<p>A few objects that reflect borders -- both to keep people out and to keep them in.  Also, objects that show people's resilience even in the worst of times.</p>

<p>A box is a container with a flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular and having a lid.  Or is it?  Look at the collection of boxes.  How do you think these boxes are used?  How are they different in shape? size? material?  Why do you think they are so different?</p>

<p>This collection would complement a children's book about panda babies or other animal babies, focusing on how animals grow and change. The collection uses the "See, Think, Wonder" thinking routine developed by the Project Zero Program at Harvard University.</p>

Astronauts need food and good nutrition to stay healthy in space. This collection looks at the challenges in preparing, packaging, transporting, and storing food in space. What innovations were required? What problems needed to be solved? How did the problems change over time? This collection uses the "See Think Wonder" visible thinking routine developed by Project Zero at Harvard University. This strategy encourages students to make careful observations and thoughtful interpretations. It helps stimulate curiosity and sets the stage for inquiry. First, Watch the Apollo 11 TV broadcast of July 22, 1969 of an astronaut eating in space (22 seconds). Use the "See Think Wonder" routine to stimulate interest among students about the problems encountered by astronauts when trying to eat. Ask, "What do you see? What do you think about that? What does it make you wonder?" Next look at the second image in the collection, "Space Food, Meal Package, Day 11, Meal C, Apollo 11 (white)". Repeat the questions examining both the food and the label. Next, ask students to search the collection for "space food" and assemble one meal -- breakfast, lunch or dinner. Compare the different meals created by students using the see, think, wonder routine. For example, what kinds of foods do they see (or not see)? How are the foods packaged and how does it change over time? How are the more recent foods different from the first meals? The purpose of this discussion is to help students see how engineering problems and solutions evolve over time. Ask students, what impact would longer missions have on packing meals for space? Watch the video, "Three Types of Food," and compare the information in the video with student ideas. Then ask students to propose solutions for the current question -- "How can we grow food in space?"

<p>Watch these videos of birds. Use the "What Makes You Say That?" visible thinking routine, one of the visible thinking routines developed by Project Zero. This routine helps students describe what they see or know and asks them to build explanations. This is an introductory activity for a unit on birds or adaptation. The activity's strategy is intended to be used with the whole class to have a conversation about the topic. </p> <p>First, watch the video on gannets -- without sound -- using the prompts "What's going on? What do you see that makes you say that?" Discuss responses. Then watch the video with sound and compare.</p> <p>Second, watch one or more of the short videos documenting a Black-backed Woodpecker, Bee Hummingbird, New Zealand Falcon, Laughing Kookaburra, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Oystercatcher, American Goldfinch, Osprey and Orange-crowned Warbler. Focus students' attention on the beak, asking them to describe how birds use their beaks and citing evidence to support their claims.</p>

Tree banding is one of the activities included in the SHOUT program, a two-year investigation of land and water issues led by Smithsonian scientists. Watch the videos to learn how to band trees and collect data about their growth and why this information matters.

Videos about how to make books

This Smithsonian collection about Baltimore sports.

This teaching collection includes photographs of China during the first half of the twentieth century by different photographers. First analyze a photograph answering the questions on the handout -- just by looking closely. Then, open the label for the photograph and add additional information. Next, discuss the point of view of the photographer based on your analysis. Finally, research the photographer to learn more about her or her perspective. Why is it important to investigate a topic from more than one perspective?

Diary entries from Mary Henry during the Civil War.