Traveling Trunks
Reservations for the 2026-2027 school year are available!
FREE resource for 3rd and 4th grade classrooms
We are pleased to offer this FREE social studies curriculum with everything teachers need for a fun and creative history experience.
Follow Tacoma’s first pioneer, Job Carr, as he makes his trip west with lessons that include stories, group activities, art projects and more!
Our school trunks are in high-demand by educators throughout Puget Sound. The lesson plans are meticulously thought out and easy to follow. Teachers and home school groups consistently rate our trunks as outstanding and engaging.
3rd- & 4th-grade curriculum materials
Interdisciplinary, Creative, and Engaging
The third grade curriculum was designed by a Tacoma public school teacher in 2004 and endorsed by the Tacoma School District.
Our revised fourth grade curriculum was unveiled in Fall 2014 and educators have given it rave reviews. Created in collaboration with a team of Tacoma Public School teachers, these lesson plans meet fourth grade Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Washington State Social Studies Learning Standards.
Museum materials were updated in 2021 and 2026 with new texts, historical photographs, and maps featuring Native American, settler, and immigrant perspectives. We thank the Puyallup Tribe, Tacoma Public Library, Tacoma Tree Foundation, and Washington State Historical Society for their contributions to this program.
Click here to find out more about the 2026 traveling trunk updates.
Reserve a trunk for your classroom today!
Enhance your classroom learning experience with a virtual or in-person field trip to the Cabin.
Additional educational resources are available on our Learn At Home webpage.
Teachers speak about our Schools Outreach Program in this 2016 video.
Homeschool Learning Options
Options for Families and Groups
Homeschool groups with 6 or more students (grades 2-5) are welcome to reserve a Museum traveling trunk. The materials include collaborative discussions, group art projects, and more to engage students in learning about the Oregon Trail, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the development of Tacoma.
Individual homeschool families are encouraged to use our Learn at Home educational resources.
Homeschool families and cooperatives are also invited to visit the Museum during our regular open hours and special events.
More Educational Programs
- Click here for details about our educational offerings for preschool, kindergarten and first grade classes.
- Click here for details about our educational offerings for Middle School, High School, and College classes.
Traveling Trunk Highlights
The Museum's traveling trunks are in high-demand by educators throughout Puget Sound.
"I love this program and how relevant it is to our social studies requirements, but also for learning about our local history. Plus the engagement from the kids is all in!"
~ Fourth Grade Teacher
Map of schools served by JCCM traveling trunks in the 2024-2025 school year.
