Smithsonian Education

Ever heard the phrase "slow looking" and wondered what it meant? Our latest blog post explains and outlines activities to help you try slow looking: https://s.si.edu/41SAIsx #CuriosityWelcomed

Looks like a few presidents snuck out of their frames… ?? The Washington Nationals Racing Presidents stopped by our National Portrait Gallery before their #OpeningDay game tomorrow. If you’ve been to the Portrait Gallery’s “America’s Presidents,” these four will be familiar faces: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt.

Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) founded Girl Scouts of the USA, which has served over 50 million members for 113 years. The 1948 3-cent Juliette Gordon Low Issue stamp from the National Postal Museum collection features her portrait and the Girl Scout Trefoil. Today, Low appears on the newest coin in the American Women Quarters? Program, a collaboration between our museum and the United States Mint. ??? Celebrate her legacy this Wednesday, March 26, at 4:00 p.m. at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC, with Girl Scouts of the USA and Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum. RSVP: https://s.si.edu/4l0815L ??: Copyright United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

It’s one of D.C.’s coolest jobs: Uncovering fossils at the Smithsonian Institution's Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Learn more about what it means to be a “fossil preparator” in today's episode of "Matt About Town" with Matt Kaufax. Find more episodes of "Matt About Town" on WTOP: https://lnkd.in/ecacMNBA

Get ready for a wild learning adventure! ???? NHSA and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are bringing Zoo in the Classroom—a high-energy, interactive experience designed just for Head Start & Early Head Start programs! Through music, movement, and live animal lessons, children will stay active, engaged, and thriving while learning about amazing zoo creatures! ????

Released just a few days after the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Smithsonian Gardens and Smithsonian Education share a new guide for learners of all ages to explore the many different careers that support garden spaces, consider the important role that pollinators play in our habitats, explore the vast array of Smithsonian collection objects and artworks that draw inspiration from the natural world, and gather tips and ideas from horticulturists ranging from caring for orchids to determining which materials to compost at home. The guide also brings garden stories submitted by the public through the Community of Gardens digital archive to readers nationwide— helping to preserve our diverse garden heritage through everyday garden stories and to serve as a reminder that we all have experiences and memories shaped by gardens and green spaces around us. Read more and download your copy today! https://lnkd.in/eBBQDmDw #SmithsonianEdu

??Earth Day Celebration: A Day Unplugged | Saturday April 19, 2025 |10am - 2pm Step away from the screens and reconnect with nature! Join us for a fun-filled, educational day celebrating the beauty of our planet with hands-on activities for all ages. ??Let us know your coming: https://s.si.edu/4j0gaFI ?? Little Critters: Nature Play with The National Zoo Bring the whole family for an interactive exploration of what makes Earth such a special place! Enjoy gardening sensory play, paint your own planet Earth to take home, and discover ways to care for the environment. Take a storytime hike with Nature Play educators and learn how to appreciate and protect our natural world. (Bring an extra pair of clothes and closed-toe shoes!) ?? Urban Gardening with Derek Thomas Learn how to grow a thriving garden—even in the heart of the city! This hands-on workshop will cover: ?? Soil and plant nutrition basics ?? Container and grow bag gardening techniques ?? Multi-planting strategies for year-round harvests ?? A take-home grow bag garden for participants! (While supplies last) ?? Tree Planting Ceremony We will honor Zora Martin-Felton and Gail Lowe, pioneers of our gardening and cultural programs, with a special tree dedication. Participants will also receive a sapling to plant at home (While supplies last), along with expert guidance on caring for urban trees. ?? Farm Stand Kickoff by Fresh Farm Market (10 AM – 2 PM) Browse fresh, local produce and enjoy light snacks as we launch ACM’s seasonal Farm Stand! Come celebrate Earth Day with us—unplug, explore, and grow!

Planning a field trip to the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution? Your students will love our live planetarium show, which journeys through the night sky, led by a Museum educator. Free reserved planetarium shows are offered every Tuesday morning for schools on field trips. Learn more: https://s.si.edu/4iLmCA6

Pippin Peppers add color and flavor to dishes, but did you know they were almost lost to history? When Harlem Hellfighter and artist Horace Pippin returned from World War I, he collected fish peppers in the Philadelphia area. Pippin traded these rare spicy peppers seeds with farmer H. Ralph Weaver in exchange for bees, which Pippin used to treat a wartime wound. Decades later, Weaver’s grandson found the seeds in a freezer and shared them with the public. Today, Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists plant a variety of peppers associated with artist Horace Pippen in the Heritage Garden at our Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The colors are bold and vibrant, a reflection of Pippin’s career as a painter. Discover Pippin’s story and more Smithsonian connections to plants, gardens, and the natural world in our new educational activity guide with USA Today. s.si.edu/HumanNatureGuide ??? : Portrait of Horace Pippin by Carl Van Vechten in 1940. In the collection of our National Portrait Gallery.

How do you connect with nature? From pollinator gardens to houseplants, a new educational guide from the Smithsonian Institution features tips for exploring our connections to plants, gardens, and the natural world around us. Discover how the “Human/Nature” connection can not only benefit your health, but spark your imagination. Download your free copy today: s.si.edu/HumanNatureGuide #SmithsonianGardens #SmithsonianEdu