of a Solution for the Pallid Sturgeon Recovery
Next Generation Standards
- 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
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 the first Monday of your reservation period, or in the event of a late return before you, it will be provided on the next possible day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each trunk is filled with a model reproduction of a Pallid Sturgeon, custom-designed newspaper, fossils from the Missouri River watershed, magnifying glasses, dam building material, a Secchi disk, and much more.
In addition to public, private and homeschool teachers - leaders of clubs and scout troops, 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
