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Lending Trunks


The Children’s Discovery Museum is excited to host several lending trunks from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Education and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. These free trunks may be borrowed for a two-week lending period. Trunks must be picked up and dropped off at the museum. Please call (309) 433-3449 to schedule your kit today!

Illinois Birds (PreK-8th) IDNR

Studying birds can jump-start your students’ interest in nature and conservation. The Illinois Birds Trunk is a great way to enhance your lessons. This trunk is filled with field guides, books, track and egg replicas, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs and CDs.

Illinois Trees (Pre K through Grade 10) IDNR

Want to learn more about the forest? Grab an Illinois Tree Trunk from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources! The trunks are large storage containers that include many items teachers can use to instruct students about trees, forests, forest careers and the forestry industry. You’ll find items that help support the Illinois Learning Standards from grades PreK through 10. A correlation to the Illinois Learning Standards for each item is included.

People and Animals from Illinois’ Past (K-3rd) IDNR

Prehistoric mammals, extirpated mammals and Native Americans and their relationship with nature are all topics you can teach about by using the items in this resource trunk. Contents include:  mammoth and mastodon tooth replicas, species replicas, Native American games, activities, mammoth hair, posters, replica pottery, videos, reference books and natural items used by Native Americans.

Illinois State Symbols (K-6th)

Are you teaching about Illinois’ state symbols? This trunk is packed with photos, replicas, actual examples, activity books and other items to supplement your curriculum.

Illinois Insects and Spiders (K-6th) IDNR

Insects and spiders fascinate students. Encourage them to learn more about these organisms by using the resources in this trunk. Books, CD-ROMs, student activities, field guides, posters, insect/spider observation equipment and a video are just some of the items included.

Illinois Prairies (4th-8th)

Are you teaching about prairies or the people who inhabited the prairies? Then borrow this trunk! Field guides, activity books, reference manuals, bison artifacts, numerous lessons, CD-ROMs and other items are included for your use.

Illinois Wild Mammals (4th-8th) IDNR

Find a variety of materials in this lending trunk to help students learn about mammals. Contents include:  lessons; posters, CD-ROMS, field guides, skulls, fur samples, scat and track replicas and more.

Illinois Fossils Trunk  (4th-8th) IDNR

This resource trunk contains everything you need to teach a unit on the fossils of Illinois. Contents include:  fossil molds, fossil hunt kits, fossil reference collection, field guides, activities and more.

Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk  (4th-8th) Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

This trunk is an educational kit and curriculum that allows elementary and middle school students to explore the effects of invasive species, particularly the zebra mussel, on ecosystems and local economies. *There is a $25 deposit required for this trunk. Any damages and/or lost items will result in the loss of the deposit.

Aquatic Illinois (5th-9th) IDNR

This trunk includes many items to help you teach about the biological, historical, chemical and other aspects of water. Books, posters, water sampling tools, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs and activities are among the contents of this trunk.

Minerals (K-8th) CDM

Use the resources in this trunk to help teach about the Earth’s layers, plate tectonics, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and different uses of rocks. The trunk contains a variety of rock specimens representing the three rock types, lesson plans and activity ideas, books, and other resources.

Rocks (K-8th) CDM

Use a variety of mineral specimens and test for hardness, streak, luster, transparency and more. The trunk contains multiple specimens, lesson plans and activity ideas, books, and other resources.

Special Requests

Looking for something but don’t know where to find it? Call CDM and see if we have it in our Education Collection. We have many odds and ends that can be packaged for your use. Call (309) 433-3449 with requests.