Museum Exhibits

Create exihibits, diorama, science demonstrations, or other physical displays. Use a tool like Voki to create an animation with audio that can be placed on any page. Check out a Voki example. For instance, you could have small groups each work on a tabletop exhibit for their country. Then use Voki to narrate the exhibit.

Consider using a database like CultureGrams to collection information.

Audio Narration

Use a audio tool to narrative the exhibit.

• Voki. Users create avatars then record audio or text for computer-generated voices. Check out the educational services and lesson plans. Explore Ms. Wilson's 5th grade Voki biopoems.
• Alternatives
  • Blabberize. Animate a photo and add your voice.
  • Vocaroo. Very easy to use; no registration required.

For exhibit ideas, search online for sample projects you could use to inspire your own museum exhibit.

• Tornado-Proof Houses by Stacey Burt
• Solar Water Heaters by Stacey Burt

Consider using QR Codes and URL Shorteners. By including both, you have a human-readable as well as a device-readable link.

QR Codes

You can download a QR reader to your desktop or use a portable reader.
Go to Lizards Are Cool for an example.

• QR stuff. Create a QR code.
• Alternatives
  • QR-Code Tag - A plug-in that generates a QR code for the Google Chrome page you are on.
  • Mobile Barcode - A plug-in that generates a QR code for the Firefox page you are on.
  • Mobile Apps and QR at High Tech Learning
  • QR (Quick Response) from Wikipedia
  • QR Stuff - make a QR code.
  • Readers
  • Desktop QR Code Reader - reads from your webcam
  • Zxing Barcode Scanner App for Android
  • QR Reader for iPhone

URL Shorteners

URL Shorteners are useful when sharing long URLs in an exhibit.

• Goo.gl
• Alternatives
• Bit.ly 
• TinyURL
  

Topic for Object-based Exhibits

For topic ideas, begin with a news article.

• Accidental Inventions from Brain Candy
• EurekAlert from AAAS

Mix artifacts that students can touch with virtual artifacts.

• A History of the World in 100 Objects from BBC
• Digital Vault from NASA
• The Object of History involves students in examinating historical artifacts.
• Smithsonian Source - Search Primary Sources - choose Artifact
• History Explorer

Teaching Ideas for Primary Sources

• Smithsonian Source - Document-based Questions

Try It!
Use Voki or another audio tool. Or, QR stuff to create a QR codes. Or, use a URL shortener to create short URLs. Design an activity that uses one of these two tools in an engaging physical activity in your classroom. Need content? Create an exhibit for a rubber duck that includes a Voki description and QR code for a duck website.

Or, explore topics for Object-based Exhibits listed above.