These porcelains from the collections of the Freer Gallery are part of a 1,500-year-old tradition of making porcelains in Jingdezhen, China. Porcelain production during the Kangxi period (1662–1722) expanded China’s export trade with Europe, sparked the Chinamania craze in the nineteenth century, and bolstered the East-West exchange that endures to this day.

The Smithsonian 3D Program is a small group of technologists working within the Smithsonian Institution's Digitization Program Office. We focus on developing solutions to further the Smithsonian's mission of “the increase and diffusion of knowledge” through the use of three-dimensional scanning technology, analysis tools, and our distribution platform.

This work is already transforming core functions of our museums. Researchers in the field can now come back not only with specimens, but also 3D data documenting entire sites. Curators and educators are using 3D data as the basis for telling stories and sending students on quests of discovery. Conservators are using 3D data to track the condition of a collection item over time using 3D deviation analysis tools, showing exactly what changes have occurred to an object.

In this activity students will work to classify soil as sand, silt, or clay.

This activity is a guided inquiry investigation where students gather data on which soil is the best for growing plants. Student will interpret their data, and develop a conclusion from the data. The student will determine which type of soil they would like to use in the next activity of making their own terrariums. The data collected could lead to further questions, which can be investigated in some extension activities.

Students take a hands-on look at the design of bridge piers (columns). First they brainstorm types of loads that might affect a Colorado bridge. Then they determine the maximum possible load for that scenario, and calculate the cross-sectional area of a column designed to support that load. Choosing from clay, foam or marshmallows, they create model columns and test their calculations.

This lesson will focus on how to sculpt a functional object in clay. By sculpting a cup, students will learn routines for working with clay and strategies to create a successful sculpted object. They will also learn that people long ago in Guatemala used similar cups to drink hot chocolate. Essential question asked:
How can we use clay to create a usable object?

Join the Zoo's Neighborhood Naturalist digging into some soil in search of amazing and beneficial Earthworms!

This animation provides an interactive ternary diagram that shows soil texture classifications for different silt, sand and clay content levels.

This site looks at soil fertility, nitrogen in soil, soil chemistry, soils as electrical systems, soils as filters, soil physics and particle sizes (silt, sand, and clay), microorganisms in soil, nutrients that plants need, soil morphology, judging soil by feel, structures and shapes of soil, and soil profile images from Arizona, Florida, Michigan, and other states. Learn how soil is formed and how long it takes to create an inch of soil.

This resource is from Tools4NCTeachers.  In this lesson, students explore 3D shapes, such as rectangular prisms and cubes. The students will identify the attributes for each 3D shape and build shapes using sticks, marshmallows, and other materials.  Pictures of sample student work and printable recording sheets are provided within this lesson.

This resource is part of Tools4NCTeachers.

This file contains a sample image of a geometry anchor chart, as well as an image of a composing shapes activity. Directions and descriptions are included.

This resource consists of a series of expositive and interactive modules that instruct students on the properties of soil and explain why soil is and important resource. Follow the "Digging Shallow" link for modules that are appropriate for an early elementary audience.