Virtual+Museums

Begin by exploring the Art Access section of the Art Institute of Chicago at [|www.artic.edu/artaccess/index.shtml]. This site contains nine learning opportunities covering a number of topics, ranging from arts of Africa, to Renaissance and Baroque art, to modern and contemporary art. Each of the options contains lesson plans, at-home art creation ideas, a glossary of terms with audio alternatives, a bibliography, and a collection of maps exploring the regions. In addition, concise information and excellent digital pictures of at least 12 works of art are Found on the homepage of each artistic period. When printed on a color printer, the enlarged versions of the works make excellent teaching materials. Another learning adventure for teachers and students is the Galleries section of the Philadelphia Museum of Art web site, [|www.philamuseum.org/collections/galleries.html]. Ten different galleries, ranging From "Arms & Armor" to "Costume & Textiles" to "Asian Art from 2500 B.C." to "Modern and Contemporary Art" are accessible. A concise overview of the gallery along with historical information is presented. Medium-size digital images are displayed for a number of the items on exhibit. A second treasure trove of materials is found in the Education section, under Resources. Digital images, lesson plans, and a number of complete web sites designed to showcase other exhibits are provided. Smart Fun Online, [|www.hfmgv.org/] education/smartfun/index.html, is the home of four well-crafted, engaging learning experiences. The "Model T Roadtrip" provides a look at a fictional family's first automobile purchase and driving vacation across America. The selection of journal entries and primary source materials makes this story come to life. Students can also visit the home of an enslaved carpenter who lived on the Hermitage plantation in Georgia; video and audio clips complete this story, "Living Under Enslavement." Students can become history detectives as they investigate the daily lives of a family in northeastern Connecticut at "A Colonial Family and Community." A clickable timeline from 1750-1930 rounds out the teaching-online exhibits, along with print and online resources and lesson plans and related curriculum content standards for teachers. Be sure to visit the Library of Congress's online exhibit on Lewis and Clark hosted at [|www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/]. Here learners will encounter a number of primary source maps, digital pictures of museum items, a virtual tour of the actual exhibit, and a number of other items related to the journeys of Lewis and Clark. A number of Flash-based animations provide a wealth of engaging information for students. The myriad primary sources used in the exhibit make this an excellent lesson for both history and information literacy. Another gem found at the Library of Congress-is the interactive exhibit on Winston Churchill, [|www.loc.gov/exhibits/] churchill/interactive/index.html. The information is presented through a timeline, via themes, or by viewing the actual objects that are part of the collection. For example, the ability to examine Churchill's pictures, letters, and other documents will engage even the most reluctant learner. Audio clips of radio messages from Churchill and a video clip of a speech by John F. Kennedy on Churchill's becoming an honorary American citizen bring the period to life. The audio narration by the exhibit curator makes viewers feel like they are in attendance. At America on the Move, http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/, viewers learn how transportation transformed lives, landscapes, culture, and communities in America. Viewers make a virtual visit to the communities that were changed by transportation; they investigate artifacts and images in collections; and they further explore the effects of transportation throughout the historical period of 1750-2000. For example, visitors to the site learn about canals, railroad expeditions, and the rise of interstates, as well as global travel. A section of learning resources, with materials for both families and teachers, and three interactive games round out this site. The Exploratorium in San Francisco is famous for its hands-on science activities and exhibits. Educators will delight in knowing that this web site also houses a number of online science activities. Begin by visiting the "Cow's Eye Dissection" at [|www.exploratorium.edu/learning%5fstudio/cow%5feye/index.html]. Here students view the complete dissection of a cow's eye, learn how the eye works, and even learn the step-by-step directions for doing an eye dissection--with an eye obtained from a meat market, of course! From there, move to the Science of Music, [[[|http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/index.html,|www.exploratorium.edu/music/index.html],]] where music enthusiasts learn about mixing music electronically, the origins of everyday instruments, and a wealth of other musical techniques. Finally, see how the weather in space affects the weather on Earth, by visiting Space Weather Research Explorer at [|www.exploratorium.edu/spaceweather/index.html]. Learn about solar wind, solar flares, and coronal holes, and practice space weather-forecasting skills. Explore the mine, Old Ben #17, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, at [|www.msichicago.org/exhibit/coal%5fmine/index.html]. This exhibit is designed with such ingenuity that visitors feel like they are descending down a mine shaft and then traveling through a tunnel 600 feet beneath the earth. Viewers see the mine as it was during the 1930s and then as it is in modern day. Many teaching options abound in this site.

The Internet opens a wide world of virtual museum options for teachers and students. Take time to travel to these destinations as you search for ideas to help enliven the curriculum. As a teacher-librarian, share these sites with your social studies, humanities, fine arts and literature colleagues. [|**http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/**] A gateway to a number of exceptional Canadian museums is the Virtual Museum Canada, available in both French and English. Here learners find a treasure trove of exhibits and learning activities. The easily searchable Image Gallery contains thousands of high-quality visuals of famous paintings, sculptures and other museum items. The Teachers' Centre provides curriculum-oriented access to a number of well-developed virtual tours and exhibits. Teachers can find any number of excellent ideas for introducing topics and helping students develop a deeper understanding of the topic. [|**http://www.civilization.ca/**] Any classroom touching on Canadian history and culture needs to visit the Civilization site, again available in both French and English. Exhibits featured include the History of Public Pensions, the Bog People and the Education of Children; each contains excellent, concise information as well as visuals. Topics covered include archaeology, arts and crafts, cultures, first peoples, history, treasures and the military. [|**http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/**] The Museum of London provides an examination of the Thames in prehistory, a look at the changing faces of London, as well as access to a number of primary sources and oral history audio clips via the web exhibitions. The gallery link includes a superbly crafted virtual tour of Victorian London. Options are available for a high-speed virtual reality tour and a text-based version with still visuals. Thought-provoking questions and easy links for further information make this an excellent classroom resource. [|**http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/**] The Compass is an Internet-based look at 5,000 objects found throughout the British Museum. A number of guided tour options are available including one on Agatha Christie and Archaeology. A children's section, designed for learners aged 7-11, includes a number of curriculum-oriented tours and an excellent visually oriented search feature for use by beginning researchers. Teachers and secondary students can also search the collection via keyword or by a directed search of either who, what, how or where/when. The excellent connection between searching and thinking about history makes this site a true treasure. [|**http://www.louvre.fr/**] A virtual tour of the Louvre provides a number of curriculum-oriented options. Students can take nine different tours ranging from a focus on architecture to Egyptian antiquities to the sculpture gallery. Each tour is a complete Virtual Reality view requiring QuickTime 5. The option to view the Rembrandt, Rubens, 16th century Netherlands, or a number of other painting rooms is also available. Access is available in French, English and Spanish. Students can also learn about the history of this famous art museum. [|**http://www.si.edu/**] The Smithsonian Online serves as the entryway to a number of American museums. Online resources are grouped by subject classification -- Art & Design, History & Culture, Science & Technology. In addition, individual links for each of the 15 museums under the Smithsonian umbrella are provided. Virtual exhibits range from Picturing Hemingway: A Writer in His Time to Lewis and Clark: Mapping the West to Earth Today. Teachers can also find a number of excellent resources using the curriculum-oriented search feature, Search Our Resources, available in the teacher section. Be sure to also look at the Kids section for well-developed online learning activities. [|**http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmnh/**] The Carnegie Museum of Natural History provides well-crafted virtual exhibits on Ancient Egypt, Minerals & Gems, the American Turkey and a number of other topics. A number of fun learning activities on dinosaurs and insects can also be found here. [|**http://www.fmnh.org/**] Another natural history museum with excellent virtual exhibits is the Field Museum. Here visitors find online exhibits on Sue, the world's largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex, on Soil or Dirt, on Javanese masks and a number of additional topics. [|**http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/online.asp**] The Henry Ford Museum provides a series of six excellent online exhibits. Subjects ranging from the civil rights figure Rosa Parks to R. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House to Inventor Biographies can be explored. Of course, a showroom of Automotive History is available. [|**http://www.newseum.org/cybernewseum/**] The Cyber Newseum contains a wealth of online exhibits on thought-provoking topics such as the Holocaust, the children of Kosovo, women photographers for National Geographic and war stories. The broadband versions of many of the exhibits provide audio clips and narration for the excellent visuals. Students will be enthralled with the exhibits and will find learning engaging if the teacher develops a learning guide for them. [|**http://www.museumspot.com/**] Finally, take advantage of two sites devoted to museums and online access. First, Museum Spot provides a nicely organized list of top sites to visit. Be sure to check the previous articles' link to find some real gems for classroom use. [|**http://www.museumstuff.com/index.html**] Second, visit the Gateway to Virtual and Online Museums site. Check the Virtual Museums as well as the Fun & Games links to find useful sites for your lessons and to share with your colleagues.