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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Human Origins: What does it mean to be human?

The early-human fossil skull wall in the Hall of Human Origins exhibit.
Credit: Dr. Rick Potts, Human Origins Program, Department of Anthropology

Live Video School Program for Grades 6-12

During this museum-educator-led program, students will explore what it means to be human through an investigation of Turkana Boy, a 1.6-million-year-old fossil hominin from Kenya. By examining virtual museum collections, students will gain a better understanding of paleoanthropology, human evolution, and how scientists reconstruct human prehistory. Please note that this program is part of our spring pilot series. We welcome your participation and feedback as we work to refine our digital offerings!

Formats

Designed to accommodate classes, grades, or groups with 15-1,000 students. Students will not be visible to the museum educator or other students, but they will be able to submit questions in writing through the Q&A, and interact through polls.

Designed to accommodate classes of 15-35 students. Students will be visible to the museum educator and their classmates, and will have the ability to raise their hand to ask and answer questions. In order to participate in this format, those registering will need to provide copies of parental permissions to participate in onscreen programs. If you would like to register for more than 35 students you will need to book a second slot.

Designed to accommodate individual students or small groups with less than 15 students. Students will not be visible to the museum educator or other students, but they will be able submit questions in writing through the Q&A, and interact through polls. Homeschool Days available the first Monday of the month: April 5, May 3, and June 7.

Register

  • Registered programs, 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. ET from February 1 to June 18, 2021. DCPS teachers please contact us if classes need to be scheduled at alternate times. 
  • Registration is now open. Register for Digital School Programs

Supplemental Video

More Videos

A girl holding a craft ball she made during a science program at the museum.
Kids, you are just like scientists!
Paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner and Archaeologist Ella Beaudoin
Trash to Treasure – How Archaeologists Learn About the Past
Briana Pobiner sitting at an archaeological field site.
Archaeology Fieldwork in Kenya

Extension Resources

Join paleoanthropologist Dr. Briana Pobiner as she showcases highlights of the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins in these 2- to 5-minute videos.

  • Explore a multitude of digital assets including scientific research and findings, interactive content, and education resources at humanorigins.si.edu.
  • Video: A Tour of the Human Origins Website – Need help navigating the Human Origins website? Join Museum Educator and Paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner as she guides you through the Human Origins website in this archived Teacher Tuesday Webinar.

Featured Collection: How to Read a Mammal Skull – By studying mammal skulls, scientists can determine a lot about the animals. This information helps them to see what kinds of animals lived in a particular place and how they lived. In this digital activity, students can explore the differences between them, and infer how those attributes indicate certain behaviors.

This collection of viewable fossil and prehistoric artifact 3D models was produced by the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program by 3D-scanning casts, other replicas, and some original objects which are now on display in the Hall of Human Origins at the National Museum of Natural History.