Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

Smithsonian’s National Zoo AMZAP members

Why a Group of Zoo and Aquarium Professionals Wants to Ensure the Future of Their Field Is More Inclusive

Over 300 professionals across the U.S. are putting visibility and representation in the zoo and aquarium field at the forefront of their work, focusing on approaches such as networking, outreach, mentorship, and professional development

The Smithsonian's Under Secretary for Education welcomes teachers and students back to a new school year and highlights the ways the Smithsonian plans to build and enrich a national culture of learning. (Getty Images)

Back to School With the Smithsonian

Hosted by the National Museum of American History, with participation from classrooms across the country, the 2021 National Youth Summit will examine the topic of gender equity, asking students to wrestle with history and take on challenging conversations. (Courtesy of National Museum of American History, Illustration by Krystal Quiles)

Setting the Stage for the Year through the National Youth Summit

Local Washington, D.C. based chef Jerome Grant was one of 12 presenters in the DCPS Career Ready Internship program for students interested in hospitality careers. Grant shared his philosophy around creating unforgettable dining experiences as a former chef in Smithsonian spaces including the Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian and Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Marvin Joseph, The Washington Post via Getty Images)

From Museum Chef to Zoo Educator, Careers Come to Life for Local Students

The Anacostia Community Museum was able to serve incarcerated audiences through use of newly issued tablets at the D.C. Jail. (Anacostia Community Museum)

Reaching Out to Those Behind Bars

Moments that highlight the joy and excitement of scientific inquiry—such as this student using a Van de Graaff generator—can spark interest in a STEM-related career. Here are some career-focused resources that can supplement that interest. (National Air and Space Museum)

Sparking Excitement About STEM Through Exposure to Career Pathways

A sampling of the creative projects inspired by artworks and artmaking techniques found within the Hirshhorn’s collections, available from the “Hirshhorn Kids at Home” series. (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

Fun (and Free) Ideas to Keep Kids Learning This Summer

As a virtual intern with the National Museum of American History, Samara Angel, works on coordinating a meeting for her professional learning projects in Experience Design. (National Museum of American History)

Can Remote Internships Be a Best Practice Instead of a Band-Aid?

The digital realm is not limited by the dimensions of the museum walls and instead brings learning experiences to visitors of all ages in new and exciting ways. (Smithsonian American Art Museum)

When the Physical World Meets the Digital World, New Realities Emerge

The National Zoo education team created an interactive, virtual field trip experience for 600 D.C. Public Schools kindergarteners to learn more about rainforest habitats, connecting to a children’s book they had read together. Here, the facilitator introduces students to a rainforest resident, the roseate spoonbill. (Smithsonian’s National Zoo)

Imaginations Run Wild with a Virtual Visit to the National Zoo

Through co-creation efforts with K-12 educators and Asian American community partners, the National Veterans Network, elementary and middle school educators, Asian Pacific American Center interns and National Museum of American History staff, learn more about the stories behind objects. (Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center)

What's Missing from Classrooms When Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices Aren't Included?

Through Smithsonian programs, like ARTLAB and the National Youth Summit, museum educators demonstrate how adult mentors can elevate the voices of teens in their communities. (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

How Educators Can Boost and Activate Teen Voices

A participant from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum's

Understanding the Power of Primary Sources through Home, Hand, and Heart

Children participate in a hands-on science activity with the Smithsonian Latino Center for a Dia del Niño festival hosted by LA Plaza de Cultura y Arte in Los Angeles, California. (Smithsonian Latino Center)

Bringing the Smithsonian to Learners Beyond the Museum

Bioimplantable device. Developed by Ellis Developments Ltd., manufactured by Pearsalls Ltd., designed by Prof. Simon Frostick, Dr. Lars Neumann, Prof. W. Angus Wallace, and Dr. Alan McLeod between 1997 and 2003, textile designed by Peter Butcher in 2004. Polyester. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Gift of Ellis Developments, Ltd., 2004-15-1. Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution

The Unexpected Connections that Fuel Remarkable Innovations

Elisa Hough interviews Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/San Juan Pueblo/Santee Dakota), a cultural specialist at the National Museum of the American Indian. (Daniel Martinez, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives.)

Learning through Listening

At the Smithsonian, educators have used the pedagogy of game-based learning to create innovative programs and activities that open the door to vast content and collections for learners of all ages. (National Museum of Natural History)

Changing the Game with Game-Based Learning

How Museums Can Be Spaces for Reflection and Connection (Even with Their Doors Closed)

This telescope located in Cerro Tololo, Chile is just one of many within the MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

Aiming for the Stars

When abstract concepts, such as fairness, race and differences, are explored with picture books, spoken about during play or introduced in activities like art-making, they are accessible to children and better understood. (Jaclyn Nash, National Museum of African American History and Culture)

Starting Conversations that Support Children Before Traumatic Events Happen

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Why a Group of Zoo and Aquarium Professionals Wants to Ensure the Future of Their Field Is More Inclusive

Back to School With the Smithsonian

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