Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

Distinguished in a high-collared, red shirt and gold jewelry, Alma Thomas wears her hair up and looks directly at the viewer. Her arms are crossed loosely, and she sits before a green background.

Three Takes on Alma Thomas as an Artist, Civil Rights Advocate, and Lifelong Learner

What if the world was changing all around you and you could catch the most exciting, inspirational, and beautiful bits on canvas? While facing change and challenge, artist Alma Thomas found beauty all around. This article takes three views of her life and art to uncover surprising complexity in her vibrant paintings.

A black ink on a red-orange poster board with a small picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the top left and Joseph Lowery at the top right. The poster reads: [SCLC / INJUSTICE / Anywhere... / a threat to / JUSTICE / EVERYWHERE / M. L. KING].

Teaching a More Complete Picture of MLK

CHSDM1.jpg

Equipping the Next Generation of Radical Optimists in an Era of Uncertainty

NorthHallrendering.png

Sharing Hopeful Visions for a Sustainable Future With Learners of All Ages

Smithsonian EdX Course for Teachers

Ten Ready-to-Use Resources for Your Teaching Toolkit

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

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

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

A participant from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum's

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

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

Middle school students learning with educational resources on American Indian removal produced by the National Museum of the American Indian. (Alex Jamison)

Transforming Teaching and Learning About Native Americans

A boy adds a wish for the health of delivery workers during the 2020 pandemic. This paper wish tree is inspired by artist Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree for Washington, on view at the Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden.

Using Museum Resources to Help Preserve Childhood in a Pandemic

Latest

Three Takes on Alma Thomas as an Artist, Civil Rights Advocate, and Lifelong Learner

Teaching a More Complete Picture of MLK

Categories
Archive