Community of Learning

Latino Art and Culture

by Smithsonian American Art Museum

The concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge in the United States in the mid-20th century. Explore how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day, often using their work to communicate with a larger public about social justice and themes of diversity, identity, and community.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Montana Dinosaurs 101

by Museum of the Rockies

Join us to learn all about Montana’s dinosaurs! From Tyrannosaurus rex to Triceratops, Montana is home to some of the world’s most famous dinosaur discoveries. In this program, learn where some of Museum of the Rockies’ best fossils have been discovered in the state and why Montana’s geology is perfect for discovering some of the world’s most famous dinosaurs. Bring your questions, curiosity, and get ready to examine real dinosaur fossils up-close.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Cultural Diversity

by National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum

Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

For Grades K-6

Thursday, September 28, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

The Archaeology of Music

by Penn Museum

Music is an important form of personal and cultural expression shared by communities around the world and across human history. Students will learn about the importance of music in human civilization by studying musical instruments from around the world. They will use this as inspiration to design their own instruments.

For Grades K-6

Friday, September 29, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Virtual Invertebrate Encounter: Insects

by Butterfly Pavilion

Then students observe a live insect and learn more about its adaptations and habitat through guided completion of a worksheet. Plenty of time is set aside for questions and answers, supported with visuals and live insect viewing.

For Grades K-6

Monday, October 2, 2023

1:00 pm ET

45 minutes

Read In Week Kickoff

by Author Marty Chan

Join Canadian kids author Marty Chan for a lively session that celebrates books and reading. To help students kick off a year of reading habits, Marty will talk about two of his books. He’ll introduce his picture book about his cats and he’ll talk about the real-life origins behind one of elementary-level kids books. If you want to get your students excited about reading books this year, here’s a fun way to get things started.

For Grades K-6

Monday, October 2, 2023

3 pm ET

30 minutes

Woven and Wearable Wonders

by Cleveland Museum of Art

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through wearable art, and connect with the Cleveland Museum of Art through this live, interactive session. Explore textiles created by Hispanic and Latino artists with an up-close view to discover how these works were made, used, or worn.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Marine Mammal Adaptations

by Alaska SeaLife Center

Observe and discuss how blubber, fur, teeth, whiskers, and other adaptations help marine mammals survive in the chilly waters of Alaska's ocean!

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

STEAM: Science of Sound at Historic RCA Studio B

by Country Music Hall of Fame

Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest operating recording studio, exists at the intersection of science, technology, history, and music. In this interactive videoconference program, students evaluate how reflection, refraction, and other properties of sound waves shape the studio space. Students also learn about the rise of Music Row and hear the songs recorded by artists like Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings that defined this studio as the “Home of 1,000 Hits.”

For Grades K-6

Thursday, October 5, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Ancient Egyptian Fashion

by Penn Museum

Thinking about some Halloween costume ideas? Consider dressing like ancient Egyptian royalty! People in power often have a special style of dress that sets them apart from the crowd. Students will look closely at artifacts from ancient Egypt to learn more about the clothing and adornment worn by pharaohs and elite people. They will discover the meanings and messages conveyed by certain clothing or adornments and then design fashion worthy of a ruler!

For Grades K-6

Friday, October 6, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

The Three Sisters: American Indian Stories

by Booth Western Art Museum

Learn about The Three Sisters through American Indian oral tradition and artmaking! Participants will learn about the Haudenosaunee/Iroquois and Cherokee people's dependency on three important crops while examining the science behind these resources. Participants will discuss the message of the story of The Three Sisters and act out the story with simple, guided movements-- using artwork as an inspiration. Participants complete the program with their own artwork!

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Stewards of the Sea

by Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Our Stewards of the Sea program explores how essential a clean watershed is to the functioning of our planet. Participants discover sources of pollution and their effects on the environment. Students hear stories of our marine mammal patients who have been entangled in trash and rehabilitated. Children learn how our day to day actions and choices make a difference. Program includes extensive pre and post curriculum.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Calypso for Kids

by JamaicaBob

An Amusing Musical Tour of the Islands (with a Latin vibe)

For Grades K-6

Thursday, October 12, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

FREE! Archaeology Livestreaming from Harvard Yard: Discovering Colonial Student Life

by HARVARD MUSEUMS OF SCIENCE & CULTURE

Register your class for a virtual visit to a live archaeology dig into the eighteenth century. College student excavators uncover history around Harvard’s Holden Chapel which housed a soldiers’ barracks during the American revolution among other activities. Your class will meet the excavation directors who explain the project and the questions they are seeking to answer with archaeological evidence. College students demonstrate excavation methods and show what they have uncovered.

For 4-12

Thursday, October 12, 2023

2 pm ET

45 Minutes

Día de los Muertos: La Ofrenda

by Penn Museum

Students will learn about one of Mexico's best-known traditions: Día de los Muertos, an annual celebration and remembrance of the dead. They will discover how the riches of the country's geography connects to the deep meaning of la ofrenda (the altar) at the center of this holiday. They will also explore each element of la ofrenda while designing their own with unique personal touches.

For Grades K-6

Friday, October 13, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Back to School-Ghana

by Oiada International

Ghanaian students share a typical school and compare how it may differ from the US.

For

Monday, October 16, 2023

1:00 pm ET

Spooky Seas-Draw with Us

by Aquarium of the Pacific

Let's dive way down into the deep sea! Come explore the unique creatures that lurk deep in the dark and follow along as we draw a spooky underwate scene.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Weather Wow! Up in the Air

by UCAR Center for Science Education

Did you know a typical cumulonimbus cloud can weigh 105.8 MILLION pounds?! How does it stay up in the sky?! Explore how the sun affects our Earth’s weather with an interactive experiment comparing hot and cold air. Transform your students into science sleuths and cloud detectives as we explore this mystery together and learn how air behaves when it changes temperature.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Spooky Skulls

by The South Carolina Aquarium

This time of year we may see skulls as halloween decorations, but did you know that we can learn so much about an animal by simply looking at their skull? Use your investigative skills to determine more about the diet and habits of many different species by observing their skulls, and then meet a surprise live animal guest!

For Grades K-6

Thursday, October 19, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Objects of Protection: Incantation Bowls

by Penn Museum

Incantation bowls were made in the Middle East around 1,500 years ago and were used to protect people from evil. The designs and text were meant to confuse and trap evil spirits. Students will join Museum educators to learn how they were used, then create their own incantation bowl to hopefully bring good luck and keep bad things away!

For Grades K-6

Friday, October 20, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Spooky Creatures of the Deep Sea

by Ocean Wise

Dive into the spooky, dark depths of the deep sea with an Ocean Wise Educator! Explore challenges and adaptations to surviving in the deep sea. Spookiest of all is the impacts humans can have even in the deepest depths! Get inspired by how you can help protect animals in the deep and create a spooky creature together!

For Grades K-6

Monday, October 23, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Wolf Tales

by International Wolf Center

Come explore modern tales and folklore about the gray wolf and gain an understanding of how to tell fact from fiction through storytelling.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Halloween A-Scare-ium Tour

by Mote Marine Laboratory

Make time for slime as we virtually dive into Mote Aquarium and meet some of our kookiest sea creatures. Enjoy family-friendly, spooky delights for all ages.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

What's in Poe's Trunk?

by The Poe Museum

Students will identify, analyze, evaluate, and interpret primary sources to see what they can learn about Edgar Allan Poe and the world he lived in. In this activity, we will examine our Young Poet's Trunk (4th-5th grade), focused on Poe's childhood in Richmond, VA.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, October 26, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Legendary Monsters

by Penn Museum

Humans have been creating imaginary monsters for thousands of years. Some of them are terrifying creatures while others are bringers of good fortune. Often ancient peoples combined different animal parts to form one powerful beast. Students will study ancient monsters from across the globe, identify the real-world animals that inspired them, and design their own monsters.

For Grades K-6

Friday, October 27, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Plant Parts and Pumpkins

by Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada)

Most plants start from a seed, but what happens afterwards. We'll review what a plant needs to grow and how a plant grows from a seed. We'll explore in more detail pumpkins, squash and gourds and how a pumpkin plant grows. What do you like to do with pumpkins?

For Grades K-6

Monday, October 30, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Spiders: Participate in an Anansi Folktale using Sign Language

by Author Valerie Marsh

Use sign language and participate in a folktale story about spiders and their webs! Then become an arachnologist (spider scientist) and learn some fun spiders facts with Miss Liz the Science Wiz. Your students will simulate real spider behavior while exploring a spider web that they have created! Students will be able to retell our sign language story and do our science experiments at home.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

The Stories Skulls Tell

by Explore Natural History!

Ancient skulls still speak to us. Before we explore our gallery fossils, we will study our own skulls and consider a skulls structure and function. Then we'll examine several different modern animal skulls, both within the gallery exhibits and held within the educator’s hands, to see how they are different in their structure and function. We will then roam our Cherish Nebraska gallery in searching out ancient mammals. Who were these creatures? Were they hunters? Were they hunted? Did they live underground? Answers lie in thinking like a paleontologist! This live interactive program utilizes our Cherish Nebraska exhibit for our exploration. We always leave plenty of time for questions, too!

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

A Treaty is a Promise: Exploring Treaties with Native Nations through Documents from the National Archives

by National Archives

During this program, students will learn about treaties between the United States and American Indian Nations by looking at primary sources from the National Archives. The group will look to the Constitution to learn why treaties are “the supreme law of the land,” and explore examples of their continuing importance today.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, November 2, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Weaving Memories with Wampum

by Penn Museum

How do you remember important events in your family or community? Wampum belts are used by the Lenape and other Indigenous people of the Eastern Woodlands to record important events, forge relationships, and share stories. White and purple beads are made from clam or welk shells and woven together by hand to create these symbolic documents. Students will learn more about the traditional practice of making wampum belts and create a design that represents an important event in their family, school, or community.

For Grades K-6

Friday, November 3, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Writing Prompts Made Easy

by Author Marty Chan

In this fun and interactive writing workshop, students learn how to use questions to break down a picture prompt into a story. Author Marty Chan will share his techniques to help students weave together a story from pretty much anything.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

NDLW-Ghana

by Oiada International

President of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) will discuss the importance of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) on a global scale.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

NDLW-Ghana

by Oiada International

President of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) will discuss the importance of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) on a global scale.

For

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

1:00 pm ET

Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln Assassination

by Ford's Theatre

What was Washington, D.C., like for President Lincoln and some of the people he met and knew here? Explore his assassination at Ford's Theatre and consider President Lincoln's legacy. In this interactive program, participants will look closely at historical and contemporary images including maps, photographs and illustrations. This session is 60 minutes including time for Q&A. Designed with 5th-12th graders in mind; appropriate for anyone who wants to learn about the story of Ford's, the world of Civil War Washington and the assassination of President Lincoln.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, November 9, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

The Mighty Mesoamerican Metropolis

by Penn Museum

Did you know that Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, was once home to as many as 200,000 people? Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya and Aztecs, developed massive, intricate communities with impressive architecture. By examining Mesoamerican artifacts, students will learn about the vast complex cities of Tikal, Teotihuacan, and Tenochtitlan, using them as inspiration to design their own cities.

For Grades K-6

Friday, November 10, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Exploring the Etowah Indian Mounds and Crazy Horse Monument

by Banyan Global Learning

Join Banyan Global Learning live from the Etowah Indian Mounds near Atlanta Georgia. In this exciting live event, two teachers - one live on-site - will lead your students around these historic site which was a regional capital for Mississippi-based Native Americans for hundreds of years. In addition to exploring the history at this site, we will compare it to another powerful monument site to the Lakota Indians - The Crazy Horse Memorial. By comparing sites, students will learn about the diverse lives that Native Americans lived in the geographically diverse United States. The combination of live footage in Etowah, teacher-recorded footage from the Crazy Horse Memorial, and a 2nd live teacher to manage technology and conversation makes this trip a unique opportunity. Take a field trip without leaving your classroom! Our program is designed to maximize student interaction, attention and fun. We hope to see you soon!

For Grades K-6

Monday, November 13, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

American Indians: Cultures & Contributions

by Booth Western Art Museum

Learn about American Indian cultures from the Northwest Coast to the Eastern Woodlands through American Indian art and artifacts! Students participate in an interactive map activity to determine movement patterns, compare and contrast regions and environments and create their very own Lakota painted horse from recycled or classroom materials. Participatory group storytelling and art from the Booth’s collection bring to life the contributions of Americans Indians today.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Mighty Melanin: The Science of Human Skin Color

by Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Museum research dives into the very beginnings of the human species in Africa, around 200,000 years ago. Exploring variations of human skin color and other genetic variations helps us to track original migratory routes of our ancient ancestors. Investigate the concept of VARIATION in other animals and celebrate variation within our own species!

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Powhatan Indians- an Eastern Woodlands People

by Jamestown-Yorktown

Explore the lives and society of the Powhatan Indians, an Eastern Woodlands tribe inhabiting regions of Virginia long before 1607. Through inquiry methods and reproduction artifacts, explore the Powhatan Indian culture, including roles of different members of its society, government structure and how the Powhatan Indians used the natural resources in their environment to produce tools, clothing, houses and food.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, November 16, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Indigenous Games

by Penn Museum

People across the globe have been playing games for thousands of years. Games aren’t just fun things to do, they carry important cultural meanings. Students will become amateur archaeologists and study game-related artifacts from Indigenous communities from North, Central, and South America. They’ll learn how to play different games, their cultural and religious significance, and how many continue to serve as important expressions of cultural heritage and identity today.

For Grades K-6

Friday, November 17, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Visual Art and the HOF Experience

by Pro Football Hall of Fame

This program examines the architectural features of the museum in addition to sculptures, paintings, prints, photographs, videography and commercial/graphic art. Students will learn ways these works of art help visitors understand and appreciate various aspects of historical and social contexts related to museum displays.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

A Journey Through the LIfe of Helen Keller

by Helen Keller Foundation

Explore the Life of Helen Keller with her great, grand niece

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

American Indians and Photography Before the Civil War

by Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

During the 1840s and 1850s, St. Louis was a bustling center of trade. Tribal Nations regularly traveled through St. Louis to sign treaties, receive provisions, and trade for food, clothing and supplies. During these trips, Tribal leaders often took the time to have their photo taken. These photos provide an important visual history of Indigenous people during the age of Westward Expansion. Learn about these photos and the technology behind early photography in this presentation with Historian/Curator Nick Sacco.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Tour through Time: Exploring History with Artifacts

by Midwest Archeological Center - NPS

The Midwest Archeological Center takes care of archeological collections from national parks. Take a tour of these collections to see how artifacts tell stories of the human past and learn how we care for artifacts! Available for all ages.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

John Marshall, The Trilogy Cases, and the Trail of Tears

by Preservation Virginia

During the latter half of his career, the Marshall Court heard a trilogy of cases concerning Indian land jurisdiction in Georgia: Johnson v. McIntosh (1823), Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831), and Worcester v. Georgia (1832). How did John Marshall view indigenous sovereignty, and did his decision-making and relationship with the US Presidency lead to the forced removal of 16,000 Cherokee from Georgia in a tragic event known as the Trail of Tears? Furthermore, how do we see treatment of indigenous rights manifest in the courts today?

For High School Students and Adults

Thursday, November 30, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Ludus Duodecim Scripta: Make and Play an Ancient Roman Game

by Penn Museum

Duodecim scripta was a popular board game in ancient Rome. Similar to backgammon, the game involved moving pieces across a board while trying to capture the opponent’s pieces. Students will learn how to play the game and design their own boards.

For Grades K-6

Friday, December 1, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Adventure to the North Pole: Arctic Adaptations and Actions

by Ocean Wise

Welcome aboard for a journey to the north pole! Grab your parka and caribou mitts as we embark on an icy, digital arctic journey! Gain knowledge through the stories shared by humans and animals that call this rapidly changing place home, and what actions we can take to keep the arctic chill.

For Grades K-6

Monday, December 4, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope -BOOKS & MUSIC MEDLEY

by Dr. Wendy Muhlhauser-Tingblad (Author) (SissyMarySue)

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Frostology

by Michigan Science Center

Dash through the snow without catching a cold in our new wintertime science exploration virtual visit. Watch amazing dry ice and liquid nitrogen demonstrations and participate in icy science activities while having fun learning about states of matter.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

America’s Presidents: Winter Holidays Edition

by Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

How has presidential portraiture changed since the days of George Washington? The National Portrait Gallery is proud to hold the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House. This program introduces students to the “America’s Presidents” exhibition and investigates the diverse ways in which presidents have been portrayed in portraiture over the past two centuries.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, December 7, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Coins From Around the World

by Penn Museum

As the holiday shopping season heats up, join a Penn Museum educator as we learn about the history of coins around the world. Students will discover more about the materials, symbols, and process of making coins to learn more about the messages they carry. They will then use this as inspiration to design their own coins.

For Grades K-6

Friday, December 8, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

The Art of Gift Giving

by Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

What is the practice of gift-giving? What are examples of gift-giving practices across Asia? Students will explore gifts exchanged for holidays, religious customs, and other rituals with example objects from places such as China, Japan, India, and Turkey.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Be A Transformer: Fun With Energy Transformations

by Challenger Learning Center of Rochester NY

Energy is the ability to do work, or move an object. There are many different forms of energy including Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Heat, Light, Sound, and Nuclear The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can not be created or destroyed. It can be transformed from one form into another. It is this ability to transform that allows humans to channel energy into our homes for different uses. The bi-product of all energy transformations is some amount of heat. Human activity on earth or in space requires the manipulation of energy transformations.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Celebrate Winter with Light!

by Penn Museum

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have used light as a symbol during their celebrations. Discover more about the ancient pagan Festival of Lights, and how parts of this tradition continue today to mark the Winter Solstice. Students will learn more about how civilizations across the ancient world brought light into their holidays, from Diwali to Christmas to Hannukah, using special vessels and tools to shine through the darkness. They will finish by creating a personalized design for their own ancient lamp.

For Grades K-6

Friday, December 15, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

sponsored by

Draw with Us: The Chilliest Ocean Habitats

by Aquarium of the Pacific

How do marine animals survive some of the coldest termperatures? Let's bundle up and explore the adaptations these animals use in arctic and antarctic habitats and follow along as we draw some of these creatures in their wintery homes.

For Grades K-6

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Animals in the Cold

by Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Life goes on, even in the cold climate. Special adaptations help animals survive even in the coldest places on Earth.

For Grades K-6

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes

Archaeology of the Holidays

by Don Harrington Discovery Center

Come and learn about some of the archaeological finds of the holidays that make us filled with joy.

For Grades K-6

Thursday, December 21, 2023

1 pm ET

45 minutes