This Learning Lab collection offers guiding questions and resources for elementary classes to explore the question, “Where do celebrations come from?” It was designed collaboratively by Smithsonian educators from the National Museum of the American Indian and National Museum of American History and Nebraska PK-12 teachers in alignment with Nebraska statute 79-724, formerly known as the "Americanism" statute, and the following Nebraska state education standards for social studies. 

3rd Grade

(SS 3.4.2.) Describe and explain multiple perspectives of events within a community.

(SS 3.4.2.a.) Describe the role of diverse groups of people, events, and ideas in the development of a community. For example: local cultural figures, landmarks, celebrations, cultural events.

(SS 3.4.2.b) Compare and contrast conflicting perspectives about a past event in a community.

Project Background

This Collection was created through the collaboration between PreK-12 Nebraska teachers and Smithsonian museum educators focuses on the following educational strategies: multicultural education, inquiry-based approaches such as the C3 IDM model, civics education, and socio-emotional learning.

These modules will be piloted in Fall 2022 and then published via the Smithsonian Learning Lab, and the Nebraska OER HUB, to ensure state-wide and national access to these teaching resources.

This collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Education and the Smithsonian Institution will leverage the breadth of content and education expertise that exist among the 21 museums at the Smithsonian with the expertise of Nebraska's educators and administrators.