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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Relative Dating in Archaeology [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Activities for the classroom that teach about stratigraphy and seriation, two methods used in the relative dating of objects in archaeology.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Charley Pride

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of famed country music singer Charley Pride, one of few African Americans in the industry to both perform at and be inducted to the Grand Ole Opry.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Beverly Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
African American model and actress Beverly Johnson is featured in a brief biography including a photo.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Barbara Harris

For Students 9th - 10th
Civil rights activist Reverend Barbara Harris is featured for her involvement in freedom rides and marches in the 1960's.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Angela Davis

For Students 9th - 10th
Professor Angela Davis is featured in a brief biography for her outspoken political and social views.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Al Sharpton

For Students 9th - 10th
The Reverend Al Sharpton, well known for his racial and political activism, is featured in a biography.
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: The Olomana in the Kingdom of Hawaii

For Students 9th - 10th
Objects can lead you to some interesting stories. Read and see where and how this toy-like locomotive was used. Cursor down to locate this information.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: On the School Bus: Martinsburg, Indiana 1939

For Students 9th - 10th
It's an early winter morning in rural Indiana, and Russell Bishop is getting ready to drive his school bus route. His daughter Mary Lou is with him, and his double-deep orange school bus is parked outside the family farm's barn. An...
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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Global Volcanism Program: This Dynamic Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive activity that allows the learner to make their own regional map using layers of their choice such as volcanoes, craters, plate tectonics, or earthquakes. This map of the Earth zooms in and out, highlights essential processes,...
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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: This Dynamic Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Research and explore past earthquake and volcanic activity on this interactive world map. User can manipulate which notable events and other map characteristics to view depending on the type of study being done.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Structuralism Basic Premises

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Excellent source for structuralism and its tenets and premises. Provides key works, methodologies, and criticisms. Thorough website.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Innovative Lives: Stephanie Kwolek and Kevlar, the Wonder Fiber

For Students 9th - 10th
Smithsonian site features Stephanie Kwolek, the inventor of kevlar. Learn about her famous discovery and the road she took to get there. Contains links to read more about women inventors.
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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: What Can You Make From a Buffalo?

For Students 3rd - 6th
The northern Plains Indians used every part of the buffalo. In this interactive matching game, students will match objects made by Native Americans from the buffalo.
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Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Indian: Queen of America

For Students 9th - 10th
Pocahontas is that rare historical figure who captivated people in her own time and in every generation that followed. Take a closer look at the story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith in this Frieze of American History from the...
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Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Indian: Battle of Little Bighorn

For Students 9th - 10th
The Battle of Little Bighorn made an immense impression on American society and culture. Americans became obsessed with this battle and created artworks, shows, postcards, and dime novels. View primary sources from this era to understand...
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Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: National Museum of the American Indian: The Removal Act

For Students 9th - 10th
At first, the Trail of Tears only described the Cherokee removal of 1838. Later it included the removals of all southeastern Native nations. Take a close look at these primary sources from the Smithsonian which include a reproduction of...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Prehistoric Climate Change and Why It Matters Today

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In a lesson in this issue of Smithsonian in Your Classroom, students do the work of a team of paleontologists studying a time of rising carbon dioxide and rapid global warming during the Eocene epoch. By examining fossils of tree leaves,...
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Article
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Gardens: Butterfly Gardening Fact Sheet [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of butterfly gardening. Learn about the life cycle of the butterfly, what plants attract them and what we can do as a society to preserve these marvelous habitats.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: It's All in the Watershed

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about your ecological home on this site. The nation shares the Chesapeake Bay watershed, our ecological home. Most stories on this site focus on separate plants and animals, but together, these stories literally show a web of life.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: Earth From Space

For Students 9th - 10th
You may not have seen the monsoon rains in India or Mount Taranaki in New Zealand, but thanks to the Smithsonian's online exhibit, it's easy to observe the earths natural and man made features. Click on "Online Exhibition" to view and...
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Anacostia Museum: The Renaissance: Black Art of the Twenties

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an informative description of the "Black Arts of the Twenties," which was better known as the Harlem Renaissance. Learn about the culture, art, music, and writings of this period.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: September 11: Bearing Witness to History

For Students 9th - 10th
The Smithsonian Institution has collected thousands of items and stories connected with the September 11 attack. View the items, read about them, and listen to the stories of survivors, first responders, and families of those who...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: The Star Spangled Banner

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the history of the flag, and events of 1814 that affected Francis Scott Key, author of the anthem.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Slave Life and the Underground Railroad

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief summary of the history of African American slavery and the Underground Railroad. Activities and books pertaining to slave life, plantations, and the Underground Railroad are suggested.