Science Education | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

We are dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to better understand the natural world and our place in it, by instilling a sense of wonder and responsibility through exhibitions, programs, and online resources.

Upcoming Video Webinars

Join us September 26 for a bilingual family program about why the health of our pets is important to the family. Then tune in September 29 when photographer and artist David Maisel discusses human-altered environments in Part 1 of the "Artists Reflect on the Age of Humans" series. Learn more and register.

Composite image of two dogs, a cat, and a gecko

"Oil Spill #10, Oil Slick at Rip Tide, Gulf of Mexico, June 24, 2010" by Edward Burtynsky

Unsettled Nature Events

This month we’re kicking off a live webinar series with artists featured in the exhibit, Unsettled Nature: Artists Reflect on the Age of Humans. They’ll discuss the power of art to illuminate our relationship with the natural world. View the schedule and learn more.

Webinar Series

Smithsonian Science How (for Grades 3-5)

Natural History at Home (for families)

Programas en español para familias

After Hours Programs for Adults

Composite image of two children drawing at a table; a coral reef; a girl looking through a magnifying glass at a plant; and a girl on a sidewalk, facing a tree and writing in a notebook.

Digital School Programs

We are offering live, online video Digital School Programs aligned with standards for Grades K-12. Registration is now open for programs from October 4-December 17, 2021.

blue and yellow virus detail of Jiro Wada

Online Exhibit: Outbreak

The content of our exhibition, "Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World," is now available online. Read and explore to gain some context for the current pandemic we are confronting.

Geologist Ben Andrews and Maggy Benson at a table doing a demonstration with a tray of dry ice while wearing protective glasses.

Science How Webcast Archives

These videos feature Smithsonian experts and are aligned with national standards. There are 52 shows about topics in Earth Science, Life Science, Paleontology, and Social Studies.

Geologist Elizabeth Cottrell gestures with her hands while sitting at a table talking to two students.

Search Teaching Resources

Featuring more than 300 options, our collection includes activities, videos, and literacy resources for Grades K-12.

Red, gold, and black cape made from Hawaiian bird feathers

Featured Collections

View some collections from the museum's exhibits and others created by museum educators. Use the latter to see how comparing collection specimens can lead to new discoveries.

Resources for Educators

Scientist Spotlight Videos

Volcano erupting with lava streaming down the side. A forest is at its foot and the eruption is reflected in a dark lake.

When Volcanoes Erupt

Extinction Over Time

Looking down at a beige skeleton of a boy that is partially excavated in a pit in the ground.

Forensic Anthropology

Illustration of animals near the ocean floor 510 million years ago. A large squid-like creature hovers over smaller organisms.

Early Life on Earth - Animal Origins

Smithsonian forensic anthropologist points out area of interest in a piece of bone to students.

Written in Bone

A girl and an adult sitting at a table, looking at a laptop computer.

Smithsonian Distance Learning

See all the digital education resources from Smithsonian, including Learning Lab, resources for District of Columbia Public Schools, national resources, and more.