Article
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: History Wired: Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the great big band leader Duke Ellington at this informative website. This site highlights his life and career in a well written article.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Edna St. Vincent Millay

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to the comments of Wendy Wick Reaves, curator at the National Portrait Gallery, as she discusses the art of William Zorach in the portrait he did of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Robert F. Kennedy

For Students 9th - 10th
Wendy Wick Reaves, a curator at the National Portrait Gallery, makes observations about the portrait of Robert Kennedy by Roy Lichtenstein.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Beauford Delaney by Georgia O'keeffe

For Students 9th - 10th
Fascinating observations of Georgia O'Keeffe's portrait of Beauford Delaney. Listen to Wendy Wick Reaves, a curator at the National Portrait Gallery, explain O'Keeffe's use of pastels.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Stuart Davis

For Students 9th - 10th
Wendy Wick Reaves,a curator at the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the pencil drawing by Stuart Davis and explains how he achieves the look of his self-portrait.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Ornette Coleman

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief audio discussion of Elaine de Kooning's charcoal drawing of saxophonist, Ornette Coleman. Interesting comments by Wendy Wicks Reaves, curator at the National Portrait Gallery.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: Truman Capote

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting appraisal of Don Bachardy's portrait of Truman Capote. Listen to Carol Wick Reaves, curator of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses how this drawing is done in the accompanying audiofile.
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Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Eye Contact: James Baldwin

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This audio file from Wendy Wick Reaves, curator of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the portrait of James Baldwin drawn by Beauford Delaney.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Invention Features: Lewis Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
Smithsonian site features the life and many accomplishments of Lewis Latimer, the famous African-American inventor.
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Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: The Birth of Hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
Article focuses on the birth of hip-hop and the four elements of the movement: graffiti art, break dancing, DJing, and MCing (rapping). Author continues with the history of the movement and the personalities involved.
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Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: True Colors Dyeing Yarn

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting history and exploration of the technology and invention of dyes and dyeing from earliest times to present and the effects of new colors in yarns on the economy. This is a complete unit of lessons with activities and...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Inspired by Nanotechnology [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Introducing students to nanoscale in nature and in technology, a simple activity through which students create a colorful nanofilm using construction paper, nail polish, and a pan of water.
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Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: A Brief History of Small

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of nanotechnology and its applications is presented with specific examples. Photographs of nanotechnology applications along with the year of their implementation are also available.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Inventors' Stories: Newman Darby

For Students 3rd - 8th
Article on Newman Darby, the inventor of the windsurfer. It describes the various stages his invention went through as he refined it, and other watercraft that he designed.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Inventors' Stories: Paul Mac Cready

For Students 3rd - 8th
Article on the inventions of Paul MacCready, who developed the world's first human-powered flight machine, called the Gossamer Condor.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Dude! Tony Hawk Skates Into History

For Students 9th - 10th
A skateboard donated to the Lemelson Center by world famous skater Tony Hawk opens the door to the history of skateboarding and the culture it has evolved into.
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: The Allure of Pearls

For Students 9th - 10th
Exhibition of some of the first known gems to early humans, this collection of pearls includes several world famous precious stones.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Chambered Nautilus

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Invertebrates exhibit at the National Zoo, this site highlights various facts and interesting information on Chambered Nautilus. Topics covered in the overview include Physical description, Life span, Predators,...
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Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Capital Coyotes

For Students 9th - 10th
This article by Howard Youth in Zoogoer first appeared in the July/August 2005 edition of the magazine. The article covers a range of topics related to coyotes including "March of the Prairie Wolf," "Keeping Coyotes Wild," "At a Den Site...
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Grasslands on a Grand Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
Jeffrey P. Cohn's article in Zoogoer Magazine, "Grasslands on a Grand Scale," examines a variety of animals and topics associated with the grasslands. Among the animals discussed are the bison, the great horned owls, the cattle, and more.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Desert Shell Game

For Students 9th - 10th
Howard Youth's article, "Desert Shell Game," examines information related to the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii. Topics covered include Fast Times for a Desert Ancient, The Tortoise and Its Lair, and more.
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Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Black Footed Bandits, Stealing Home

For Students 9th - 10th
This article covers the antics and little-known facts related to the bandits (prairie dogs and ferrets). The article covers information on the history of the prairie dogs and ferrets as well as information on specific characteristics.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Florida's Crowded Cat

For Students 9th - 10th
This article in Zoogoer Magazine by Howard Youth centers on the Florida Panther and its population growth as well as reaction to growth of big cities. The information on the panther is both informative and interesting.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian National Zoo: Zoogoer Magazine: Sharks, in Deep

For Students 9th - 10th
Howard Youth, in his article for Zoogoer Magazine entitled "Sharks, In Deep," examines a range of topics related to sharks including Shark Basics, Troubled Waters, Reaching for Limits, Bites Out of the Food Chain, Discovering Sharks, and...