Science and History
Lesson plans on the history and technology of bookmaking: 5th-8th

History and Art
Explore the history of bookmaking and lettering with this hands-on activity on illumination. Illumination is the decorating of books or manuscripts with ornate lettering, scrollwork, icons and images. This lesson plan introduces an easy and inexpensive way to apply metal leaf to a single letter, then embellish it using colored pencils.

Science and History: Middle
A virtual tour of the Georgia Tech Robert C. Williams Paper Museum.

Science and Art – High School
In 1995, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Exhibition Gallery and the Washington Project for the Arts co-sponsored an exhibit of artists’ books related to scientific themes. Selected book artists were invited to create original works of book art inspired by the 200 volume collection of classical scientific texts called the Heralds of Science. The result was a stunning exhibit that illustrates the interconnections between art and science and the creative and problem solving processes of both. The exhibit has been preserved on-line, and your students can explore galleries of book are related to astronomy, physics, biology, etc. After viewing and discussing examples, students could create their own art books based on core content in your science curriculum or on the history of science.