Despite some evidence to the contrary, spring is coming, and with it come plans for warm-weather trips to places like Washington, D.C., where fun and education can be combined in a family-friendly base of operations.
One Washington must-see is the Smithsonian, and while most vacationers have neither the time nor the stamina to tour the entire museum, wonders await those those spend even a single morning or afternoon there.
The Smithsonian has numerous websites geared to different needs. The main Smithsonian site pops with information on current exhibits, things to see and do, and much-needed and easy-to-access basic information.
Smithsonian Education offers numerous resources for teachers--lesson plans and enrichment materials. And they're geared for various grade levels.
SmithsonianSource also offers teaching materials specifically targeted for enriching American History classes. The current featured topic is Inventions, featuring information on everything from the development of electric guitars to the invention of adding machines and typewriters.
All these sites would provide great background for those planning trips to the Smithsonian, but also have loads of material for armchair travelers, teachers, and homeschool families.
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