Search SAAM Stories
Find behind-the-scenes museum stories about artworks, artists, and more.
![Teachers use rolled pieces of paper as telescopes.](http://cdn.saam.media/s9Resa3RvX53AwRATe4YQhlY2k0/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1730822449%2FRural%2520Initiative_Mary%2520Tait.jpg)
Education11/05/2024
SAAM's Education Department serves teachers and students in rural communities.
![A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann](http://cdn.saam.media/QICiPiRxU7ntqNM7k2dQ1vc-1VM/640/640/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2FMejoradoR%2540si.edu%2FPhoebe%2520Headshot%25202023.JPG%25202.jpg)
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
![Two visitors look at a timeline on a wall. Behind them is a painting hanging on a blue wall and the words "Fighters for Freedom" with text underneath.](http://cdn.saam.media/4vjPkmoHVeCnUrMpsc16_7QXh4k/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1718742884%2F2024_3_1_SAAM_WilliamJohnson_FighterForFreedom-117_home%2520page%2520crop.jpg)
SAAM's educators invite students and visitors to reflect on William H. Johnson's portraits and make connections to our world today.
Emily Berg
![A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann](http://cdn.saam.media/QICiPiRxU7ntqNM7k2dQ1vc-1VM/640/640/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2FMejoradoR%2540si.edu%2FPhoebe%2520Headshot%25202023.JPG%25202.jpg)
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
![Detail of Phoebe Kline. She is sitting in front of orchids and smiling.](http://cdn.saam.media/9P8LuqfEp57yx4ujOLs5Qp-gk-I/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1713301808%2FPhoebeKlineDocent_home%2520page%2520crop.jpg)
Docent Phoebe Kline began at SAAM in 1974 and she's still going strong.
![A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.](http://cdn.saam.media/jaP7JT4VHm2s_pCD-MNeCeKuYl4/640/640/top/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2Fweilerl%2Fhoward-kap.jpg)
Howard Kaplan
Writer
![A group of students taking a selfie in front of a projected screen.](http://cdn.saam.media/h4BjHkLCNk7Dk_7wSv8DzxItzf4/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1698417835%2FCreating%2520American%2520Stories%2520group%2520picture_home%2520page%2520crop.jpg)
Education10/31/2023
Students at DC public schools create stories based on artworks in SAAM's collection
![A group of students at a rural school sit around the table with colored trips assembling a color wheel.](http://cdn.saam.media/xlepxhYY1DnUyKhnWVw0xYUumiM/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1687362624%2F3.30.23_kristi_borge_home%2520page%2520crop.jpg)
Education06/20/2023
SAAM's REACH program allows educators to reach out to remote learners....no matter where they are
![Detail of quilted portrait showing three African American soldiers](http://cdn.saam.media/RpKRjAp3onEAYLiZ5mXfy7pg7YI/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2022-05%2FButler%2520%25282%2529%2520homepage%2520crop.jpg)
Education05/24/2023
Tips for teaching the layered World War I history of the 369th Infantry Regiment on their return from France
Ben Brands
![A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann](http://cdn.saam.media/QICiPiRxU7ntqNM7k2dQ1vc-1VM/640/640/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2FMejoradoR%2540si.edu%2FPhoebe%2520Headshot%25202023.JPG%25202.jpg)
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
![A explosion of yellows and reds in a scene from WWI](http://cdn.saam.media/5uGTuOhoC_6TNsVif7tEIP0GDuo/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1669820221%2FSAAM-1981.163_home%2520page%2520crop.jpg)
Education11/30/2022
Taking a closer look at Claggett Wilson’s watercolor paintings that depict his experiences as a combat marine in World War I
Kelly Skeen
![Marian Anderson and symbols that surround her life](http://cdn.saam.media/zSVifk4z8rP-mRQl4LsqrLVF_BQ/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2Fimage%2F1666109422%2FMarian%2520Anderson_homepage%2520crop.jpg)
SAAM educator Phoebe Hillemann reflects on creating resources to spark curiosity for learners of all ages who view William H. Johnson’s Fighters for Freedom series
![A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann](http://cdn.saam.media/QICiPiRxU7ntqNM7k2dQ1vc-1VM/640/640/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2FMejoradoR%2540si.edu%2FPhoebe%2520Headshot%25202023.JPG%25202.jpg)
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
![Detail of a quilt featuring images of Martin Luther King Jr.](http://cdn.saam.media/eRyhPFmXFc5Huo7Q-mFRGnb8Nh4/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2022-01%2FSAAM-2002.41_homepage%2520crop.jpg)
Education01/14/2022
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, there’s more to his life and legacy than that single story. Smithsonian educators share approaches to expand classroom lessons and student understanding of this great civil rights leader.
![A close up crop of a screenprint of Frida Kahlo's face.](http://cdn.saam.media/QznXkQIZ0flEWkvPwy7T-h0UFAU/960/0/center/cover/png/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-11%2FFrida%2520Kahlo_Rupert%2520Garcia_homepage.png)
Museum educators share Chicanx posters with teachers around the world
![A photograph of Anne Showalter in front of Superhighway.](http://cdn.saam.media/kjkN6dY_tpK78s3FlB5jPvtj9uk/640/640/top/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fuser%2Fweilerl%2FAnne%2520Showalter_superhighway.jpg)
Anne Showalter
Digital Interpretation Specialist
![An African American girl wearing a rose-colored hijab stands, smiling, in front of a stone and brick rowhome.](http://cdn.saam.media/a0xK7IcVI2LiN0-ipIQrmBpvAOU/960/0/center/cover/png/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-08%2FSmile%2520through%2520the%2520Storm_homepage.png)
Education09/02/2021
SAAM educator Elizabeth Dale-Deines talks with Karim R. Amin about the outcomes of creating a youth-focused photography program
Elizabeth Dale-Deines
![An African American girl wearing a black hijab looks directly at the camera, smiling. In front of her is a fence painted to resenble piano keys. Her fingers rest atop the fence.](http://cdn.saam.media/CJmZqIIr-BSFhzPSvtbYbQM63Og/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-08%2FKey%2520to%2520the%2520Future_homepage.jpg)
One SAAM educator explores creating a meaningful partnership with a community-based organization to achieve something neither could have done alone.
Elizabeth Dale-Deines
![Image of two women looking at tv screen conducting a distance learning class](http://cdn.saam.media/OrPcrmaUUA4EijNZWp9xCBvI1eg/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-08%2FMy%2520Post%2520%252822%2529.jpg)
Hear from SAAM’s education team about leading during the pandemic as teachers transitioned to online teaching
![Painting with three angel figures hovering over a battlefield](http://cdn.saam.media/w1dfTqpDNCPzTRdHWcKI81VfCZ4/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-05%2FMy%2520Post%2520%25288%2529.jpg)
Education05/28/2021
Discover how a partnership between SAAM and the American Battle Monuments Commission commemorates the honor, service and sacrifice of America’s fallen in wars abroad.
![Sketch by Paul Manship featuring four Angels](http://cdn.saam.media/pJ_MTXwr53t9EL4iZMm7LJ_N_DE/960/0/center/cover/jpg/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ec1vt3scx7rr.cloudfront.net%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2F2021-05%2FMy%2520Post%2520%25287%2529.jpg)
Education05/11/2021
Discover how a partnership between SAAM and the American Battle Monuments Commission revealed an unexpected connection between Paul Manship sketches and a U.S. military cemetery located outside of Rome.