In this series of Journal posts we expanding on the activities in our Memory Makers Family Edition, and also our Memory Makers Friends Edition. Each set has 52 activities and within each activity, there are so many different ideas we want to explore with you!
Travel is not always easy or possible, so I have put together a list of amazing museums around the world that you can explore from home.
From virtual tours, to activities, to learning more about the world around us and our history, these museums have literally millions of amazing (and fun) resources.
This article took me a long time to write as I kept getting side-tracked, reading some really interesting articles and wanting to do all the activities!
1. Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg
According to their website, this museum is "the first museum solely dedicated to the evolution, celebration and future of human rights."
I was lucky enough to visit this museum in person a few years ago. It is 7 levels exploring the history of human rights, human rights around the world, and where we are now.
The museum has a great videos, stories, and quizzes that you can do from the comfort of your living room.
2. The Smithsonian
Image from website.
Not just one museum, but 21 with two more in the planning stage. It is the world's largest museum complex and even has a zoo. It includes galleries, a natural history museum, an air and space museum, cultural history museums, and design museums.
The link in the title is for the virtual tour of the Natural History Museum and there is so much more to explore! They have a number of different podcasts, a huge range of activities for kids, and you can explore their collections online.
3. The Guggenheim, Bilbao
Image from website.
A museum of contemporary art in a building that is art itself and has become an iconic structure. Explore the collection online and learn more about each piece, the artists, and conservation, or take virtual tours of the museum exhibitions (link in title).
4. The Natural History Museum, London
Image from website.
Take a virtual tour of the museum (link in title), check out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year images (amazing!), find fossils with their Fossil Explorer app, read unusual stories about the natural world in their What on Earth? series, and find answers to questions you never knew you had!
5. The Louvre, Paris
The Mona Lisa - Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre. Image from website.
Maybe the most famous museum in France with a massive collection that would take around 200 days to see. Known for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and The Venus de Milo, check out the 480,000 works in its collections. For kids stories and videos click here.
6. Kennedy Space Centre, Florida
Kennedy Space Centre - image from website.
While the virtual tour is a paid experience, there are plenty of things to check out on the website. For fun things to try at home, check here.
7. Vatican Museums, Vatican City
The Sistine Chapel ceiling, Vatican Museum. Image from website.
Most famous for the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums were established in the early 1500s and are a huge collection of works collected by the Catholic Church. Take a virtual tour (link in title) or check out their collection (still a work in progress) here.
8. Hermitage, St Petersburg
The Hermitage Winter Palace - image from website
Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, The Hermitage contains over 3 million works of art and artefacts and is the largest museum in the world by gallery space.
Explore the museum virtually (link in title), or check out its collection online.
9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Wheat Field with Cypresses - Vincent van Gogh
Founded in 1870, The Met has over 2 million works of art including paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Claude Monet. Check it out virtually (link above), or check out the activities and articles for kids here.
10. Museo Frida Kahlo, Mexico City
Take a virtual tour of Frida Kahlo's house, read about the exhibits and biographies of Frida Kahlo, and check out photos of artwork and her life.
Images from Museo Frida Kahlo website.
Do you have a favourite museum or gallery? Let us know why you love it so much!
For more amazing places check out Google Arts and Culture.