Monique M. Chism, PhD

Smithsonian Under Secretary

for Education

As we welcome the arrival of spring, April promises to be a month full of exciting events and opportunities for learning. From the Week of the Young Child to National Garden Month, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the season and engage with your community. This month's resources feature a variety of activities that will spark curiosity and inspire creativity in learners of all ages, including an activity book, earth-friendly classroom activities, online interactives, and more. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for Smithsonian Education. We are honored to be a part of your educational journey and look forward to sharing this month's resources with you.

Smithsonian Early Learning Resources

Museums are for learners of all ages and abilities. The resources on this page, curated by the Smithsonian Early Learning Collaborative, teach children active observation and questioning skills that will help them stay curious and become critical thinkers and creative problem solvers.

PK–3rd Grade, Multiple Museums, Observation and Critical Thinking

Cherry Blossom Family Zone

Celebrate spring and the return of cherry blossom season in-person and online with the Smithsonian American Art Museum. For the ninth year in a row, SAAM has partnered with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to bring you fun family activities and programming. We have activities available online for you to enjoy with loved ones both near and far.

PK–5th Grade, Crafting, Coloring, Scavenger Hunts, Videos

Aww Snap! A Snapdragon Study

In this online life science game from the Smithsonian Science Education Center, players get to become field researchers. Observe and collect data, interpret your findings, and try to find your own answer to the mystery of the white snapdragons!

2nd–6th Grade, Mobile/Tablet Friendly, Emergent Readers, NGSS-aligned

Orchid-gami

Take your pick creating 28 native North American origami orchids in this project collaboration between the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Smithsonian Gardens. Decorate your homes and classrooms with this fun combination of art and science.

6th–12th Grade, Hands-on activity, Botany

Conservation Classroom

Conservation Classroom is a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Each lesson has four elements: wonder, engage, act, and connect. In addition, there are Educator’s Materials for implementing the lesson in the classroom.

PK–5th Grade, NGSS-Aligned, Videos, Animals, Ecosystems

The Corona's Cooling Power

To minimize energy use, the architects and engineers of the National Museum of African American History and Culture designed the bronze-colored metal lattice Corona surrounding the museum to keep the museum naturally shaded. This classroom activity aims to demonstrate to students how the design of a building can affect energy use.

4th–7th Grade, Experimentation and Iteration, Sustainability

Green Ambassador Challenge

Empower teens to be local leaders by making your school or community a healthier place. Take on Smithsonian Gardens’ Green Ambassador Challenge and introduce students to project-based learning in the real world, one garden at a time.

7th–12th Grade, Standards-Aligned

The Center for Environmental Justice Opens

The Center for Environmental Justice at the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, opening Earth Day 2023, will be a research hub that focuses on community-based, inclusive, and just solutions for environmental issues in the D.C. region and around the world.

5th–8th Grade, Contemporary Career Paths in STEM

Young Portrait Explorers | National Portrait Gallery

Join the Portrait Gallery for our virtual workshop for children ages 3-6 and their adult companions as we look at portraits of Julie Packard and E.O. Wilson. This thirty-minute program incorporates close looking at art, movement, and art-making. Please find the schedule of the virtual workshops and registration button below.

Virtual event. Wednesday, April 12 and Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 11:00–11:30 AM EDT. Registration required.

Hello, Museo | National Postal Museum

Join educators from the National Postal Museum every other Tuesday for a bilingual program featuring music, stories, crafts, and gallery exploration. Designed for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers, but all are welcome!

Únase a los educadores del Museo Postal Nacional cada dos martes para un programa bilingüe que presenta música, historias, artesanías y exploración de galerías. Diseñado para niños de 2 a 5 años y sus cuidadores, ¡pero todos son bienvenidos!

On Location. Tuesday, April 18, 10:30–11:30 AM EDT.

The World and Me Family Program: Earth Day Celebration | Smithsonian Gardens

Join us Saturday, April 22nd, as we learn about pollinators and explore the Pollinator Garden with Smithsonian Gardens! Families will make their own pollinator home to support pollinators in their neighborhood and learn how they can participate in the international City Nature Challenge event. Registration is required to secure your family's spot.

On location event. Saturday, April 22, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM EDT. Registration required.

Democracy: A National Youth Summit Civic Education Series Teach-In Event | National Museum of American History

NMAH educators will facilitate interactive sessions to engage students in object analysis and dialogue as they use resources from the 2022—2023 National Youth Summit case studies to explore the question, "How do the stories we tell about the past shape our democracy?"
Featuring keynote speaker Ebony McKiver.

Virtual event. Tuesday, April 25, 1:30–3:30 PM EDT. Registration required.

Play Date at NMNH: Cambrian Critters | National Museum of Natural History

Tuesday, April 25th is all about one of the most abundant animals of the Cambrian period...trilobites! During this Play Date at NMNH, families will be able to make observations of trilobite fossils, create their own trilobite model to take home, and learn about other extinct ocean life that roamed the ocean alongside the trilobites.

On location event. Tuesday, April 25, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM EDT.

Becoming a Native Knowledge 360° Educator: American Indian Removal | National Museum of the American Indian

Are you familiar with the National Museum of the American Indian’s educational initiative, Native Knowledge 360°, but want to engage with it more fully? In the third professional development session of this four-part series, educators will explore the online lesson American Indian Removal: What Does It Mean to Remove a People and identify how the lesson reveals more complete narratives about the scope, scale, and legacy of American Indian removal. Educators will engage with a case study of the Potawatomi Nation to learn how to use this online resource in their classrooms, including ways to teach students about the resilience of Native nations today.

Online via Zoom. Tuesday, May 16, 7:00–8:00 PM EDT. Registration required.