The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world. Content from all of Smithsonian's buildings can be found here. Use the filters on the left to narrow the results by material type, subject, or grade level.
This resource provides information about Kuna and the art of the molas.
Follow this link to the arts base of "Smithsonian, the monthly magazine published by the Smithsonian Institution. Access arts-related content from the current issue of the magazine; link to ARTiculation, the Smithsonian's art blog; open photo galleries of images from the magazine's pages; and peruse a changing lineup of articles and features.
This lesson plan uncovers the "tricks" artists use when creating a landscape painting. Students will explore the work of American artists George Catlin, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, and Winslow Homer. One of the activities is in spanish.
The lessons in this issue familiarize students with memorials in which they examine four memorials from around the world and examples in their own community. In a culminating activity, students identify and create a memorial for someone they have lost.
Students become detectives, reading and analyzing documents and artifacts as clues to the life of a nineteenth century woman, Annie Steel. The students then use various materials to create a series of collages.
Read about the endangered Asian Elephant. Find out what it likes to eat, where it lives, and its behaviors. Click on the links to the left for more information.
As part of the Asia Trail exhibit at the National Zoo, this site highlights various facts and interesting information on the Asian Small-clawed Otter. In addition to several pictures, the site provides a description and information on habitat, diet, reproduction, and more.
Dr. Tim McCoy delves into how we can learn about the formation of the solar system through studying meteorites. [29:16]
This resource offers an excellent definition of the species, Australopithecus afarensis.
Augusta Savage is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of her life. Her works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief information including title of work and date of creation.
Podcast of traditional and contemporary music and dance of Bali performed by a gamelan orchestra. Includes detailed notes as well as a slideshow of Balinese performers. [55:16]
A poster extolling the virtues of Thomas Edison's new phonograph is accompanied by text that explains the purpose of the poster and how it was made.
Visit an example-rich exploration of poster art and learn how famous faces have been used to convey meanings and messages across the decades. An excellent resource for discovering how art can be a window into a particular time, Ballyhoo! looks at images from a range of periods in U.S. history, including turn-of-the century America (ca. 1890), World War I, World War II, and the 1960s. An effective device, also, for learning about celebrity culture and the tried-and-true advertising ruse of celebrity endorsement.
As part of the small mammals exhibit at the National Zoo, this site highlights various facts and interesting information on the Banded Mongoose. In addition to several pictures, the site provides a description and information on habitat, diet, reproduction, and more.
Smithsonian Magazine correspondent Tom Mueller reflects on the legacy of the Berlin Wall. (June 2006)
An exhibition that uses African art to explain the concepts of bigness and smallness. In the world of art, big and small can refer not only to physical size but to relative size, to the impression an object makes, or to the largeness of feeling it evokes. An interesting lesson about how to look closely at art, with lots of cultural information about how native peoples of Africa value artistic and cultural artifacts.
Can you identify the purpose of different bird beaks? Read up about the different types of beaks and then you'll apply your knowledge by identifying the purpose of different shaped beaks.
Dr. Helen James, an ornithologist at the National Museum of Natural History, explains what prehistoric evidence can tell you about bird extinctions. [29:15]
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park provides a detailed look at birds. Content includes a focus on the Zoo's bird house exhibit, as well as bird houses, flight cages, bird facts, bird information for kids, an FAQ section, a photo gallery, and more.
Explore an exciting collection of teaching resources, activities, and lesson plans honoring Black History Month.