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Talk With Me Toolkit

Early Learning Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
Preschool (0 to 4 years old), Primary (5 to 8 years old)
Teacher/Educator, Curriculum Developer, Museum Staff
Language Arts And English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts
Smithsonian Staff

If this is your first time using the Talk with Me Toolkits, we recommend you start at the new project page that includes six additional revamped toolkits

The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!

To read more, see, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge site, The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation.

Talk With Me Toolkit's collections

 

Me and My World: My Body is Amazing

<p><span class="default-formula-text-color"></span><em>Talk with Me!</em><br></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts. Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>To read more, see, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge site, <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480">The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation</a>.</p> <p><span class="default-formula-text-color"></span></p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
19
 

NATURE: Who Lives at the Shore?

<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>To read more, see, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge site, <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480" target="_blank">The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation</a>.</p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
18
 

ART: A Visit to the Art Museum

<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>To read more, see, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge site, <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480" target="_blank">The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation.</a></p> <p></p> <p></p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
24
 

ART: Imagination

<p><em>Talk with Me!</em></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>To read more, see, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Usable Knowledge site, <a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/uk/author/bari-walsh/517480" target="_blank">The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation.</a></p><p></p> <p></p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
17
 

MUSIC: Dance to the Beat!

<p><em></em><em>Talk with Me!</em></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>This collection explores Music. All children, including young children, have musical potential! For more information, check out the National Association for Music Education and their statement on music in early childhood here:  <a href="https://nafme.org/about/position-statements/early-childhood-music-education/">https://nafme.org/about/position-statements/early-childhood-music-education/</a></p> <p><em>This series of four Smithsonian Learning Lab collections is funded as part of the <a href="https://music.si.edu/smithsonian-year-music" target="_blank">Smithsonian Year of Music</a></em>. #SmithsonianMusic </p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
19
 

MUSIC: Create and Improvise

<p><strong></strong><em>Talk with Me!</em></p> <p>Having conversations with young children contributes to their thinking and language development. All conversations are good, but research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than the quantity. Further, what’s best is an exchange; in other words, talk with children, not at them.</p> <p>The Talk with Me Toolkits give parents and caregivers thematically organized high-quality, authentic materials to make children their conversational partners in discussions that matter. Each online toolkit features captivating videos and real-world photographs, as well as intriguing paintings and other artworks to observe and discuss through conversation prompts.  Hands-on activities and books complete each toolkit. Simple instructions appear right in the toolkits, so you can jump right in. See what interests your child and get started. There’s a lot to talk about!</p> <p>This collection explores Music. All children, including young children, have musical potential! For more information, check out the National Association for Music Education and their statement on music in early childhood here:  <a href="https://nafme.org/about/position-statements/early-childhood-music-education/">https://nafme.org/about/position-statements/early-childhood-music-education/</a>.</p> <p><em>This series of four Smithsonian Learning Lab collections is funded as part of the <a href="https://music.si.edu/smithsonian-year-music" target="_blank">Smithsonian Year of Music</a></em>. #SmithsonianMusic <br /></p>
Talk With Me Toolkit
21