Scientists have had to record their observations in different ways throughout time. Use Google Sky to explore the sky, then share your observations through sketches and figurative language.  Included in an OurStory module from Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled Ex

Maria's Comet is a work of children's literature about a young girl who longs to study the stars.  Included in an OurStory module entitled Exploring the Sky, this activity includes strategies that will help adults and children actively read Maria's Comet together.

Find out about the sky through a field trip!  In this activity, children will determine the best way to observe the night sky (through a visit to a planetarium, using a telescope, or a trip outside in the evening) and discuss what they see.  The activity guide includes printable tip she

In this activity, students will examine an historical newspaper, a piece of historical fiction, and their social studies textbooks for accounts of the civil rights movement, and then define 'equality' and 'discrimination'. They will then use these definitions to look for instances of eq

Community service is an important part of being a good citizen. In this activity, students will discuss an episode from Freedom on the Menu, a work of children's literature about an important event during the Civil Rights Movement; identify a problem in their local community and then vol

Field trips are great ways to learn about life on the water. In this activity, students will find and explore a local maritime area-a river, seashore, or another place related to the water, and share the experience with others.  The activity guide includes printable tip sheets tailored to he

Have you ever wondered how the lights in lighthouses are so bright? In this activity, students will examine a Fresnel lens to develop an understanding of how some lighthouse lenses work. They will then apply their knowledge of the lighthouse lens technology to imagine a new invention using a ligh

For hundreds of years, seacoasts, rivers, lakes, and canals have had a big impact on the ways America has changed as a country.  By using this OurStory module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children and adults can enjoy exploring lighthouses and the maritime hist

What kinds of food do you eat? How do the foods you eat today compare to the types of foods that sailors ate during long voyages of the past? In this activity, students will cook one or more historical maritime recipes and then compare the foods they eat to what was served on ships in the past. I

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie is a work of children's literature about a young heroine who runs her family's lighthouse during a fierce storm. Included in an OurStory module entitled Life on the Water, this activity includes four strategies that will help adults and ch