Learn about people, traditions, and celebrations around the world through art and activities you can do at home!
Papua New Guinea: Make a Shell Necklace
To celebrate May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this segment explores a few more of the museum’s objects from Papua New Guinea. You can see our previous post about ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Yoruba: Create a Royal Crown
For centuries the Yoruba people have shared a common language and culture but have never been a single united group. It is believed they migrated from Central Africa to their present locations ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Plains Indian Tribes: Create a Winter Count
Unfortunately, the Lam Museum doesn’t have a winter count in our collection. However, it seemed like the perfect time of year to learn about and make one. Portions of this post were adapted ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Hispanic Heritage Month: Decorate a Day of the Dead Mask
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this month’s program is about the celebration called Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
What is Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead is not the Mexican ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Senegal: Make a Recycled Treasure Box
As children are returning to school and parents are returning to the office, I thought I would spotlight the museum’s recycled lunchbox and briefcase from Senegal.
Where is Senegal?
Senegal is ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Australia: Create a Dot Painting
Aboriginal people are the indigenous people of Australia. Aboriginal people are divided into about 400 hundred different groups, each with different languages, traditions, music, and arts. These ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Suriname: Make a Mosquito Brush
Where is Suriname?
Suriname, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast, is one of the smallest countries in South America. It was formerly known as Dutch Guiana and was a plantation colony ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Japan: Craft a Kabuto for Children's Day
Children’s Day or Kodomo-no-hi
One of Japan’s busiest holiday seasons is Golden Week. Four national holidays take place within the seven days of Golden Week. The holidays start each year on ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Polynesia: Make a Grass Skirt
Where is Polynesia?
The Pacific Islands are divided into three geographic and cultural regions: Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Polynesia includes islands scattered across a triangle ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close
Ancient Coins: Make Your Own Money!

Ancient Greek didrachm
The invention of coins is shrouded in mystery. Coins as we think of them today were first used as a method of payment around the 6th or 5th century BCE. According to the ...
Categories: Cultures Up Close