<p>This topical collection of the color blue is part of a color series and was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials) with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. I was inspired to create the series after a few of our students mentioned their passionate interest in specific colors, and how they thought in colors.</p> <p>Tags: color series, decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program</p>

<p>Throughout history, ciphers and secret codes were devised to keep intelligence from falling into the wrong hands. From the WWII German "Enigma" machine, to America's Cherokee Code Talkers, people used ciphers and codes to safeguard secrets. One of my favorite mysterious artworks is the sculpture <em>Antipodes,</em> outside of the Hirshhorn Museum. No one knows what it means, and its companion piece <em>Kryptos</em> is at Langley. Use this collection an inspiration piece for puzzle lovers and mystery solvers both young and old. There are many free sites on the web that you can use to create your own coded messages like, "Jsotd ymj Qjfwsnsl Qfg!" (Hint: Caesarian Shift).</p>

<p>The content in this Guide, along with the accompanying online resources and activities in the Smithsonian Learning Lab, features people, places, and things of the Smithsonian Institution around the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) themes of: </p> <ul><li>DEMOCRACY & CIVICS </li><li> DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESS & INCLUSION</li><li> STEM, HEALTHY LIVING & ENVIRONMENT</li><li>SOCIAL IDENTITY</li><li>CAREERS</li></ul> <p>With over 157.2 million objects and specimens in our collections, we’ve selected <em>some</em> of the most relevant and interesting content the Smithsonian has to offer for BGCA youth and teens based on these topics on or near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. during the Summit for America's Youth. <br></p> <hr> <p>BONUS: <a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/xBNvZo0yH1st2hrY" target="_blank">Smithsonian Career Connections</a></p>

<p>This topical collection of people—together in groups with friends or families (mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandmother, and grandfather); different genders, ages, and ethnicities, and "selfies"—was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials); and as a discussion prompt in an informal learning activity with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. Use the visible thinking routine, "See|Think|Wonder" and Conversing with Objects discussion prompt as a starting point for the writing prompt, and the images for inspiration. </p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>

<p>This inspiration collection of nostalgic popular "pop" culture from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s—super heroes and super villains, Muppets, cartoon characters, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar characters, Transformers, and movies was used for a collage activity and discussion prompt in an informal learning activity, "Me & My World: Personal Ecology/Interest Inventory" with a group of teens with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Students were asked about their favorite pop culture influences from the past and present. <br></p> <p>Use one of the activity prompts to spark discussion.</p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>

<p><strong>IMPORTANT: Click on the "i" for information icon and the paperclip icons as you move through the collection.</strong><br><br>Exploring: Ancient Egypt, the Nile River, and glass museum objects, paper-craft, and sand art</p> <p>Rationale for Instruction: <br></p> <ul><li>Through the introduction, museum visit, and activities, students connect with an ancient and diverse culture in ways both conceptual and concrete. The ancient Egyptians shaped our modern civilization in fundamental ways and left legacies that are still present today. </li></ul> <p>Objectives:</p> <ul><li>Explain features of the daily life of an Ancient Egyptian living on the Nile River, including boat transportation, dress, and animal life. </li><li>Explore the ancient origins of glass making in Egypt.</li><li>Examine how glass making relates to object making, animal representation, and the desert environment of Egypt</li><li>Plan, create, and share digital and physical works of art that represent ancient (sand art) and modern art forms (digital photography with filters) as well as representational art (paper-craft) landscape.</li></ul> <p><strong>EDUCATORS | </strong><strong><a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/8MmERhz4keCesAxN#r/390900">LESSON PLAN</a> </strong>of the original "Nile, Nile Crocodile" <br>EDUCATORS | For a poem listening and writing activity, visit "<a href="https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/R4i0dWPqT8ayxkGT">Ozymandias" collection</a><br>EDUCATORS | <em><a href="https://asia.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Exploring-the-Art-of-Ancient-Egypt.pdf">Exploring the Art of Ancient Egypt </a></em>Resource<br><br>SET THE STAGE:<br></p> <ul><li>Maps - Look at the maps in the Smithsonian collection; Where do you think you'll journey to in this collection?</li><li>"This is Sand" App - an tablet app that changes the pixels on the screen into digital sand.</li><li>Video about The Nile (for learners who prefer a concrete example)</li><li>Thought journey down the Nile River; Ask questions about observations along the way. If you are able to transform the furniture to reflect a boat, do so. </li><li>Glass making video as well as a primary source text from 1904 (for learners who prefer a concrete example); Help make the connection between the desert sand environment and glass making. </li></ul> <p>MUSEUM "VISIT"<br></p> <ul><li>Go to the gallery; read the panels and explore the objects. <strong>The gallery has been re-created in the Learning Lab collection</strong></li><li>Explore the glass vessels-->What do you notice?</li><li>Observe the glass animals-->Take turns reading the informational texts; What do the animals represent?</li></ul> <p>~ BREAK ~<br></p> <p>ACTIVITY STATIONS (rotate between activity stations)<br></p> <ul><li>SAND ART - Create your own ancient Egyptian glass vessel through a sand art design similar to the decorated glass in the museum.</li><li>"ANCIENT" PHOTOS - Use digital tablets to take photos in a museum gallery and use the built-in filters to create 'ancient-looking' photos like the ones that document historic museum excavations. </li><li>PAPERCRAFT LANDSCAPE - Create a three-dimensional landscape of ancient Egypt based on the animals and structures observed in the museum gallery and in the introductory materials. Templates and examples are included. Document your results using photography.</li></ul> <p></p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, access, disability, accessibility, neurodiversity, special education, SPED, out of school learning, informal learning, distance learning, cognitive, social skills, engagement, passion, creativity, empowerment, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning.</p> <p></p>

<p>This topical collection of airplanes, hot air balloons, space craft, and other things that fly, was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials). It was used as a discussion prompt in an informal learning activity with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program--as pre-museum visit preparation to artifacts that would be found at an airplane museum. </p> <p>Other suggested uses beyond collage and discussion prompts would be a writing exercise, "If you could fly anywhere, where would you go and what would you do?" Use the visible thinking routine, "See|Think|Wonder" as a starting point for the writing prompt, and the images for inspiration. There is a suggested lesson plan included which can be adapted to a visit to an air and space museum.</p> <p>Tags: decision-making, self-determination, student empowerment, disability, all access digital arts program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>

<p>This topical collection of artworks is based upon "fantastical creatures." It was originally used in a collage art activity (printed out; using paper, glue, and art materials); and as a discussion prompt in an informal learning activity with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. <br></p> <p>Other suggested uses beyond collage and discussion prompts would be a writing exercise, utilizing the "See|Think|Wonder" visible thinking routine or the “Conversing with an Object” discussion prompt as writing inspiration. You could also pair the collection with popular young adult fantasy novels, and ancient myths and legends. Or draw your own fantastic creature.<br><br> Descriptors: Decision Making, Disabilities, Self-Determination, Self-Efficacy, Student Empowerment, All Access Digital Arts Program, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>

<p>This topical collection of artworks is all about collage. Collage is a technique that uses other pieces of artwork assembled into a new artwork. </p> <p>The collection was originally used in a collage art activity to provide inspiration examples of the art of collage-making, based upon personal interests. It was used with a group of teens with cognitive disabilities during a summer camp program. <br><br> Descriptors: Decision Making, Disabilities, Self-Determination, Self-Efficacy, Student Empowerment, teens in museums, teens, teenagers, after school, out of school learning, informal learning</p>