Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Inventor Profiles: Charlotte Cramer Sachs
Charlotte Cramer Sachs held the patents on many inventions. She invented quick baking products such as Joy muffin mixes, as well as accessories for dogs and musical games. One invention was a precursor to the retractable dog leash. A...
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Inventor Profiles: Joseph B. Friedman
Joseph B. Friedman invented the bendable straw, which he patented in 1937. Read about his life here and the history of this famous invention.
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Inventor Profiles: Charles F. Brannock
Charles F. Brannock's most famous invention was the Brannock Device. It is used worldwide today for measuring feet in order to determine proper shoe size. Original drawings for it can be viewed here, along with a biographical profile of...
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Invent a Musical Whirligig
Students can easily create a musical whirligig to study sound production. These instruments are constructed out of everyday materials and allows students to use their imagination to make music.
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Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Extract Dna
Dissect strawberries and use common household ingredients to successfully extract and examine the strawberry DNA.
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Centre: Spark!lab: Make Your Own Wind Turbine
A wind turbine is a machine that captures the force of the wind to produce electricity. Learn how to make a wind turbine as a student or as a teacher. An experiment can be downloaded.
Smithsonian Institution
Freer | Sackler Galleries: Devi: The Great Goddess
A 19th-century painting of the Hindu goddess Devi.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Libraries:industrial Drawings at the Smithsonian: Doodles & Drafts
Drawing is a key element in an inventor's skill set. When it comes to the working out of new ideas, inventors turn to pencil and paper. Mixing art and science, this exhibition site showcases a collection of industrial drawings that...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Libraries:chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus 1631 2004
An online website, from a historical perspective, of the study of the transit of Venus between the sun and the earth.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Libraries: Zoos, a Historical Perspective
An online sample of maps, drawings and photographs of zoos from over 30 states and 40 countries.
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Smithsonian Libraries: Innovators Gallery
Who invented the tennis racket, Crayola Crayons or Tupperware? Smithsonian site invites users to explore the achievements of a variety of American innovators and inventors.
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National Postal Museum: Music: Latin Jazz Issue
Learn about key aspects of Latin jazz from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 2008 to celebrate it.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African Art: Diversity of African Art
Features an article and clickable, illustrated links to show the deep, rich site of African art from many places and times, and taking many forms.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Random Strategies in Archeology
Students participate in a three-part archeological interpretation activity. First, they learn the principles of archaeology and the importance of material culture, and then they question ideas and interpret artifact evidence. Finally,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Archeology in the Classroom
Two different leveled lessons allow students to become archeologists as they interpret material remains left behind by ancient people.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Canela Body Adornment
Among the Canela of Brazil, adorning the body enhances appearance, signals changes in social identity, and expresses culturally prescribed values. View vivid photos of the different cosmetic treatments men and women undergo.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Apollo 13
This site contains facts and images pertaining to the crew, spacecraft, and mission of Apollo 13.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian: Science: Week of 4 22 13: Do Teachers Need Their Own "Bar Exam"?
This article presents the debate over establishing an offical licensing exam for teachers, similar to the Bar Exam.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: The Story of the Pony Express
This article explores the story of the Pony Express, the "speedy" mail service that once connected the Eastern U.S. with the West.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Star Route Service
An explanation of the contract service for carrying the mail, called Star Route Service. You can read a brief explanation of the Star Route scandal that came to a head during the term of Chester A. Arthur.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Object of the Month: Mail From the Hindenburg Crash
Provides background information and details of the Hindenburg crash, plus descriptions and photos of mail salvaged from the wreck. Suggested reading material and an audio/visual clip of the actual crash also included. [1:13]
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: History of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Audio and video presentation on the history of the national postal delivery system that started in 1775 with the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General. [3:14] Also provides the history of the National Postal Museum in...
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Moving the Mail
This online exhibit takes students through various means of delivering mail via land, sea, and air. Historic, primary materials are used throughout the exhibit.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Customers & Communities
This online exhibit tells the story of the mail service in the rural and urban areas in the 20th century. Historic, primary materials are used throughout the exhibit.