+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

For Land's Sake: George Washington as Land Surveyor

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students discuss the importance of land ownership and the purpose of land surveying in the eighteenth century. They interpret a transcript of an eighteenth-century land survey. They survey and area of land. They create a written or...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Hidden George Washington: Word Search with a Twist

For Students 6th - 8th
Learners identify significant people, places, events and milestones in George Washington's personal and professional life. They complete crossword using facts about George Washington.
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Geometric Shapes Collage

For Teachers K - 3rd Standards
Junior geometers practice stating the names of different geometric shapes. They define and name the different shapes and compare and contrast shapes to one another. They also relate the shapes to objects in the real world.
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Reflections of the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students, after listening to a selection of Gulliver's Travels, complete a worksheet about basic terms associated with boats, ships, and sailing. They create flag after researching semaphore flagging systems.
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Picturing George: A Pictorial Survey of the Life of George Washington

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create pictorial biographies of George Washington. Working in groups, they research various portions of Washington's life, highlighting significant events. After presenting their projects to the class, they are displayed for...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Looking at a National Treasure: George Washington

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explain the definition of a portrait. They identify the visual clues that Gilbert Stuart included in his portrait of George Washington. They compare the reproduction to other images of Washington. They discuss the importance of...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

In His Own Words: George Washington Quotation Timeline

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students read and analyze a series of excerpts from George Washington's letters, journal, and speeches to match quotations to the event or date in his life. They identify the author or source of the historical document or narrative. They...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

The Proper Gentlemen: George Washington and "The Rules of Civility"

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read and interpret a portion of the "Rules of Civility." They describe the significance of these rules in Washington's time. They discuss how the rules might be significant in today's world. They write rules of etiquette that...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

What Qualified George Washington to be President?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students create a list of characteristics, qualifications, and skills that make an effective President of the United States. They determine what qualificatons George Washington posessed that made him the right choice for President of the...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Of Human Bondage: George Washington and The Issue of Slavery

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners read and interpret four documents George Washington wrote regarding his slaves. They analyze why George Washington was conflicted over the issue of slavery. They discuss the evolution of Washington's attitude toward slavery.
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Giving Speeches: George Washington's First and Second Inaugural Addresses

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars discuss the purpose of the President of the United States giving an inaugural address. They describe their impressions of any inaugural speaches they have heard or read. Students research events leading up to Washington's...
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Magazine: Eco Center: The Oceans

For Students 9th - 10th
Students explore the potential problems and fascinating phenomena of the oceans. Some topics investigated are climate change, nutrient pollution, and fishing. The resource consists of a quiz, slideshows, articles, and video clips.
+
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: First Lady for the Environment

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This resource provides information about Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and the efforts she put forth to preserve the environment. Activities, videos, and book recommendation are included.
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: A Vision of Puerto Rico

For Students 9th - 10th
A virtual look at a wide-ranging mix of art and artifacts that visually represent Puerto Rico's culture and history. With thematic overviews of everyday life on the island, music, families, and religion along with many useful educational...
+
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Building a Sod House

For Students 3rd - 8th
Ready to be an early settler on the plains? While playing this interactive game, you'll get to build your own sod house ..if ..you have the right answers.
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Whatever Happened to Polio?

For Students 9th - 10th
Online exhibit commemorates the discovery of the polio vaccine. Includes a timelined history of the disease, beginning with the first clinical description of polio by British physician Michael Underwood. Inquiries into the research to...
+
Article
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: July 1942: United We Stand

For Students 9th - 10th
Exhibit, honoring a nationwide design contest to encourage Americans to buy war bonds while boosting morale, explains the rationale for the campaign and tells the stories behind the magazine covers designed for the campaign.
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: The Price of Freedom: Americans at War

For Students 9th - 10th
View comprehensive sets of artifacts that tell the story of America's wartime past and present. Artifacts from every major American military conflict, beginning with the American Revolution, can be closely examined. Full curatorial notes...
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Sports: Breaking Records: Breaking Barriers

For Students 9th - 10th
A virtual exhibit featuring sports legends and great Olympians from more than a dozen sports. See artifacts from the Smithsonian's sports collection, and explore the exhibition spotlights on athletes who dominated their sports.
+
Article
Smithsonian Institution

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: Paleoamerican Origins

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed article from the Encyclopedia Smithsonian lays out the theories and evidence of who were the earliest inhabitants of North and South America. Beginning with the traditional theory of migration using the land bridge, and...
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: A Mouse Like a House? A Pocket Elephant?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teachers can download this teaching package that discusses the limits on animal size, both big and small, and what effect size has on animals. Students will enjoy the hands-on activities described in the lessons. Teachers will appreciate...
+
PPT
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Walk on the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
This online lesson helps students explore primary sources, including photographs and audio and video recordings, in order to learn about the Apollo crew and spacecraft, the history of the space race, and the incredible technological...
+
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Impacto, Influencia, Cambio: Meet Dr. Ellen Ochoa

For Students 9th - 10th
Meet the first Latina in space Dr. Ellen Ochoa, presented here by Smithsonian in a short biography and descriptions of her missions.
+
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Smithsonian Education presents a series of three lesson plans whose focus is plants and animals in their role as partners in pollination. Each lesson comes complete with clear learning objectives, materials list, subjects covered,...