Student Reporting Labs: Exploring America's History in 30 Objects
Explore 250 years of U.S. history through 30 iconic Smithsonian objects and consider how understanding the past can help shape America’s future.
The Smithsonian Castle is commemorating America's pursuits over the last 250 years by bringing together iconic objects — from Thomas Jefferson's desk to Sally Ride's spacesuit — for the first time. At a time when access to history is being called into question, co-curator Abeer Saha and intern Saanika Dhillon share why learning about the past is critical to our progress in the future.
Visit the Student Reporting Labs website for more information.
Warm-Up Questions
- Where is the American Aspiration exhibit located?
- Who is Abeer Saha, and what is his background?
- How many objects make up the Smithsonian’s collections?
- What ideas about U.S. history does the American Aspirations exhibit seek to help museum visitors explore?
- How do the visitors interviewed describe the exhibit?
Essential Questions
- What is the significance of seeing the physical objects connected to major moments to themes in history? How do you think seeing these objects might deepen people's understanding of history?
- Intern Saanika Dhillon discusses the importance of the museum's role in education, especially for younger audiences. Can you think of ways for the Smithsonian's exhibit to reach more students and a broader audience?
Media literacy: This video was produced by three high school students during a summer program with PBS Student Reporting Labs. Why do you think the students chose this exhibit to focus on for their story? Why is the story important now?
What Students Can Do
Look through the American Aspirations page of the Smithsonian’s website. There’s images of some of the items, and students should look through them and research one more closely. After they research more, they should discuss the following questions:
- Have you learned about these items before? What about the people associated with them? How were they presented in school or culture to you?
- Which item would you want to see in person? Can you think of a key figure in U.S. history and an item associated with them that you would have suggested for this exhibit?
- Do you think the experience of seeing the item in person might be different than seeing it online? If so, how?
Written by Alyssa Tinoco, News Hour Classroom intern, and PBS News Hour's Luke Gerwe
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
Bring Missing Narratives Into Focus
Explore this growing collection of classroom-ready lessons that center voices too often left out—Indigenous leaders, LGBTQ+ activists, immigrant communities, and more.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement
