<p>We often talk to children about the importance of being flexible and adapting to new situations. This lesson about mastodons focuses on how physical adaptations help animals live in different environments. By looking at the different body parts of both a mastodon and a modern day elephant, children are able to see similarities/differences and predict why these traits changed from the ice age period to present day. What about these physical traits help the animal in their environment? By observing and predicting, children are practicing their critical thinking skills and gaining deeper understandings than if they were simply told the answer.</p> <p>Designed as part of the Get a Head Start with the Smithsonian collaboration with the National Head Start Association, these activities support the following Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) standards:</p> <p>- Goal P-LC 1. Child attends to communication and language from others.</p> <p>- Goal P-LC 2. Child understands and responds to increasingly complex communication and language from others.<br></p> <p>- Goal P-ATL 11. Child shows interest in and curiosity about the world around them.</p> <p>- Goal P-ATL 13. Child uses imagination in play and interactions with others.<br></p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 1. Child observes and describes observable phenomena (objects, materials, organisms, and events).</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 2. Child engages in scientific talk.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 3. Child compares and categorizes observable phenomena.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 5. Child plans and conducts investigations and experiments.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 6. Child analyzes results, draws conclusions, and communicates results.</p> <p><strong>Goals for Scaffolding for Infants/Toddlers:</strong></p> <p>- Goal IT-LC 12. Child comprehends meaning from pictures and stories.</p> <p>- Goal IT-ATL 7. Child shows interest in and curiosity about objects, materials, or events.</p> <p>- Goal IT-ATL 8. Child uses creativity to increase understanding and learning.</p> <p>- Goal IT-C 1. Child actively explores people and objects to understand self, others, and objects.</p> <p>- Goal IT-C 2. Child uses understanding of causal relationships to act on social and physical environments.</p> <p><br><br></p> <p><br></p>

<p>This lesson is about the extinct relatives of the modern elephant - woolly mammoth and mastodons. By looking at the teeth of these animals, scientists can discover what the animals are capable of eating and figure out how species are the same and different. Children are encouraged to look closely at woolly mammoth and mastodon teeth and describe how they are similar and different. Children will explore how different teeth allow animals to eat different types of food. To finish the lesson, they will take puppet woolly mammoths and mastodons (which they make) out to eat. </p> <p>Designed as part of the Get a Head Start with the Smithsonian collaboration with the National Head Start Association, these activities support the following Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) standards:</p> <p>- Goal P-LC 1. Child attends to communication and language from others.</p> <p>- Goal P-LC 2. Child understands and responds to increasingly complex communication and language from others.<br></p> <p>- Goal P-LIT 2. Child demonstrates an understanding of how print is used (functions of print) and the rules that govern how print works (conventions of print).</p> <p>- Goal P-LIT 5: Child asks and answers questions about a book that was read aloud.</p> <p>- Goal P-ATL 11. Child shows interest in and curiosity about the world around them.</p> <p>- Goal P-ATL 13. Child uses imagination in play and interactions with others.<br></p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 1. Child observes and describes observable phenomena (objects, materials, organisms, and events).</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 2. Child engages in scientific talk.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 3. Child compares and categorizes observable phenomena.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 5. Child plans and conducts investigations and experiments.</p> <p>- Goal P-SCI 6. Child analyzes results, draws conclusions, and communicates results.</p> <p><strong>Goals for Scaffolding for Infants/Toddlers:</strong></p> <p>- Goal IT-LC 12. Child comprehends meaning from pictures and stories.</p> <p>- Goal IT-ATL 7. Child shows interest in and curiosity about objects, materials, or events.</p> <p>- Goal IT-ATL 8. Child uses creativity to increase understanding and learning.</p> <p>- Goal IT-C 1. Child actively explores people and objects to understand self, others, and objects.</p> <p>- Goal IT-C 2. Child uses understanding of causal relationships to act on social and physical environments.</p>

<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>

<p>This Learning Lab collection was created by Ngan Vo, a student in the summer 2022 Smithsonian Digital Learning and Engagement Internship, in collaboration with Emerson Collective. </p> <p>This collection draws from the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center’s approach to object-based learning and aims to remedy gender bias in the classroom, particularly regarding STEM-based subjects. By showcasing women as trailblazers of technology, the collection hopes to spark confidence and gauge interest from young girls to participate in STEM endeavors. </p> <p>#SAintern #SEEC</p>

<p>A learning lab for Preschool & Kindergarten educators discussing six ways drums are used in different cultures across the globe and throughout history. The lesson provides various objects, resources, and activities from Smithsonian museums & Affiliates. The goal of the lesson is underscored by a foundation of anti-bias education: "same but different". While all drums are an object one uses to make a sound, they vary in many ways across time periods, cultures, and contexts. Students will walk away from this lesson with an understanding that there is not one correct way to use a drum, nor is there one correct way to use or do anything. This is exciting because differences are what make us interesting, and we must be curious to learn from others. The lesson also touches on topics of spirituality, inequality, and activism. <br></p> <p>#SAintern</p>

<p>You may think of spoons as everyday objects, but spoons can tell special stories and teach us about cultures. Explore this collection to learn more. </p><p>This collection was created by Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center faculty member. #SEECStories<br /></p>

<ul><li>Compare and Contrast the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper to the Conehead Grasshopper<p><br /></p> <ul><li>Colors</li><li>Ability to move</li><li>Shape and size</li></ul></li><li>Explore grasshopper's mouth pieces that are used for grinding </li></ul><p>This collection was created by Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center faculty member. #SEECStories</p>

<p>OBJECTIVES:<br /></p> <ul><li>Learn that people make robots to do things to help people </li><li>Look closely at a robot that some people have in their house</li><li>Learn about other types of helping robots </li><li>Talk about why robots are made</li><li>Learn that robots are designed with a purpose </li><li>Think about times when it might be helpful to have a robot </li><li>Use creativity to design robots </li></ul>

<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>

<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>