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Smithsonian Education

Five educators standing on a beach in Alaska hold up crabs found during a Smithsonian Classroom Cultivation workshop. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III shakes hands with an educator at the 2025 Smithsonian National Education Summit.

2025 Smithsonian Education Impact Report Released

Newly released report shares insight into the programs and partnerships that link Smithsonian learning to communities, classrooms, and cultural institutions across the United States.

A group of students in bright blue shirts gather around a statue of George Washington with a museum facilitator

Equipping Today's Teens with Strong Examples of Historic Changemakers

For several years, the Smithsonian and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have collaborated with teens to support learning opportunities that offer space to imagine change in their communities

A group smile in front of the Great Refractor telescope

Youth Science Media Program Connects Experts and Students around Careers and the Cosmos

Boston-area students gained career mentors, transferrable media production skills, and behind-the-scenes experiences at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian they'll remember for a lifetime

People stand and listen to a speaker in a brightly lit museum room underneath a large gold art installation.

Smithsonian Program Connects Youth Across America Through Dialogue

Since September 2024, the Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange program has offered sets of paired classrooms across the country a key question to explore together: "How has your community played a role in 250 years of the American experience?"

Teacher with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt is smiling and clapping

In Conversation With 2025 National Teacher of the Year Ashlie Crosson

Meet the 2025 National Teacher of the Year—Ashlie Crosson—an educator ensuring that students in her small hometown grow into lifelong learners who feel confident stepping into a world outside of the one they know

A group of men and women are in an audience turning and talking to each other with smiles

2025 Summit Features Inspiring Keynotes, Deep-Dive Sessions and Hands-On Workshops for Educators

The Smithsonian returns with its 5th annual National Education Summit, a free three-day conference for educators preparing to teach the 250th anniversary of the nation

Three young activists are outside at a protest – looking off into the distance. They all appear to be African American. One is holding a bullhorn and has a determined look on her face. Another is holding the bullhorn’s microphone and speaking into it.

Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum's Message to Students: 'You, Too, Can Be a Changemaker'

A new field trip offering spotlights local contemporary history, promotes self-efficacy and urges secondary students to imagine a more equitable future

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To Reimagine the Future, Start by Expanding the Stories of Our Past

Looking back at beloved children's stories and historical narratives taught in the classroom, two educators ask us to consider whose perspectives were centered. Through ongoing National Youth Summit programming, historical case studies provide an opportunity for students to expand their thinking about stories of our past.

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'We Are Here' Introduces Readers to 30 Inspiring Profiles

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s new middle-grade anthology dives into stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who shaped the United States

Teacher Kurt Russell sits at a square table in the school's library with five students, smiling and in conversation.

In Conversation with 2022 National Teacher of the Year, Kurt Russell

High school history teacher Kurt Russell offers a peek into his teaching approach, his new role as National Teacher of the Year, and what has sustained him as he recommits to the profession each year.

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Museum Mentors Enable a Future-Ready Generation of Young Environmental Leaders

A nationwide network of mentors demonstrates the power to challenge and guide youth to be the transformational leaders that they can be, and that the planet needs them to be.

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Equipping the Next Generation of Radical Optimists in an Era of Uncertainty

A new series of creativity and critical thinking exercises from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum offers educators prompts, visuals, and big ideas to support student reflection and speculative thinking.

The Smithsonian's Under Secretary for Education welcomes teachers and students back to a new school year and highlights the ways the Smithsonian plans to build and enrich a national culture of learning. (Getty Images)

Back to School With the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian is committed to playing a role as one of the foremost education organizations in the country, offering innovative programming and resources for teachers and supporting a high quality, well-rounded education for all students.

Hosted by the National Museum of American History, with participation from classrooms across the country, the 2021 National Youth Summit will examine the topic of gender equity, asking students to wrestle with history and take on challenging conversations. (Courtesy of National Museum of American History, Illustration by Krystal Quiles)

Setting the Stage for the Year through the National Youth Summit

The National Youth Summit offers classrooms the opportunity to wrestle with history and take on challenging conversations, setting the stage for ongoing discussions and engagement throughout the school year.

Local Washington, D.C. based chef Jerome Grant was one of 12 presenters in the DCPS Career Ready Internship program for students interested in hospitality careers. Grant shared his philosophy around creating unforgettable dining experiences as a former chef in Smithsonian spaces including the Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian and Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Marvin Joseph, The Washington Post via Getty Images)

From Museum Chef to Zoo Educator, Careers Come to Life for Local Students

This summer, local students explored careers in hospitality with Smithsonian mentors and advisors' support.

Through co-creation efforts with K-12 educators and Asian American community partners, the National Veterans Network, elementary and middle school educators, Asian Pacific American Center interns and National Museum of American History staff, learn more about the stories behind objects. (Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center)

What's Missing from Classrooms When Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices Aren't Included?

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have been present throughout America’s past through migration, labor, activism, science innovation, art, literature, community organizing, and so much more. When AAPI stories and voices are missing from what students learn, grappling with our current moment of increased hate and violence, and thoughtfully discussing this with students runs the risk of becoming even more difficult without support and resources to contextualize what we are witnessing today.

Through Smithsonian programs, like ARTLAB and the National Youth Summit, museum educators demonstrate how adult mentors can elevate the voices of teens in their communities. (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

How Educators Can Boost and Activate Teen Voices

Smithsonian educators, dedicated to amplifying the voices of teens, share their suggestions on how to support young leaders’ efforts without disrupting their individual agency.

This telescope located in Cerro Tololo, Chile is just one of many within the MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

Aiming for the Stars

This freely available technology tool provides a unique learning experience for budding astronomers and artists alike.

When the 2020-2021 school year started, 39 of the nation’s 50 largest school systems were among those that chose a distance learning instructional model. (ake1150sb/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Learning Science at Home

Homes are special places of discovery, abounding with scientific phenomena and engineering marvels.

Middle school students learning with educational resources on American Indian removal produced by the National Museum of the American Indian. (Alex Jamison)

Transforming Teaching and Learning About Native Americans

An ongoing goal of the National Museum of the American Indian is to change the narrative of Native Americans in U.S.'s schools.

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