The Museums are open, but we know not everyone is able (or ready) to visit in person. That’s OK! We still have lots of fun available for you!
Hooray for Heroes is a virtual family engagement event inspired by our Hall of Heroes exhibit. The activities presented can enhance your visit—or stand alone—providing lots of activities for the mind and body.
Want to add an extra-special treat to the experience? Order a Hooray for Heroes activity kit, available for pick-up or delivery.
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Enter to win a TMNT comic book signed by creator Kevin Eastman! There are two ways to enter between August 15 and August 30, 2020.
This video is made possible by the Springfield Local Cultural Council.
Heroes can be famous people who do extraordinary things or people close to us who have an impact on our lives. Whether your hero is someone internationally known or a member of your own family, you can celebrate them using the My Hero nomination. Draw a portrait of them and write a few sentences to let us know why they’re you’re hero.
Email a photo of your nomination to our Superhero Hotline at artdiscovery@springfieldmuseums.org or post on social media with #AtTheMuseums and #HoorayforHeroes to share with the world.
Sam Alexander and the Nova Corps use rockets to propel them through space while they help save Earth from The Ultimate Nullifier. While you might not be able to blast into space like Sam you can create a rocket with household items to learn more about propulsion.
Vocabulary
Propulsion means to push or drive an object forward.
Nullify means to make something of little value or no consequence. The Ultimate Nullifier, the fantasy weapon in Nova, would have been used to destroy Earth.
Make your own stick puppets and a cityscape backdrop to put on a show and tell a superhero story for your family or friends.
You can create a puppet inspired by your favorite comic or movie, by someone you know, or make up something completely original! Think about what characteristics you want your superhero to have. Some superheroes have super powers while others rely on technology to help them fight crime. Some are serious while others are silly. Decide how you will show your puppet’s personality and then get started.
Create a cityscape for your superhero to dash across on their way to save the day! Will you be inspired by Metropolis, Gotham City, New York, Springfield, your own hometown, or create something straight out of your imagination?
Make sure to ask your grownups before you start this activity. While this magnetic slime won’t stick to the fridge on its own, the iron fillings will be attracted to any magnet! Use a magnet to pull the slime and feel as powerful as Magneto!
Traditionally, shields are a kind of personal armor worn on the wrist or forearm to protect from swords, arrows, and other weapons. Wonder Woman and Thor both make use of shields to defend themselves, but probably the most commonly recognized shield used by a superhero is Captain America’s. His shield is easily recognized by the red, white, and blue concentric circles and the bright white or silver star in the middle.
Different types of shields are displayed in the Plaster Casts Gallery in the George Vincent Walter Smith Art Museum. Ancient Greek Hoplites (or citizen soldiers) used round shields reinforced with bronze to defend themselves in battle. Roman could be made of iron, leather, or wood reinforced with metals. They could be round, rectangular, or pointed.
Evan Keeling is an artist who works at the Smithsonian. He draws writes and draws zines about people and issues that he thinks more people should know about. Download the two here to assemble at home! You can also use the blank sheets Evan designed to create your own zine! You can tell a true story, or one from your imagination!
Humpback Highway
Sonia Sotomayor
8-Page Comic Template
Blank Comic Template
Did You Know?
The Smithsonian is home to a wide variety of superhero objects, like original comics, memorabilia, costumes, and props. Explore their collection here.
Smithsonian affiliation made possible through the generous support of the MassMutual Foundation.
No matter what special super powers they might have, superheroes need to train and practice to become agile, fast, and improve their reaction times! Try these activities to improve your physical skills and keep practicing!
Created by Judy Bent, Museum Educator
- Balance on one foot for 10 seconds
- Crawl forward for 10 feet
- Gallop forward for 10 steps
- Jump in place 10 times
- Leap forward 10 times
- Run in place for 10 seconds
- Skip forward 10 times
- Stomp your feet in place 10 times
- Stretch your legs for 10 seconds
- Walk backwards for 10 steps
- Bend and touch your toes 10 times
- Curl your body up and hold for 10 seconds
- Hop on one foot 10 times
- Kneel up tall for 10 seconds
- Roll in a straight line for 10 seconds
- Sit and then stand up 10 times
- Slide to the right 10 times and then slide to the left 10 times
- Straighten your body and hold for 10 seconds
- Twist your body to the right 10 times and then the left 10 times
- Wiggle your body for 10 seconds
All available for curbside pickup at the Springfield Central Library or purchase on AmazonSmile–with the Springfield Museums selected as your preferred charity, they’ll send us 0.5% of every order you place at no extra cost to you.
- Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Ages 8-13)
- Good Morning Superman and Sweet Dreams Supergirl (Ages 4-7)
- Black Comix: African American Independent Comics, Art, and Culture (High School and up)
- Nova Volume 1: Origin (Young Adult)
- Brave and Bold: Female DC Super Heroes Take on the Universe (Ages 6-12)
- Powers of a Girl (Ages 10 and up)