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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian Science How Video Archives

Smithsonian Science How was a web-based program that connected students to Smithsonian and other science experts through a series of free live, interactive webinars. Hosted by Smithsonian educators, the series connected students to authentic science, discoveries, and collections while inviting them to participate in live polls and ask and answer questions throughout. We produced 88 programs over nine years, from 2014 to 2022.

About the Science How Archived Videos

  • Optimized for students in Grades 3-5, but open to everyone
  • Scientists respond to students’ questions
  • Aligned with national science standards
  • Have closed captions and transcripts
  • Originally broadcast live

30-Minute Videos

Two light-skinned women and one dark-skinned man holding fossils while standing behind a table with fossils on it, including what looks like a model of a skeleton of a long-necked creature with flippers. A large fossil of a similar creature embedded in stone stands upright to the left of the people.
Paleontologist Laura Soul and Smithsonian Science How webcast co-hosts Maggy Benson and Emmanuel Kyei-Baffour holding fossils. Photo by Jennifer Renteria, Smithsonian.

Videos created between January 2014 and March 2020 were broadcast live from the Smithsonian. They have been edited for length and rebroadcasting purposes, while maintaining key science concepts, and are all around 30 minutes long.    

These videos are available for redistribution to school districts and communities through public, educational, and governmental access television channels (PEG). Email ScienceHow@si.edu to learn more about sharing Science How with your community.  

Click an accordion below to get links to videos in each discipline. 

These videos were edited for length after they streamed live. These videos have supplemental resources such as additional readings and teacher guides to continue your exploration of the featured topic.  

These videos were edited for length after they streamed live. These videos have supplemental resources such as additional readings and teacher guides to continue your exploration of the featured topic.  

These videos were edited for length after they streamed live. These videos have supplemental resources such as additional readings and teacher guides to continue your exploration of the featured topic.  

These videos were edited for length after they streamed live. These videos have supplemental resources such as additional readings and teacher guides to continue your exploration of the featured topic.  

60-Minute Videos

A large gray fish and smaller yellow fish swimming between corals in a coral reef

Videos created after March 2020 were mostly broadcast from outside of the museum and on Zoom. They are approximately 1-hour and appear as they were originally streamed live

Click an accordion below to get links to videos in each discipline. 

Questions?

If you have questions about Smithsonian Science How programs or content, please e-mail us at ScienceHow@si.edu.

Science Explainer Videos

Insects. Illustrations of a butterfly, fly, beetle, ant, and grasshopper on a green background with an illustration of grass.

Explore natural history science concepts and topics with these videos, ranging in length from five to 12 minutes.  

Scientist Spotlight Videos

A medium-skin-toned man looking down at two small, green baby animals he is holding.

These videos highlight personal stories of Smithsonian science experts, including how they became interested in science and what challenges they have overcome. The experts also offer advice for students who may be interested in pursuing a science career. Each video is about 5 minutes or less and aims to help students build personal connections to science and science careers.
See all Scientist Spotlight Videos