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

For Educators

This section of the website was designed especially for you. The activities and resources are based upon proven educational principles and learning theories. We have provided information for you to better guide the learner in discovery and applying knowledge.

Each lesson lists curriculum connections for educator's whose classrooms are guided by Learning StandardsLearning Standards refer to core educational content in history, mathematics, science, English and social studies from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Individual state school systems set their own levels of competency by grade..

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.

Bloom's Taxonomy (pdf)

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.

The lessons are designed as a supplemental curriculum. They may be used by either one student or the entire class. The worksheets are available in PDF format:

Curriculum: Save Our African American Treasures:

3rd – 5th Grade Lesson: Protecting Family History (pdf)

New Learning Worksheet (pdf)

Museum Careers (pdf)

Washington, DC (pdf)

Curriculum: Let Your Motto Be Resistance:

K – 2nd Grade Lesson: A Picture Says a Thousand Words (pdf)

3rd – 6th Grade Lesson: Take a Stand (pdf)

Children's Literature List (pdf)

Educational Philosophy (pdf)