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  7. Activities for Kids and Teens

Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens

Art Activities and Games

  • Colorful crayons displayed on top of the Smithsonian sun.

    Smithsonian Libraries

    Color Our Collections arrow-right

    Coloring sheets for artists of all ages from the Smithsonian Libraries.
  • A purple, yellow, and gray robot that makes art.

    Smithsonian Learning Lab

    ArtBots! arrow-right

    Learn how to create your very own art-making robot—an ArtBot!
  • A black outline of a portrait of a man that is half black and white and half colored in.

    National Portrait Gallery

    Color in Portraits in Our Collections arrow-right

    Learners of all ages can color our collection and engage with our portraits. 
  • A tie dyed coffee filter.

    Hirshhorn Museum

    Hirshhorn Kids at Home arrow-right

    Unique hands-on projects inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn artworks. 
  • Light art created by a young person.

    National Museum of Natural History

    Light Painting Tutorial arrow-right

    "Paint" with light and create photographs inspired by bioluminescent ocean creatures.
  • Collage with James Smithsonian and monuments and the Smithsonian Building

    Smithsonian Open Access

    How to make a Collagasaurus arrow-right

    Download an illustrated book designed by the AstroNuts and build a collagasaurus.

History and Culture Activities

  • visitors using a mobile app to geocache

    Smithsonian Castle

    Scavenger Hunts arrow-right

    Explore your favorite Smithsonian museums and gardens with touchless scavenger hunts!
  • Cover of a spiral notebook with the title of the page.

    Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

    The Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide arrow-right

    Through documenting memories and stories, the past comes to life in the present.
  • File folders make up a made at home time capsule.

    National Postal Museum

    Postal Museum Activity Zone arrow-right

    The National Postal Museum's website offers a variety of online activities for kids of all ages, including how to make your own time capsule!
  • A partially completed jigsaw puzzle.

    Smithsonian Libraries

    Digital Jigsaw Puzzles arrow-right

    Customizable to any skill set, these digital puzzles feature images from Smithsonian Libraries.
  • National Museum of American History

    Do Try This at Home! arrow-right

    Try your hand at these fun digital activities from the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Joyful ABC Activity Books arrow-right

    Explore the Joyful ABC activity booklets for early learners, ages 3 - 5, or for infants and toddlers.

Science and Nature Games and Activities

  • Grainy black and white image of a panda.

    Smithsonian's National Zoo

    AnimalCams: Live Video Streams arrow-right

    Visit the National Zoo virtually any time by turning into our live webcams.
  • Smithsonian Science Education Center

    Science Game Center arrow-right

    Fun games and apps for learning about science.
  • Colorful and playful illustration of a computer that looks like a children's drawing.

    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

    Q?rioso arrow-right

    Be curious, discover, play, and learn with us
  • An animated aardvark.

    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

    Q?Digital arrow-right

    Open your virtual world to a learning experience with games and videos from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.
  • A small bird with a white breast speckled with brown and reddish brown back.

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

    Migration Game arrow-right

    Help Wanda the Wood Thrush travel from her winter home in Costa Rica to her summer home in Maryland!
  • Clouded Leopard Cub

    Smithsonian Open Access

    Free Photos from the Smithsonian's National Zoo arrow-right

    These Open Access images are available to download and use as you wish—all without asking!

Space Activities and Interactives

  • Illustration depicting an outline of a woman's head that looks like a constellation in the sky.

    Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

    Reach Across the Stars arrow-right

    Meet your female space science heroes (virtually) on a free augmented reality app that can be used on most AR-compatible devices.
  • A rainbow of colors exploding in front of a black background.

    Smithsonian Science Education Center

    Journey Through an Exploded Star arrow-right

    Navigate the fiery aftermath of a supernova in an interactive simulation.
  • Satellite image from space of land on Earth.

    National Air and Space Museum

    Geography from Space Quizzes arrow-right

    Challenge yourself to identify geographic locations on Earth with these quizzes.
  • A white telescope in the corner of a photograph with brown hills in the background.

    Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

    MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network arrow-right

    Explore the universe with telescopes you control over the internet!

Activity Guides from Smithsonian and USA TODAY

<p>Download educational activity guides&nbsp;produced in collaboration with USA TODAY that are&nbsp;packed full of games, puzzles, recipes, and other activities for the young and young at heart.</p>

  • Cover of innovation nation newspaper section.

    Smithsonian Education

    Innovation Across the Nation arrow-right

    Aimed at sparking an innovative mindset with K-8 learners, this activity guide features stories of inventors from history and today.
  • Cover of Inspiration Nation activity guide.

    Smithsonian Education

    Inspiration Nation arrow-right

    This 40-page guide includes inspiring stories, experiments, and activities.
  • Screenshot from the activity guide.

    Smithsonian Education

    Yesterday, Today arrow-right

    Explore three visual time capsules that connect ideas and events from the past with products and trends of the present. 
  • Cover of wonder and awe newspaper section.

    Smithsonian Education

    Wonder & Awe arrow-right

    This guide features stories and activities that connect us to our "place in space" through the lenses of art, culture, history, and science.
  • Design for Title Page, Occupations of Women and Their Compensation

    Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

    Women Innovators: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future arrow-right

    This activity guide includes stories of pioneering innovators and their life-changing innovations.
  • Illustration of three doors on a winter day.

    Smithsonian Education

    Winter at Home arrow-right

    This 40-page activity guide is filled with hands-on activities, puzzles, and games. (English/Spanish)
  • Newspaper cover of road trip activity guide.

    Smithsonian Education

    Summer Road Trip arrow-right

    An at-home K–8 activity guide with hands-on activities, puzzles, and games. (Spanish/English)
  • Cover of back to school activity booklet.

    Smithsonian Education

    Explore, Discover, Learn: Back to School with the Smithsonian arrow-right

    Our back-to-school activity guide has fun and learning for all ages.
  • Sustainability in Action Guide

    Smithsonian Education

    Sustainability in Action arrow-right

    This activity guide is for learners of all ages who are interested in putting sustainability into action.
  • Cover of newspaper for Presente activity guide.

    Smithsonian Education

    ¡Presente! Activity Guide arrow-right

    This 12-page guide allows learners of all ages to engage with inspirational and informative stories that explore the American Latino experience.
  • Collage of items representing US veterans.

    Smithsonian Education

    America’s Veterans: Honor, Service, and Sacrifice arrow-right

    This activity guide helps students appreciate veterans’ impact on American society. 
  • Screenshot from a game in activity book.

    Smithsonian Education

    Present History arrow-right

    This activity guide provides stories of innovation and inspiration, and reflection in an ongoing quest to better understand the American experience.

Explore the Smithsonian's Collections

  • mummy mask

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Ancient Egypt arrow-right

    Explore collections related to ancient Egypt from across the Smithsonian.
  • Captain America 41 cent stamp

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Excelsior! American Superheroes arrow-right

    Superman’s 1938 debut kicked off the golden age of comic books, and superheroes have used their breathtaking powers to fight evildoers ever since.
  • spirograph

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Playtime: Toys, Games, and Puzzles arrow-right

    From vintage to high-tech, there's something for every child (and child at heart) in our collections.
  • C-3PO and R2-D2

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    The Force is Strong with the Smithsonian arrow-right

    Explore Star Wars–related objects in our collections—from lunch boxes to the famous droids "you're looking for."
  • Apollo 11 command module

    3D Digitization

    Smithsonian 3D arrow-right

    Explore some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects up close and in 3D!
  • mineral

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Minerals and Gems arrow-right

    The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History mineral and gem collection is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
  • insect on a flower.

    National Museum of Natural History

    Insect Info arrow-right

    With over 35 million specimens, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History's insect collection is one of the largest entomological collections in the world.
  • Lady Terrapins hat [2007.0224.07]

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    March Madness arrow-right

    Get ready for the big dance with basketball finds in the Smithsonian's collections.
  • Text saying greetings from the Smithsonian Institution with a collage of images from collections.

    Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

    Explore America arrow-right

    Take an American road trip through our collections to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
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