Community History Trunks

Note: The History Trunks are currently being refurbished and are not available for loan at this time.

The Community History Trunks Project is a local outreach initiative in southwestern Colorado. The project is a collaborative effort between Crow Canyon, area teachers, members of the community, and local history scholars to develop resources to be used in teaching local history to elementary school students.

At the core of this effort is the development of trunks containing historical objects and replicas representing different ethnic groups. Currently, two trunks have been completed—Navajo and Euro-American.

The trunks are to be used in conjunction with teachers’ curricula that have been developed in accordance with the Colorado Model Content Standards for the fourth grade; activities can be modified slightly for use in grades 2, 3, and 5. The lessons integrate such diverse subject areas as history, geography, reading, writing, languages, mathematics, music, and art.

For a small, nonrefundable fee, schools may borrow the Navajo and Euro-American trunks for two-week periods. During this time, multiple teachers may share the trunks in their classrooms.

It is hoped that, in addition to learning about their own personal histories and the histories of their particular communities, students will gain a deeper sense of place and time, an awareness of similarities and differences between people in their communities, a respect for cultural diversity, and an appreciation for the uniqueness of the Four Corners area.