Talk With Me Toolkit
Early Learning Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
Primary (5 to 8 years old)
Teacher/Educator, Librarian/Media Specialist, Curriculum Developer, Home School Instructor, Museum Staff
Language Arts And English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts
Smithsonian Staff
Talk with Me Toolkits provide caregivers chances to talk with their children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk. The online Toolkits give caregivers ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme, and feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. Toolkits also include hands-on activities and books about the topic. Go through each Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about! Simple instructions appear in the Toolkits, so you can jump right in.
Use the implementation manual for the Talk with Me Toolkits to learn ways to use the Toolkits.
Watch a Cultivating Learning seminar with Penn State's Goodling Institute educators to learn more about using these Toolkits.
This project is developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy at Pennsylvania State University, and Family Place Libraries - an initiative of the Middle Country Library Foundation. These 12 Toolkits were adapted from the original collections developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, with a grant awarded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Talk With Me Toolkit's collections
NATURE: Who Lives at the Shore?
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about who lives at the shore! This Toolkit will help you explore the creatures and animals who live at the shore. <em><br></em></p>
<p><em>Talk with Me Toolkits </em>provide you with chances to talk with your children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great - and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk. </p>
<p>Talk with me Toolkits give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!<br><br>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.<br></p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.<br></p>
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NATURE: Who Lives in the Trees?
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about who lives in the trees! This Toolkit will help you explore the creatures and animals who live in the trees.</p>
<p><em>Talk with me Toolkits</em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!</p>
<p>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
<p>Click the "i" information icon to learn more about each individual resource. </p>
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MUSIC: Travel this Land
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em><br></p>
<p>Learn about this land and music related to this land. This Toolkit will help you explore this land!</p>
<p><em>Talk with me Toolkits</em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!</p>
<p>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this To</em><em>olkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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Me and My World: Our Bodies Are Amazing
<p><span class="default-formula-text-color"></span><em>Talk with Me!</em><br></p>
<p>Learn about our amazing bodies! This Toolkit will help you explore how your body works and how amazing it is.</p>
<p><em>Talk with me Toolkits</em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!</p>
<p>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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AIR & SPACE: Looking at the Moon
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about the moon and how it changes. This Toolkit will help you explore the moon!</p>
<p><em>Talk with me Toolkits</em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!</p>
<p>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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Nature: Who Lives in the Soil?
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about soil and animals that live in it! This toolkit will help you get to know bugs, insects, worms, and other animals that live in soil and have fun with related activities.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> provide caregivers chances to talk with their children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> give caregivers ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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</p>
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Art: Colors, Shapes, Lines
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p><em></em>Learn about colors, shapes, lines with this toolkit and have fun with related activities.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> provide caregivers chances to talk with their children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> give caregivers ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480" target="_blank"></a></p>
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Me and My World: My Neighborhood
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Learn about your community and neighborhood. In this Toolkit will get to explore different homes, shops, and people in your neighborhood and have fun with related activities.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a></em> provide you with chances to talk with your children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a></em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkits feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!<em><br></em></p>
<p><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.<br><br><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</em></p>
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Music: Animal Tracks
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about the sounds animals make and how they move! In this Toolkit you will get to know different animals and have fun with related activities.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a></em> provide you with chances to talk with your children to support thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> </em>gives you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkits feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.<em></em></p>
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Art: Light & Shadow
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">Learn about lights and shadows and how they occur in the world around us. In this Toolkit you will get to explore how light on objects can make shadows and you will have fun with related activities!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> </em>provide you with chances to talk with your children to support thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a></em> gives you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkit feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</em><em></em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480" target="_blank"></a></p>
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Air & Space: Can it Fly?
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p>
<p>Learn about things that fly and how they do it! In this Toolkit you will get to explore animals and aircraft and have fun with different related activities.<em><br><br><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> </em>provide you with chances to talk with your children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.<em><br><br><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/org/talk-with-me-toolkits">Talk with Me Toolkits</a> </em>gives you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkits feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!<br><br><em>This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</em><em><br><br></em><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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AIR & SPACE: Air Moves!
<p><em>Talk with Me!</em><br></p>
<p>Learn about air moving. This Toolkit will help you explore air, wind, and how air moves.<br></p>
<p><em>Talk with me Toolkits</em> give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. They feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artwork along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each Toolkit there are activities to do and books to read together. Go through this Toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!</p>
<p>This Toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.</p>
<p><em>Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted</em>.</p>
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