Scurlock Studio Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

For Parents

This section of the website was designed especially for you. The activities and resources are based upon proven educational principles and learning theories.

Children learn and retain more information when online activities provide opportunities to interact and respond. Activities may be done by an individual and as a family working together (see below links to Family Activities). We have provided information for you to better guide the learner in discovery and applying knowledge.

At the beginning of each lesson, a Learning ObjectiveAt the beginning of each lesson plan, a Learning Objective sets forth what the learner must be able to say or do after completing the lesson, in order to demonstrate that they have achieved the stated objective. outlines what the learner is anticipated to be able to accomplish after the activity.

All of the educational activities make use of Object-based LearningMuseum education begins with the exploration of an object (artifacts, specimens, art, etc.). This is called Object-based Learning. Through observation and the use of questions, the learner will gain insight about the object and the people who used the object. This helps the learner make connections to their own experience, to gain a deeper understanding of the object and the time in which it was used. . Each activity supports learning through the exploration of objects.

Activities encourage higher level thinking skills as outlined in Bloom's TaxonomyBloom's Taxonomy is a system that outlines the six levels of intellectual behavior which are important to learning, starting with Knowledge (e.g., simple recall). The levels progress through increasingly more complex and abstract mental activity to the highest level, Evaluation (e.g., comparing). Benjamin Bloom was an educational psychologist who spearheaded the development of a learning classification system.

Educational activities make use of Advance OrganizersAn Advance Organizer is information given prior to learning. This information helps the learner to organize and interpret new information and to improve recall. to prepare the mind for learning new information.

Save Our African American Treasures

Family Activity: Recording Family History (pdf)

Let Your Motto Be Resistance

Family Exhibition Programs in Washington, DC (pdf)

Family Activity: Make a Museum Exhibit (pdf)

Family Activity: Hats Off to Museum Careers (pdf)

Family Activity: My Photo Collection (pdf)

Family Activity: You Are the Photographer (pdf)

Children's Literature List (pdf)

Educational Philosophy (pdf)