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For educators looking to infuse the arts into their educational practices, we’ve developed hundreds of free learning resources: lesson plans, articles, learning guides for performances, how-tos, and much more. Kennedy Center Education is here to help you succeed with newly revised lesson plans and…

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George Lucas Educational Foundation

Bringing the arts into core curricula raises student achievement and improves student engagement. Discover and share strategies for integrating the arts throughout core subject areas.

Sort by:

Incorporating visual elements into poetry writing can help students express themselves and uncover deeper meanings in their work.

The science is clear: Drawing beats out reading and writing to help students remember concepts.

What happens to our brains 'on art'? New studies-often backed by brain imaging technology-are beginning to dial in on the answers.

Young students can apply language skills to learn to 'read art,' including their own work.

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George Lucas Educational Foundation Bringing the arts into core curricula raises student achievement and improves student engagement. Discover and share strategies for integrating the arts throughout core subject areas. Sort by: Incorporating visual elements into poetry writing can help students express themselves and uncover deeper meanings in their work.

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Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2000 leading museums and archives who have partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to bring the world's treasures online.

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Extend your Steam gaming experience to your mobile device, TV, VR headset or PC - all you need is a local network or internet connection. In addition, the Steam Link app now supports Remote Play Together. Now you can join games hosted on a friend’s PC just by clicking a link.

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The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM

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This is the largest collection of resources for STEAM you’ll find in one spot! We’re talking about websites, apps, multimedia and books! Find the list here!

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STEAM | PBS Digital Studios | PBS LearningMedia

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PBS Digital Studios is a network that connects, inspires, and cultivates the next generation of public media enthusiasts by creating thought-provoking programs that illuminate the world around us.
Explore these teacher-curated selections from the Digital Studios library. The engaging, educational, and entertaining short videos will grab students’ attention, provide an entry point or supplement to exploring featured topics, and, we hope, inspire your students to create media projects of their own.

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Nearpod: Foster a love of learning in every student

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Create active learning experiences students can’t wait to be a part of.

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Smithsonian

Learning Lab

Discover the digital education platform that connects people to Smithsonian objects, resources, and stories.

Collections by Grade

Explore some of our most popular Learning Lab Collections. Use them as a springboard to continue your exploration of the many collections available on the site.

Talk with Me!
Learn about your community and neighborhood. In this Toolkit, leaners explore different homes, shops, and people in your neighborhood and have fun with related activities.

Talk with Me Toolkits provide you with chances to talk with your children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great-and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk.

Talk with Me Toolkits give you ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme. The Toolkits feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through this toolkit with your child and see how many topics there are to talk about!
This toolkit was adapted with a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Links to third-party websites and videos are included in this Toolkit for informational purposes only. They do not indicate the Smithsonian's endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with the third party or content of the linked site, including any advertisements that might be posted.

Learn More

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

What inspires you? Get to know Alma Thomas, (b. Columbus, Georgia; lived and worked in Washington, DC, 1891-1978), an American artist and educator known for her signature painting style using bright colors and patterns inspired by nature. She became a full-time artist late in her life. Born in a time of horses and buggies, she lived through big advancements in technology, such as the space race and moon landing. Her art was inspired by the nature she saw outside her home studio, and awe for the exploration of our vast universe.
Get To Know Alma Thomas Use it in the classroom to teach:
is part of the Hirshhorn KIDS About the Artist series. About the Artist biographies are designed for kids under age 12. Modern and contemporary artists' lives reflect recent human history and events. Sharing these life stories and artworks can help kids see their own potential and better understand the world and their place in it. It is our goal to inspire future generations of artists, makers, and creative problem solvers-sharing artists stories is one way Hirshhorn KIDS realize this goal.
Art classroom: Color Theory, Pattern

Language Arts classroom: Biography

Social Studies classroom: 20th century

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National Museum of American History

In this playlist you will learn about how three of the first presidents shaped the executive branch of the United States government.

Start by clicking on the first tile in the upper left hand corner. Then move through the playlist by clicking on the ">" symbol at the bottom of the page. Look for the information and paperclip icons to provide more information about selected resources. There are 34 tiles in this collection.

Learn More

Educator Programs

Cultivating Learning is a professional development series where Smithsonian educators model teaching techniques for using digital museum resources to support student learning. This year's series celebrates America at 250. Programs are free and accessible to anyone.

Wednesday, April 15, 4:00 PM EST

Join Phoebe Sherman of the National Postal Museum to explore how postage stamps can be used in the classroom to encourage civic awareness and engagement. We'll examine how stamps can spark curiosity and deepen understanding of civics, American history, national identity, and commemoration by using thinking routines that focus on both subject matter and artistic design. You'll see how these approaches come to life with students and leave with classroom-ready resources and fresh ideas for incorporating postage stamps into your teaching practice.

Watch

Wednesday, May 20, 4:00 PM EST

Join Nyssa Buning of the National Museum of American History's Spark!Lab and Carol O'Donnell of the Smithsonian Science Education Center to explore strategies for cultivating an inventive mindset in your students. We'll discuss the history of STEAM innovation in America and try an open-ended invention challenge that uses object-based learning techniques to encourage creative problem solving and support curiosity and perseverance, skills essential to inventors throughout history. You'll leave with a set of facilitation tools to support students as they develop their own inventive identity and become future problem-solvers. You'll also receive access to a newly released e-book from the Smithsonian Science Education Center, STEAM Innovation: Celebrating Our Nation's 250 Years.

Register

Wednesday, June 17, 4:00 PM EST

As America turns 250 in 2026, young people are writing its next chapter. Join a group of educators who apply interdisciplinary approaches to learning to engage young people in civic dialogue tied to their communities.

Register

What will you find in the Smithsonian Learning Lab?

Resources

Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences

Collections

Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts

Resources

Millions of Smithsonian digital images, recordings, texts, and videos in history, art and culture, and the sciences

Collections

Thousands of examples of resources organized and structured for teaching and learning by educators and subject experts

Browse individual resources by type

Browse model collections on different topics

Tips

Tips

Create collections of resources to engage learners, or freely adapt ones already made by Learning Lab users like you.

Use Learning Lab tools to customize and enhance your collections.

Browse ready-to-use model collections by educational use

Browse ready-to-use model collections by learning strategy or theme

Tips

Tips

Subscribe to our Bright Ideas newsletter

To learn more about the Smithsonian Learning Lab and to read about strategies, approaches, new features, and more, subscribe to the Bright Ideas newsletter. We'll be sending out a new issue every few weeks.

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Smithsonian Learning Lab: Discover, Create, Share

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Smithsonian Learning Lab Discover the digital education platform that connects people to Smithsonian objects, resources, and stories. Explore some of our most popular Learning Lab Collections. Use them as a springboard to continue your exploration of the many collections available on the site. Talk with Me! Learn about your community and neighborhood.

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Exploring art (through selfies) with Google Arts & Culture

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There’s more to explore beyond the selfies at Google Arts & Culture.

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National Gallery of Art – Teacher Resources

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National Gallery of Art – Teacher Resources

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Teaching Resources | National Gallery of Art

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Project Zero – Harvard Graduate School of Education

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Project Zero – Harvard Graduate School of Education

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Formerly called Out of Eden Learn, The Open Canopy is an approach to teaching and learning that encourages young people to slow down and observe the world closely, share stories and perspectives with one another, and make connections between their own lives and bigger human stories.

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Arts-integration is a method of instruction that involves integrating curriculum standards in math, science, language arts, social studies, etc. with curriculum standards in an art form (visual art, music, theatre, dance, literary arts, etc.). LAA+ Fellows model and guide teachers to design lesson plans that have evolving dual-learning objectives and methods of assessment for both the art form and non-art subjects.

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The National Endowment for the Arts awards grants to nonprofit organizations, creative writers and translators, state arts agencies, and regional arts organizations in support of arts projects across the country.

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National Endowment for the Arts Home Page

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The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.

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The ISTE Educator Standards challenge educators to deepen their practice, empower students and rethink traditional approaches to education.

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Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

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The drag-and-drop website builder made by Google

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Easy to create surveys and forms for everyone

Create custom forms for surveys and questionnaires at no extra cost. Gather everything in a spreadsheet and analyze data right in Google Sheets.

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Google Forms: Online Form Builder for Business | Google Workspace

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Easily create custom forms for surveys and questionnaires. Get Google Forms as part of Google Workspace.

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All the training tools you need to simplify online course creation from start to finish.

Easily create and deliver online training at scale

With millions of gorgeous course assets, hundreds of prebuilt templates, and our easy-to-use creator tools, your team can quickly create engaging and effective online training content.

Top-rated by users and industry experts

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Articulate - The World's Best Creator Platform for Online Workplace Learning

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Learn about Articulate, maker of award-winning online training tools Articulate 360 and Rise.com, and why we're one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces.

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Make content faster-with Disney's creative process and the power of AI.

Watch our Fall 2023 Storytelling Masterclass to learn more.

Users love Vyond

Trusted by 20,000+ customers and millions of users worldwide

See how others have used Vyond

Why our customers love us

Vyond's customer satisfaction scores are double the industry average for a reason. Not only does our software help solve crucial communication challenges, it's also fun and easy to use.

Watch testimonial videos

Industry awards and recognition

Because of our commitment to quality, innovation, and great customer support, we get a lot of love on review sites like G2 and Capterra-and from our industry peers.

Learn more about Vyond's awards

Check out what's possible

Our customers use Vyond (and their impressive imaginations) to create all kinds of business-critical animated content, including L&D training courses, explainer videos, sales pitch videos, eye-catching marketing assets-and more.

Browse our customer video showcase

Vyond helps thousands of companies educate, engage, and sell better.

Learning & Development

83% of learners prefer watching videos to learning via text. Hold the attention of today's overloaded and distracted learners with relevant, engaging videos.

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Vyond offers solutions for all types of roles and needs

Human Resources

Dramatically increase workforce engagement and productivity, onboard colleagues faster, and transform your communication using memorable videos and GIFs.

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Marketing

Boost engagement, ROI, brand awareness, and conversions with the most versatile and user-friendly video creation tool on the market.

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Sales

Bring your value props to life, quickly create personalized pitches, and send follow-ups that your prospects will actually watch and appreciate.

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65% of the Fortune 500 and millions of users trust Vyond

Forward-thinking business leaders rely on Vyond to ensure their mission-critical messages cut through the noise and motivate their stakeholders to take action.

For these leaders and their teams, Vyond's AI-powered video creation platform serves as a secret weapon for driving outstanding business outcomes and ROI across their organizations.

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Video Animation Software for Businesses | Vyond

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Create videos for your business with Vyond's video animation software. From training to brand storytelling, keep your audience engaged.

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Padlet Reflection

My Experience with Padlet

Using Padlet has been both practical and inspiring in my professional work. I regularly incorporate it into professional development sessions with teachers to model how they can create interactive, collaborative spaces for their own students. I also use it in A+ University to host resources, reflections, and artifacts from our teachers’ learning. I enjoy how Padlet transforms a static presentation into something dynamic and collective—everyone has a voice, and everyone can contribute.

Ease of Use

I find Padlet very intuitive to set up and customize. With just a few clicks, I can create a board that’s visually engaging and easy to navigate. Teachers and students alike quickly adapt to it, which makes it ideal for workshops where time is limited. The drag-and-drop functionality and ability to post from phones, tablets, or laptops lowers the barrier to entry. I believe students of all grade levels would find Padlet easy to use, and younger learners especially enjoy seeing their contributions appear instantly on a shared board.

Potential in My Professional Practice

In my role as Program Director for Louisiana A+ Schools, I see Padlet as a versatile bridge between theory and practice. It works well for gathering reflections after a workshop, curating resources for arts integration, and facilitating collaborative brainstorming across schools. In A+ University, Padlet allows teachers in our network to connect their individual creative strategies into a shared library, which models the kind of resource-sharing culture we want them to build with their own students. I also model its use for virtual showcases of student work, collaborative arts projects, or interactive reflections tied to professional learning modules.

Advantages and Disadvantages (Free vs. Paid)

One limitation is that the free version only allows a small number of Padlets at a time (currently three). This constraint forces me to delete or archive boards to make room, which is not ideal when I want to build an ongoing collection of resources. The paid version provides unlimited Padlets and more advanced features like folder organization, branding, and expanded upload limits. For individuals or classrooms, the free version is sufficient to test the tool and run small projects. However, for a program like LAA+ with multiple schools and fellows collaborating, the paid version offers more sustainability and scalability.

Personal Critique

Overall, I genuinely like using Padlet because it aligns with my values of collaboration, creativity, and accessibility. That said, it does have some drawbacks: formatting can be limited, and boards can feel cluttered if not intentionally organized. I’ve also noticed that while it’s highly visual, it can sometimes be overwhelming for participants who prefer structured text or step-by-step organization. Despite these challenges, I see Padlet as a valuable tool in my professional practice, particularly as we continue to model arts-integrated, interactive approaches in Louisiana classrooms.