This collection of activities, videos, read-aloud ideas, and conversation starters features collections from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. It provides teachers, parents, and caregivers of young children with a wide range of ways to engage kids in learning about matriarchal elephant herds through a more understandable structure of United States of America First Ladies. These activities can be paired with the 30-minute recorded "Elephants'' music and movement program linked in this collection or on their own. While the activities are designed for preschool-age children, they can easily be scaffolded for older or younger ages.

Get a Head Start with the Smithsonian (GHSS) learning lab is focused on giving Head Start and Pre-K teachers creative activities to bring the Smithsonian right into your classroom! While designed for preschool-age children, all resources can easily be scaffolded for older or younger ages.

Preschooler Domains:

Goal P-ATL 11. Child shows interest in and curiosity about the world around them.

Goal P-ATL 12. Child expresses creativity in thinking and communication.

Goal P-ATL 13. Child uses imagination in play and interactions with others.

Goal P-SE 7. Child expresses care and concern toward others.

Goal P-LC 2. Child understands and responds to increasingly complex communication and language from others.

Goal P-LIT 4. Child demonstrates an understanding of narrative structure through storytelling/re-telling.

Goal P-LIT 5. Child asks and answers questions about a book that was read aloud.

Goal P-SCI 2. Child engages in scientific talk.

Goal P-PMP 3. Child demonstrates increasing control, strength, and coordination of small muscles.

Infant/Toddler Domains:

Goal IT-ATL 7. Child shows interest in and curiosity about objects, materials, or events.

Goal IT-ATL 8. Child uses creativity to increase understanding and learning.

Goal IT-SE 8. Child expresses care and concern towards others.

Goal IT-LC 4. Child uses non-verbal communication and language to engage others in interaction.

Goal IT-LC 5. Child uses increasingly complex language in conversation with others.

Goal IT-LC 12. Child comprehends meaning from pictures and stories.

Goal IT-PMP 8. Child adjusts reach and grasp to use tools.