Traveling Trunks
Bringing History Into Your Classroom
Hands-on lessons with artifacts, stories, and activities that make civil and human rights history real for K–12 learners.
Discover the Stories in Our Traveling Trunks
Our Ethical Footprint
How What We Buy Impacts Global Human Rights
Unpack the hidden stories behind everyday items. This trunk helps students explore global supply chains and the ethics of consumption—from coffee to smartphones. With hands-on materials, maps, and ethical sourcing case studies, students learn how buying power is also people power.
Best for Grades 4-7
Topics Covered
- Human trafficking & forced labor
- Ethical consumerism
- Global interdependence
Interactive Elements
- Case studies on soccer balls, chocolate, and cell phones
- Label design activity to help students recognize ethically-made products
- “Stitch” together the facts of soccer ball production in a matching game
- Mine for information about the many components of cell phones that can be obtained in unethical ways
Making Headlines
The Role of Media in the Civil Rights Movement
Long before hashtags, the media played a crucial role in shaping the Civil Rights Movement. This trunk lets students analyze how newspaper headlines, photography, and TV coverage mobilized support—or reinforced segregation.
Best for Grades 5, 8, & 9-12
Topics Covered
- The influential role of media
- Media literacy skills
- Importance of freedom of the press
Interactive Elements
- Authentic mid-century video and photo cameras
- Primary source newspapers and TV transcripts
- Green screen for create-your-own-headline activity
Unlocking History
Black Female Leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott
This trunk uncovers the lesser-known yet pivotal roles of women like Jo Ann Robinson and Claudette Colvin in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Students explore archival materials and complete a “puzzle box” using clues from primary sources.
Best for Grades 5, 8, & 9-12
Topics Covered
- Women’s leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement
- Community organizing strategies
- The role of youth and unsung heroes
Interactive Elements
- Unlocking History activity featuring six different locks with numeric, alphabetic, and even directional codes
- Primary source packets contain answers to the clues
- Investigation tool kit allows students to study sources closely and find invisible clues
Planning for Change
The Strategy Behind the March on Washington
Explore the logistics, leadership, and legacy of one of the most iconic events in civil rights history. Students learn how grassroots efforts and coalition-building made August 28, 1963, a turning point in American history.
Best for Grades 5, 8, & 9-12
Topics Covered
- Strategic nonviolence
- Political negotiation & public messaging
- Intersectional leadership
Interactive Elements
- Primary source research
- Peer teaching
- Design modern versions of the iconic “We Demand” signs
Youth in Action
The Guiding Role of Young People in the Movement
High schoolers and college students were frontline leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. This trunk highlights their activism and offers students a chance to explore how their voices still matter today.
Best for Grades 8 & 9-12
Topics Covered
- SNCC, the Little Rock Nine, the Children’s Crusade
- Youth organizing and protest
- Power, risk, and resilience
Interactive Elements
- Gallery walk
- Small group dialogue
- Map connections on a pin board
Uncovering the Past
The 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre through AR and Archives
This trunk blends augmented reality with historic documents to uncover the truth behind the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre. Designed for deep reflection, it guides students through narratives of violence, resistance, and remembrance.
Best for Grades 8 & 9-12
Topics Covered
- Black progress and white backlash
- Resilience and resistance
- Bias in the media
Interactive Elements
- Augmented Reality app
- Newspaper analysis activity
- Timeline board game
Standards-Aligned Learning
Each trunk is grounded in Georgia Standards of Excellence with cross-curricular connections, making it easy to integrate into classroom instruction.
Rent a Trunk
When you rent a Trunk you can use it with as many classes as you like for two weeks! You simply tell us how many students will be using the trunk and we will provide the supplies for you. Pick up and drop your Trunk off at our site or, for an additional fee, we can deliver it to your school.
Rental Term: 2 Weeks for $200 ($150 for Title I Schools)
To add an extension: 1 Week Extension: $100
Late Return Fee: $25/day
Delivery Options
- No charge if you pick up and drop off
- Local delivery within 40 miles: $1/mile roundtrip
- Nationwide shipping available (at cost)
What’s Included
- Differentiated lesson plans
- Primary source documents
- Reproduction artifacts
- Interactive learning activities
- Teacher guides and evaluation rubrics
Present a Trunk
Love the topic but want to have our staff come out to present a Trunk rather than renting one? We can do that too!
First Class: $200 (or $175 for Title I Schools) with 30 students max per class + flexible timing to align with your school schedule
Additional Classes (Same Day): $100 ($75 for Title I Schools)
voices of change
Bring History Into Your Classroom
Support active learning. Empower critical thinking.
Questions? Contact [email protected]