Smithsonian Institution Connections
Everyone knows about the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC. Did you know that the Smithsonian also has a record label, an astrophysical observatory in Boston, and a tropical research institute in Panama? In fact, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex with 19 museums, nine research centers, three cultural centers, and one zoo. It has approximately 156 million objects in its collections, ranging in size from microscopic insects to a space shuttle! These objects are used by both Smithsonian researchers and researchers around the world. Smithsonian Science for the Classroom helps you bring this rich body of knowledge and resources into your classroom.
Smithsonian Research
How Can We Protect Animals When Their Habitat Changes (grade 3 engineering design module) uses camera trap data from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s eMammal project.
This photo was taken by a camera trap in North Virginia woodland.
Changing Earth (grade 2 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes readings on the research carried out by volcanologists at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Changing Habitats (grade 3 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes readings on Smithsonian citizen science projects and Smithsonian research into the amphibian chytrid virus.
The lemur frog is one of the frogs that is being saved from the chytrid fungus.
Water Works (grade 5 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes a reading that incorporates environmental impact research by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center into the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
Smithsonian People
Changing Habitats (grade 3 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) features a reading on the tools and techniques used by Smithsonian paleontologists working at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Changing Habitats (grade 3 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) features a scientist working in the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Scientist Jorge Guerrel cares for frogs in a safe room in Panama.
Smithsonian Collections
How Can We Send a Message Using Sound (grade 1 engineering design module) includes two tracks from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Beats and Banjos (grade 1 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes musical instruments from the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of the American Indian.
Cochiti Pueblo drum and drumstick from the National Museum of the American Indian
Everyday Energy (grade 4 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes images of a whale oil lamp from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and an incandescent light bulb from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
How Can We Provide Freshwater to Those in Need? (grade 5 engineering design module) includes an image of men drawing water from the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, an “I Want You” poster from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and a Smokey the Bear poster from Smithsonian Archives as examples of public service announcements.
Photo of men drawing water by an Egyptian artist
Smithsonian Animals
Beats and Banjos (grade 1 engineering design Smithsonian Science Stories) includes a reading on animal ears, featuring animals from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
Daisey the fennec fox lives at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
Smithsonian Science for the Classroom is a new curriculum developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to engage, inspire, and connect your students firsthand to the world around them. The curriculum has been developed in consultation with teachers and field tested in a range of schools with diverse populations. It draws on the latest findings and best practices from educational research.
