It’s Thursday, April 3, 2014, and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!
Recommended Website:
Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Age Range: 8-18 (Grades 3-12, with parental supervision)
Postal history opens a unique window into the past. It brings personal histories to life and offers a compelling avenue for study. The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum provides educators with an interesting selection of lesson plans and materials that can be used online or downloaded, as well as an opportunity to explore the museum and its collections through virtual tours and online galleries.
When arriving at the site, the sidebar navigation offers the following destinations, each with wonderful historical educational opportunities:
- About the Museum
- Take a 360° tour of the museum in the “Virtual Tour”
- Visit the “Ford Education Center” to play educational games
- Watch a video and learn the “History of the National Postal Museum”
- Examine fascinating artifacts through the “Object of the Month”
- Exhibits
- Explore past, present and future exhibits to discover America’s postal history from colonial times to the present.
- Collection
- Delve into the world of philately and objects of postal operations with the “Arago Online Collection Database”. Visitors can even create their own digital collection of their favorite finds.
- Learn about the “Collection History”, “Collection Projects”, and “Preservation Projects”.
- Download “Finding Guides” that provide concise descriptions of the scope and content, provenance and list of materials for each collection.
- Educators
- Find lesson plans and downloadable material “Curriculum” for such interesting topics as:
- Owney the Dog (early elementary)
- Victory Mail (upper elementary through high school)
- Moving the Mail West (interactive study of the Pony Express for middle school)
- We Were There: Letters From the Battle Front (high school)
- “Classroom Resources” offers a ‘jumping off’ point for supplemental activities.
- Stamp Collecting
- Discover the ins and outs of the intriguing world of philately.
- Research
- Additional information for serious enthusiasts, including links to the museum library, historical video footage and exhibit videos, and more.
- Getting Involved – Ways to get involved with the museum
- Activity Zone
- Quick access to the online games, coloring pages, quizzes, and downloads.
- Museum Library
With the wealth of information and educational material available, this website will surely receive your stamp of approval.
