| George Washington: A National Treasure |
| Comprehensive study of the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington. Features an interactive guide pointing to the symbolic, biographic, and artistic elements of the painting, a biography of Washington’s life, kids’ activities, teachers’ guides, family tips, and tour details.
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| Provider: National Portrait Gallery |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): General audience |
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| Comic Book Hero |
| Lesson has studens look at a comic from the 1950s and 60s about nonviolence in the civil rights movement and to think about ways those tips could help them today. Reading and discussion questions culminate in a list of do’s and don’ts of nonviolence in a handy “pocket card.” Part of the resource “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nonviolence.” Targets grades 3-5. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| Grade(s): PreK–3, 4–8 |
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| Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Portraits, Visual and Written |
| Lessons introduce students to the lives and works of Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens through portraits as well as through their writings. Students come away with a better understanding of how the events of one’s life can be an inspiration for creative writing. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Mr. President: Profile of Our Nations Leaders |
| Website with brief biographies, vital stats, and National Portrait Gallery paintings of all presidents, from Washington to the present. A site for research, homework help, or just browsing. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): General audience |
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| Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Making Friends with Franklin |
| Lesson plans in which portraits of Benjamin Franklin introduce his writings and scientific experiments. Students do their own writing and conduct their own experiments. In addition, they learn about the international scientific community in which Franklin was a prominent member. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Abraham Lincoln: The Face of a War |
| Lessons in which Smithsonian portraits of Lincoln introduce a study of the Civil War. Analysis of the portraits—the famous “cracked-plate” photograph, two plaster “life masks,” and an eyewitness drawing of Lincoln’s arrival in the enemy capital of Richmond, Virginia—leads to an analysis of the times. |
| Provider: Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| One Life: The Mask of Lincoln |
| Five lesson plans in which images of Lincoln—in paintings, prints, photographs, plaster “life masks,” and the poetry of Walt Whitman—are the basis for a study of the Civil War. Also includes audio commentaries from the onsite exhibition. |
| Provider: National Portrait Gallery |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| A Brush with History |
| Website presenting portraits and biographies from the 1720s to the early 1990s, organized by time period, of men and women who have made significant contributions to the history of the United States. Includes an interactive quiz and teacher resources. |
| Provider: National Portrait Gallery |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| Lewis & Clark: Mapping the West |
| Website about the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Includes an extensive retelling of the expedition, Lewis and Clark maps and other primary resources, related activities and lesson plans, and biographies of historic figures. |
| Provider: National Museum of Natural History |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12 |
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| A Letter to Abraham Lincoln Homepage |
| Parent's guide with children's activities based on a reading of Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers, a children's book telling the story of Grace Bedell and the famous letter she sent to Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Also includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration. |
| Provider: National Museum of American History |
| State Standards: View state standards for this resource |
| Grade(s): PreK–3 |
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