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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Nm Af A: In and Out of Focus: Images From Central Africa 1885 1960

For Students 9th - 10th
This exhibit from the National Museum of African Art has several series of photos taken mainly by Westerners from 1885-1960. Includes slideshows. Textual explanations accompany the photos.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African Art: Art of the Personal Object

For Students 9th - 10th
Exhibition takes you on a tour of African art that was made to be both seen and used. Find examples of everyday objects - pipes, stools, headrests, bowls - that demonstrate the African ideal of crafting utilitarian objects of great beauty.
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Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African Art: Activity Room

For Students 3rd - 8th
Come discover Madagascar--its geography, animals, music and language. Test your current knowledge and learn new things too.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African Art: Where Do I Come From?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out where each African pot was made. Watch the country light up on the map and read a little bit about how it was created.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Nm Af A: Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Source: Invention: Every Picture Has a Story

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Use this lesson plan to introduce students to the history of photography and to the sorts of stories that historical photographs.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: A Journey Through Art With w.h. Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover one of our nation's great African American artists. See images of his colorful work and try out some of the suggested activities coupled with each piece.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Singular Impressions: The Monotype in America

For Students 9th - 10th
Monotype is a unique form of printmaking wherein the artist makes only one print. This impressive collection displays American monoprints and outlines a bit about the history of the monotype in America. Includes information about the...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: American Impressionism

For Students 9th - 10th
The Smithsonian American Art Museum contains examples of works by many of the American Impressionists. With each work, there is a brief bit of information regarding the work. Click "Artworks" in the toolbar to view a slideshow of the...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Director's Choice

For Students 9th - 10th
The director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum applies her analytical skills in explaining the formal and aesthetic qualities of her favorite American masterworks from the Smithsonian's collection of American art.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Eyeing America: The Prints of Robert Cottingham

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, artist Robert Cottingham takes you on a visual tour across America with his works of art. View his complete collection that showcases commercial signs.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Scenes of American Life

For Students 9th - 10th
A stunning array of art from the Smithsonian American Art Museum depicting everyday life and work in America from American masters such as Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, and Paul Cadmus. Use the right navigation to click through over 60...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Abbott Handerson Thayer

For Students 9th - 10th
The Smithsonian American Art Museum offers this introduction to American artist Abbott Handerson Thayer, who is known for his idealized and other-worldly depictions of women, angels, and nature. Read a brief biography of the artist, then...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Lure of the West

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhibit from the Smithsonian includes 70 paintings and sculptures by famous American Western artists such as Catlin, Baker, Bierstadt, and Remington.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Robert Indiana

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A kid-friendly biography and introduction to pop artist Robert Indiana. Asks some thoughtful questions and gives fun facts about the artist.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Young America in Art

For Students 9th - 10th
An historical site from the Smithsonian American Art Museum that shows the growth of America through art work by over 45 artists. This site by the Smithsonian Institute has fascinating images showing American artists depicting the...
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Lure of the West

For Students 9th - 10th
Beautiful artwork from the more famous artists who depicted the people, places and things of the American West.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: "Flying Dutchman" and "Jonah"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Smithsonian American Art Museum presents several paintings by Albert Pinkham Ryder. Content includes background information about the paintings and a discussion of the techniques Ryder used.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Repatriation

For Students 9th - 10th
"Repatriation", returning to one's origin, is a program running through the Smithsonian examining Native American artifacts.
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Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: The Splendor of Diamonds

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of seven rare diamond types, among the most valuable in the world. All but one is a unique color, and each has a special title. Read a short descriptive history of each diamond.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Laysan Albatross

For Students 9th - 10th
This Smithsonian website has a brief, but thorough, article on the Laysan Albatross that also includes a picture.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Hall of Mammals: Giant Anteater

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief illustrated overview of the giant anteater and an accompanying video demonstrate how this "food specialist lives up to his name".
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Bald Eagle

For Students 9th - 10th
This Smithsonian website has a brief but thorough article on the Bald Eagles. Content also includes pictures and an extensive quote from naturalist Edward Nelson as he discusses the role of eagles in Eskimo myth.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Walrus

For Students 9th - 10th
This Smithsonian website has a brief, but thorough, article on the Walrus that also includes pictures and an extensive quote from naturalist Edward Nelson.