Take a look at some of the fabulous resources awaiting you at the Smithsonian!
No, you don’t have to live in the Washington DC area – although if you do, they are happy to help you arrange a visit or a field trip. They have a great resource online for students, families, and teachers. Homeschool parents, heads up! Important lesson plan resource! Classroom teachers, there are more than lesson plans here – there is professional development and curriculum integration as well.
At www.smithsonianeducation.org, you will find lesson plans for all ages. Teachers will find information of Teachers night, scheduled last year in Washington DC and in Omaha, Nebraska. The Smithsonian Associates sponsor “Scholars in the Schools” in which a guest scholar can be hosted by a school or district for lectures, activities, and classroom presentations. The cost is not cheap, but details can be found on the website, along with sample schedules for ideas how your district could make use of this marvelous resource.
Students will find activities in the student section, as well as newsletters to subscribe to, idea labs, and online exhibitions. There is an intriguing “secrets of the Smithsonian” section which details mysteries such as the Hope Diamond, “spiders in space” and the forensic anthropologist “Sherlock Bones”.
Whether you ever set foot in Washington DC, this national resource is truly a treasure for people world wide. This online resource extends the collection of art, artifacts, and knowledge to the whole world – including your home and your classroom. See what they have to offer you!