Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Make a Yo Yo From Recycled Stuff

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity explains how to use materials that might otherwise be recycled in order to create a yo-yo.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Invent Your Own Gelatin Dessert

For Students 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the history of Jello and create their own dessert. They analyze the success of their dessert afterwards and make suggestions on how to improve it. They are also invited to take a photo of their creation and email it...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Build a Speaker

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn how to build your very own speaker with items usually found around the house. Follow step-by-step instructions and discover how to use your speaker to listen to the radio.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Make a Polymer

For Students 3rd - 8th
Polymers are all around us. Learn how to make your own, then answer scientific questions about your experiment.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Polishing Pennies

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about acids and bases during this penny-polishing experiment. Students will hypothesize what substances will polish pennies and then test their hypothesis.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: Sewing Machine

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Smithsonian offers a brief description of Isaac Singer's sewing machine, along with a picture and patent information.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Freer | Sackler Galleries: Gallery Guide: The Art of Buddhism

For Students 9th - 10th
An examination of the aesthetic tradition of Buddhist art in India, China, and Japan, with examples pulled from the Smithsonian galleries devoted to the art of Asia.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Luis Munoz Marin (Governor of Puerto Rico) Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the role that the first governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Munoz Marin, played in bringing about commonwealth status for Puerto Rico from this captioned exhibit of stamps issued in Governor Marin's honor.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Voyages of Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Postal Museum publishes a captioned exhibition of U.S. postage stamps depicting Columbus's first voyage to the New World.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Alliance for Progress Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn why the Alliance for Progress was formed and why it was disbanded from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 1963 in commemoration of the program.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Lincoln Sesquicentennial Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Special series of stamps recognizing the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Explorer: Francisco Vazquez De Coronado Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Review key aspects of the career of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado from this captioned exhibit of a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1940 in commemoration of the four-hundredth anniversary of his 1540 expedition through the American Southwest.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Musician: John Philip Sousa Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life and career of John Philip Sousa from this captioned exhibit of a portrait stamp issued in 1940 to commemorate him.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Frida Kahlo Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about key aspects of Kahlo's art from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 2001 to commemorate her.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Cinco De Mayo Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the origins of Cinco de Mayo from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued to commemorate the holiday.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo Issue

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo from this captioned exhibit of a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1992 to commemorate him.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Spanish Settlement of the Southwest Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Camino Real and the first European settlement west of the Mississippi, San Gabriel, from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 1998 to commemorate Spanish settlement of the U.S. Southwest.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Ponce De Leon Issue

For Students 6th - 8th
Learn about key aspects of Ponce de Leon's career from this captioned exhibit of a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1982 to commemorate him.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: 1 Dollar David G. Farragut Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about key aspects of David Farragut's naval career from this captioned exhibit of stamps issued to commemorate him.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: 1990 Black Heritage Series: Ida B. Wells Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1990 to commemorate Ida B. Wells, one of the founders of the NAACP. With a short passage on her life and contributions to ending discrimination against women and African-Americans.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Where Do Mammals Live?: Hyena

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A brief illustrated overview of the hyena explains why this animal is such a successful dry-weather scavenger.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Where Do Mammals Live?: Wildebeest

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Brief illustrated overview of the wildebeest and an accompanying video demonstrate the physical adaptations that allow this animal to eat and digest tough African grasses.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Institution: Jim Henson's Fantastic World

For Students 9th - 10th
A traveling exhibit is sweeping across America in 2009 bringing the colorful world of Jim Henson and his Muppets to cities everywhere. Even if you aren't able to make it to the show visiting this site will give you a taste of what you...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Banded Mongoose Fact Sheet

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...