Monique M. Chism, PhD

Smithsonian Under Secretary for Education

Welcome to the new Smithsonian Education E-Newsletter and thank you for subscribing. As a lifelong educator, I’m excited to share regular updates about high quality education resources, engaging events, and one-of-a-kind professional learning opportunities from across the Smithsonian. Our team of dedicated educators has curated a thematic selection of opportunities for classroom engagement, during Black History Month and all year-round, that span grade bands and subject areas, in a variety of media formats. Each resource demonstrates the ways the Smithsonian supports teachers and students in learning about the people, events, and stories from the past and present to reimagine our shared future. I hope you will find this newsletter and its resources helpful in your teaching and share it with your fellow colleagues. We’re grateful for all you do to engage and inspire the next generation and we’re honored to support you in this meaningful work.

Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Bessie Coleman"

Gather your little ones for a narrated story time with the National Air and Space Museum about pioneering aviator, Bessie Coleman. After the story, learners will be led through an imaginative craft activity, providing step-by-step instructions to make a biplane model out of easy-to-find materials.

PK–3rd Grade, On-Demand Video Featuring a Hands-On Craft

Spring STEM Teacher Workshop: Contributions in Agriculture

Join the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday March 25th, from 9am – 2pm ET for a STEM teacher workshop focusing on agriculture. We invite educators to register for this in-person, half-day workshop, where we will learn about the agricultural contributions of African Americans and discover the inventions and strategies they used to produce food for themselves and their communities.

3rd–8th Grade, Free In-Person Workshop, Registration Required

Typewriter as Time Machine: Octavia Butler's Typewriter

This Smithsonian Learning Lab collection introduces the typewriter as a tool for writing, time travel, and building community. Resources from the Anacostia Community Museum allow learners to “meet” Octavia Butler, who wrote science fiction at a time when few African American writers did, and won top honors for her work.

6th–8th Grade, English/Language Arts Lesson Featuring Object-Based Learning

Picturing Fighters for Freedom Across History

Decode imagery and discover hidden stories in artist William H. Johnson's Fighters for Freedom series, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Reflect on connections between the individuals portrayed, from iconic to lesser-known, and how past struggles for justice of the 20th century may relate to the present.

6th–12th Grade, Interdisciplinary Lesson Featuring Close-Looking Prompts around Art

Deliberation Guide: Separate and Unequal in 1963

In this resource from the National Museum of American History, students will examine the complexities, choices, and tensions leading up to the busing controversy in Boston during the 1970s. They will reflect on how real people and communities were impacted by momentous events, often outside their control.

9th–12th Grade, Printable Teacher and Student Guides for Historical Source Analysis and Discussion

Article: Teaching a More Complete Picture of MLK

While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, there’s more to his life and legacy than that single story. Smithsonian educators share approaches to expand classroom lessons and student understanding of this great civil rights leader.

9th–12th Grade, Teaching Ideas Focused on Inquiry with Primary Sources, Arts Integration, and Civic Action

Teacher Innovator Institute | National Air and Space Museum

Work with education and STEAM experts to explore the connections between informal STEAM education and authentic learning. Propose and develop goals for your own professional development, gain the skills to incorporate museum learning into your practice, and meet colleagues from around the country.

Applications are due February 28, 2023.

Learning to Look Summer Teacher Institute | National Portrait Gallery

Participants will learn how to "read" portraiture and use the artworks as a springboard into a more in-depth discussion about biography and history. Teachers in grades kindergarten-12 may apply as individuals or as part of a team. Priority will be given to social studies, English/language arts, and visual arts teachers.

Applications are due March 10, 2023.

Summer Institutes for Teachers: Teaching the Humanities Through Art | Smithsonian American Art Museum

Join a community of educators from across the country for an exciting exploration of the connections among American art, social studies, history, and English/language arts.

Applications are due April 3, 2023.