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Meredith Osborne

Meredith Osborne has been with the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center since 2014. She began working as a lead infant teacher and then worked as a lead toddler teacher before becoming the Infant and Toddler Specialist. Meredith is originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio and came to Washington, DC to study Museum Education at the George Washington University where she received a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). She has worked with a wide variety of audiences and believes children are never too young to learn while in a museum.

Meredith Osborne's collections

 

Bisa Butler: A Classroom Exploration

<p>How can you create art using fabric? This classroom exploration is on Bisa Butler an artist who creates portraits using quilting techniques. Look closely at "<em>I Go To Prepare A Place For You</em>" a quilted portrait of Harriet Tubman. Compare and contrast the quilted portrait to the photograph which inspired it. To learn more about quilting techniques, you will look at the patterns, textures, colors, and fabrics in a variety of quilts. </p> <p>Create your own fabric inspired art. Start by choosing fabric. Consider how the fabric feels. Practice new skill sets of sewing and stitching. Learn to thread a needle and make zig-zags like Bisa Butler. This project was inspired by a Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center's <a href="https://seecstories.com/tag/bisa-butler-project/">Teacher Feature on Bisa Butler.</a>  </p>
Meredith Osborne
35
 

Batiks: A Classroom Exploration

<p>What lines and shapes might represent you? This classroom exploration is on batiks - a fabric that this made by applying wax and then dyeing to create lines, shapes, and patterns. Explore the history of batiks and learn about how different batiks appeal to different people and cultures. Create a batik inspired project using fabric, glue, and paint. </p> <p>This project was inspired by a Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center's <a href="https://seecstories.com/tag/bisa-butler-project/">Teacher Feature on Bisa Butler.</a> To learn more about the batik process, read the blog <a href="https://seecstories.com/2022/11/14/making-batiks-bisa-butler-project/">Making Batiks: Bisa Butler Project</a>.</p>
Meredith Osborne
32
 

Saturn V Rockets

<p>Objectives</p> <ul><li> Learn that astronauts took rocket ships (Saturn V) to the moon   </li><li> Pretend to be on the moon</li><li> Imagine being in a place that is different from earth</li></ul><p></p>
Meredith Osborne
24
 

Dramatic Play Pirate

<p>Objectives:</p><ul><li>Be exposed to pirate motifs (eye patch, parrot, jolly roger flag) </li><li>Learn that pirate sail ships    </li><li>Talk about ideas of fair and unfair, hero and wrongdoers </li><li>Learn about Anne Bonny and Mary Read two famous women pirates </li><li>Explore through play fair and unfair and hero and wrongdoers </li></ul>
Meredith Osborne
19
 

Pretend Robots

<p>Objectives</p><ul><li>Learn closely at a variety of fictional and toy robots</li><li>Compare and contrast a group of fictional and toy robots</li><li>Develop an understanding that people like to imagine different types of robots</li><li>Have the opportunity to create their own pretend robot using various household items</li><li>Think creatively and be inspired to wonder</li></ul>
Meredith Osborne
30
 

Stanley - The Driverless Car

<p>Objectives </p> <ul><li>Learn that robots need special sensors to help them understand the world around them</li><li>Discover that we use our senses to help learn more about the world around us</li><li>Explore our senses</li><li>Compare our senses to the senses of Stanley the driverless car </li></ul>
Meredith Osborne
14
 

Fire Engine vs Fire Pumper

<p>Objectives: </p> <ul><li> Learn that firefighters are people who help keep you safe</li><li> Discover that firefighters use fire trucks to help them get to the fire quickly</li><li> Compare familiar firetrucks to the less familiar hand pump fire truck in the museum</li></ul><p></p>
Meredith Osborne
30
 

Expressing Emotions

<p>Objectives</p><p>● Identify facial features<br />● Learn about different ways to communicate<br />● Discover that the way your face looks can communicate emotions<br />● Explore different emotions and how faces might look when expressing emotions<br />● Build empathy by learning how others might express their emotions</p><p></p>
Meredith Osborne
15
 

Emotion Eruptions

<p>Objectives </p><ul><li>Build an emotional literacy </li><li>Discuss ways to calm down body instead of erupting </li><li>Use bells to practice breathing and mindfulness</li><li>Explore ancient bells of China</li></ul>
Meredith Osborne
38
 

Red Light; Green Light

Meredith Osborne
7
 

Car Design

<p>Objectives: </p><ul><li>Discover that cars come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors  </li><li>Learn that some design elements improve functions of cars and some are purely aesthetic  </li><li>Have the opportunity to design own car  </li></ul><p><br /></p>
Meredith Osborne
13
 

Wheels and Axles

<p>Objectives:</p> <ul><li>Identify the shape of a wheel</li><li>Experiment with differently shaped wheels   </li><li>Learn that wheels and axles help heavy things move  </li></ul>
Meredith Osborne
9