Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail"

An American Story in Dance and Music Homepage

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:29:04 GMT

In 1943, Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi created Appalachian Spring, a ballet that told the story of an American pioneer community. By using this OurStory module, children and adults can enjoy exploring this history through children's literature, museum objects, and hands-on activities. Focused around Ballet for Martha an award-winning work of children's literature about the collaboration of three artists to create an American masterpiece, the module includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration.

Smithsonian Education Online Conference: Climate Change

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:55:35 GMT

Students and teachers can deepen their understanding of the challenge of climate change through this archived online conference. An excellent professional development resource, the homepage for the online conference provides the conference schedule and speakers, as well as general information about virtual conferences. Also included are links to learning activities, the conference blog, and a brief essay entitled Why the Ginkgo? that explains the importance of the Ginkgo tree to science, art history and research at the Smithsonian.

First Lady for the Environment Homepage

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:23:43 GMT

Learn more about First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Baines Johnson and her work to protect the environment and bring beauty to every community. This module from the OurStory program includes active reading suggestions and discussion questions for the illustrated biography Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers, by Kathi Appelt.

OurStory is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.