Join the National Zoo as we celebrate Head Start's 60th birthday with the help of Giant pandas and meerkats! Discover how not only the zoo celebrates birthdays but also how people across the world celebrate special moments!

Content Unit :
Celebrations
Featured Creature :
Panda, Meerkats
Smithsonian Partners :
National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
ELOF Standards :
IT-ATL 7; IT-ATL 8; IT-SE 13; IT-LC 11; IT-C 3; IT-PMP 6; IT-PMP 7; IT-PMP 8; P-ATL 11; P-ATL 13; P-SE 11; P-PMP 3

Lessons and Activities

Check out fun and easy activities and lesson plans to help kids, families, and teachers explore birthdays and other celebrations with the Smithsonian Institution. 

Letter to Families

Print or send this letter home with your students to help them share what they learned during the "Let's Celebrate" virtual field trip and how families can continue the learning at home!

Resources

Two pandas are placed on a blue backdrop next to an illustrated popsicle.
Let's Celebrate! Happy Birthday! Food with Friends

How to Make a Panda Popsicle

Learn how to make a human-friendly popsicle modeled after the ice treats that we give our pandas!

Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
Animal:
Mammals
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development
Format:
E-Course
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Celebrations Food
View
An illustrated poster of the cast of Sesame Street celebrating their 10th birthday with cake, birthday hats, and streamers.
Let's Celebrate! Happy Birthday!

Same and Different Celebrations and Traditions

How are family celebrations and traditions alike and different? This course helps parents, teachers, and children explore family celebrations in their own families and communities, across the United States, and around the world. Along the way, learners discover how traditions can be both similar and different.

Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning Cognition Language and Communication Social and Emotional Development
Format:
E-Course
Language:
English
Museum:
National Museum of American History
Topic:
Celebrations
View
A woman and pink jackalope puppet sit next to each other at a table and are in the middle of a conversation.
Let's Celebrate!

Counting Birthday Years in Tree Rings at SERC

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is turning 60—and we’re celebrating with the help of trees! In this video, we count tree rings to show just how long 60 years really is. Join us as we explore how trees mark time and how SERC has been learning from and about nature for six amazing decades!
Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning
Format:
Video
Language:
English
Museum:
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Topic:
Celebrations Trees Numbers
Watch
A pink jackalope puppet is surrounded by cutout images of a cartoon mail person, a space shuttle, and two dresses.
Let's Celebrate!

60-Year Treasure Hunt

Head Start is turning 60 — and the Smithsonian is celebrating with a special adventure! To mark this milestone, our friend Pinky is heading out on a mission across the Smithsonian to discover amazing objects that are 60 years old. From retro treasures to historic highlights, join Pinky as we explore what 60 years really looks like through the lens of Smithsonian collections.
Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
ELOF Domain:
Approaches to Learning
Format:
Video
Language:
English
Museum:
National Air and Space Museum National Postal Museum National Museum of American History
Topic:
Celebrations Numbers
Watch
A meerkat on a sheet in the Small Mammal House of the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Happy Birthday! Let's Celebrate!

Meerkat Birthday Bash: Watch, Create, Celebrate

First, watch meerkats at the National Zoo celebrate their birthday with a special train and treats. Next, learn about meerkat characteristics before creating your own meerkat puppet that can pop in and out of its own tunnel!

Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
Animal:
Mammals
ELOF Domain:
Literacy
Format:
E-Course Video
Language:
English
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Animals Celebrations
Watch View
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Recursos

A meerkat on a sheet in the Small Mammal House of the Smithsonian's National Zoo.
Happy Birthday! Let's Celebrate!

Haga una marioneta de suricata

Primero, observa a los suricatos del Zoológico Nacional celebrar su cumpleaños con un tren especial y deliciosas golosinas. Luego, aprende sobre las características de los suricatos antes de crear tu propio títere de suricato, ¡que puede entrar y salir de su propio túnel!

Additional details
Age Group:
Preschool
Animal:
Mammals
ELOF Domain:
Literacy
Format:
E-Course Video
Language:
Spanish
Museum:
National Zoo
Topic:
Animals Celebrations
Mirar Vista
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