COD - 6/11/2012 - IdeaLabs [Science, Social Studies]

IdeaLabs are online dynamic, interactive student tutorials that bring the Smithsonian to life. Based on Smithsonian collections and research, IdeaLabs give your students an online opportunity to explore American history, science, and culture.

There are nine IdeaLabs for students:

Scientists @ The Smithsonian. Watch videos of scientists at work in jobs ranging from tracking killer bees to measuring the moon.

Sizing Up the Universe. Students choose ordinary objects, like a basketball, to represent objects in the universe and use these to explore relative sizes in outer space. 

Prehistoric Climate Change. Use fossils as a thermometer to read temperatures 55 million years ago. 

U.S. Rationing during World War II. An introduction to primary sources as well as to life on the home front. Students examine a ration book, morale posters, and an Office of War Information film to learn how Americans lived in a time of sacrifice.

Digging for Answers.  A question-and-answer game on subjects ranging from Mickey Mouse to the moon landings. With every question, students have the option of racing against the clock to find the answer on a web search.

Smithsonian Kids. From among the 142 million objects in the Smithsonian, students can find something fast, fun, cool, scary, patriotic, and beautiful, zoom in on the objects, learn facts, and send e-cards to their friends.

Walking on the Moon. Students take a  journey back in time to experience the Apollo 11 mission. Interviews with the astronauts, life inside the command module, and more.

Kids Collecting. Explore the riches of the Smithsonian’s collections. Students learn how to start their own collections, and young collectors are showcased.

Mr. President. Facts, portraits, and quotes from each of our nation’s presidents. It’s a great place for browsing, research, or homework help.

The Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies has a mission increase the Smithsonian Institution’s influence as a national educational organization. 

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0