ARTHUR M. SACKLER GALLERY, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC, 202-633-4880, www.asia.si.edu  Musical Instruments from the Himalayas, Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 pm. Join world music educator Bill Jenkins to explore the sounds produced by drums, cymbals, long horns, flutes, and other traditional musical instruments from the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau. Tatebanko: Japanese Paper Dioramas, Saturday, March 27, at 2:00 pm. Using a rediscovered art form from seventeenth-century Japan, create a diorama using copies of Japanese woodblock prints in the Asian collections.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore MD, 410-396-7100, www.artbma.org  Printmaking Power, March 7, 14, 21 and 28. Paying close attention to the Woodcuts Now exhibition, learn to be a printmaker in your own right. Join us to experiment with different techniques, resulting in colorful and surprising works of art. March 7: Mammoth Monoprints. Think big, REALLY BIG! Today they'll draw pictures as large as we can and pull one-of-a-kind prints to hang in our homes. March 14: Potato Prints. Ever tried making a picture with your food? Well today we're using potatoes as pencils, and we promise, you won't get in trouble for playing with your food. March 21: Relief Prints. We'll learn a modified relief technique: pressing drawn images into fun foam sheets. The result? Painterly prints! March 28: Family Tour. Worked from Wood.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore MD, 410-727-4808, www.thebmi.org  Wee Workers: Toddler Programs, Tuesdays 10:30 am until 11:30 am. Every Tuesday preschoolers can work their way through the BMI! With a Museum Educator, children experience history and technology through gallery tours, stories, crafts, and songs. All activities support the Maryland Model for School Readiness. Recommended for ages 3 to 5. March 2: Musical Intruments. March 9: Planes and Trains. March 16: Parades in Baltimore. March 23: Transportation. March 30: Baltimore Historic Buildings.

CHESAPEAKE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis MD, 410-990-1993, www.theccm.org  Maryland Had Dinosaurs, Saturday, March 20, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Many sites in and around Annapolis are offering special activities in celebration of our state’s birthday. CCM is participating with $1 admission all day Saturday, March 20, from 10 am to 4 pm. Go WAY back in Maryland’s history with fossil-making and other dinosaur activities. $1 for ages 1 and up. For a listing of activities at other sites, go to: www.fourriversheritage.org.

HILLWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS, 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington DC, 202-686-5807, www.hillwoodmuseum.org  Preschooler Series: Animal Art Adventure, Thursday, March 4, 11 and 18, from 10:30 am until 11:30 am. In this 3-part series, young children (ages 2–5) and their adult companions explore Hillwood's treasures to discover a menagerie of animals seen within works of art. Each hour-long class includes exploration of a different room in Hillwood's Mansion, an art project, songs, and more! Limited to 10 children ages 2–5 with one accompanying adult. Please call ahead. $30 Public, $25 Members. Decorating Dishes, Sunday, March 7, from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by French porcelain in the exhibition Sèvres Then & Now. Fabergé Egg Family Festival, Saturday, March 27, from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm and Sunday, March 28, from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Celebrate spring's arrival in Russian style! Meet historical characters Tsar Nicholas II and Peter Carl Fabergé. Enjoy folk music and storytelling, and take part in a centuries-old egg-rolling game. Step into Fabergé's Workshop and decorate your own Fabergé-inspired egg. $12 Public, $10 Members, $7 College Students, $5 Children ages 6–18, free for children under age 6 .

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM, 800 F Street NW, Washington DC, 202-393-7798, www.spymuseum.org  Operation Secret Slumber, from Saturday, March 20 at 7:00 pm until Sunday, March 21 at 10:00 am. When the lights go down, the adventure begins! The Museum doors have been locked for the night, but behind the shadows a group of exclusive recruits stand ready to begin a night of top secret KidSpy training. This could be you! Perfect your alias and cover-story, check in at “Border Patrol,” and prepare for a night of intrigue and adventure. As a spy school recruit, your mission begins with taking on a secret identity and gathering intelligence about real spy skills. During the night, you will transform yourself through disguise, make and break secret codes, uncover important secrets, interrogate real spies, and hunt for a mole within your ranks! At the same time, the adults lurking nearby will be kept on their toes with their own super-clandestine mission. As day breaks, enemy agents will be exposed in a dramatic finale, KidSpy recruits and adults will reclaim their “real” (how do we know you are who you say you are?) identities and this adventure-filled mission will be accomplished. Ages: 9–13 (one adult required for every two KidSpy agents) Tickets: $115 per person. Members of The Spy Ring® $105 per person. Phone Registration Only: To purchase tickets call 202-654-0932. Includes an evening spy snack, light breakfast, take-home goody bag, and admission to the Museum on Sunday. Bring a sleeping bag, air mattress or pad, pillow, and sense of adventure.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 201 West Monument Street, Baltimore MD, 410-685-3750, www.mdhs.org  Irish History and Heritage Festival, Saturday, March 20, from 12:00 until 4:00 pm. Celebrate the history and culture of Ireland at the MdHS.  Experience Irish music and dance; taste traditional foods; hear myths and legends and learn about the impact that Irish immigrants had on the development of Baltimore City and the State of Maryland.  This program is appropriate for adults and children alike. 

MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER, 601 Light Street, Baltimore MD, 410-685-5225, www.mdsci.org  Preschool Storytime,  March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, at 11:00 am. Storytime includes stories, music, science activities, and lots of hands-on fun! In the Kids Room. Choo Choo Science, Wednesday, March 10, at 2:00 pm. What is more powerful than a locomotive? Bring your conductor's hat and get ready to hit the rails as we explore the exciting world of trains. Learn everything from the history of trains to how these massive machines keep chugging along the tracks. In the Kids Room. Imagination & Creation Exploration, Friday, March 12 and 19, at 3:00 pm. This activity is specially designed for children ages 5 through 8. Each week come and face a new I.C.E. challenge based on our monthly theme. The theme for March is weather. Bring an umbrella and brace for the wind as we learn how meteorologists study and predict the weather. Imagination & Creation In the Kids Room. Pi Day, Sunday, March 14, from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Everyone loves Pi and March 14th is the day to show it. Join us for delicious treats and partake in a pie eating contest if you think you can handle it! Show off your Pi memorization skills and see who can recite the most numbers! Find out how long you can hula hoop (they are circles, after all) and enjoy pi-themed music throughout the day. Wiggle Wednesday, Wednesday, March 17, at 11:00 am. Special athletic time, designed just for children ages 3 through 6 and their adults. Come wiggle, squirm, and dance as we enjoy music, movement, stories, songs and rhymes. Great opportunity to get some kid friendly exercise and get those energetic kiddos moving. In the Kids Room. Spring into the Equinox, Saturday, March 20, from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Celebrate the first day of Spring at the Maryland Science Center and learn all about our Sun! We will have special hands-on activities and giveaways in SpaceLink. Catch a show "Live from the Sun", at noon in the Davis Planetarium, and our rooftop observatory will be open from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, weather permitting, to safely view our Sun through a telescope! The Big Meltdown, Wednesday, March 24, at 2:00 pm. As the seasons change from winter to spring, discover the drastic changes that take place all around us. Explore some icy glaciers and learn what forces work to melt these big chunks of ice. Find out which animals are waking up from long winter naps and how they are getting ready for the spring. In the Kids Room. Infant and Toddler Activity, Thursday, March 25, at 11:00 am. Special activity time, designed just for children ages 0-24 months and their adults. Come enjoy music, movement, stories, songs, and crafts with your little one. In the Kids Room.

MARYLAND ZOO AT BALTIMORE, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore MD, 410-366-5466, www.baltimorezoo.org  Samson's 2nd Birthday Bash, Saturday, March 20, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm.  Come celebrate Samson's second birthday and join in as the community sings "Happy Birthday" to the Zoo's youngest elephant!

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, 14th & Constitution Avenues NW, Washington DC, 202-357-2700, www.americanhistory.si.edu  NanoDays 2010, March 27 until March 31, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Learn about nanotechnology through special activities in Spark!Lab during NanoDays by constructing a giant model of a carbon nanotube entirely from balloons, measuring height in nanometers, creating a liquid crystal display that changes color, and other nanotechnology-related experiments. NanoDays 2010 is a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact on the future.

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 10th & Constitution Avenues NW, Washington DC, 202-357-2700, www.mnh.si.edu  Smithsonian Sleepovers, Saturday, March 6, at 7:00 pm. Discover the National Museum of Natural History in a whole new way in this unique overnight experience. Includes an evening snack, light breakfast, IMAX screening, evening activity, and tour.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE, 510 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore MD, 410-576-3800, 410-727-FISH, www.aqua.org  Spring Ahead, Sunday, March 7, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Welcome spring and the emergence of amphibians from their winter slumber! Discover the diversity of frogs and learn why their chorus is fading. Identify Maryland’s local species and learn how individuals can protect amphibians and their habitats. Global Women's Celebration, Friday, March 5, from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Showcasing the accomplishments of women around the world with special programming to highlight traditions in art, music, dance, and literature. Admission is only $8 after 5 p.m. Last ticket sold at 8:00 pm. Free with Aquarium admission.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, 4th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington DC, 202-737-4215, www.nga.gov  Stories in Art, March 7, 14 and 21 at 11:30, 12:30 and 1:30. This series of programs uses storytelling to introduce children to works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children's book, looking at one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. The summer series features works in the West Building while the winter series explores works in the East Building. Ages 4 to 7. Family Workshops, March 7, 14 and 21 from 1:00 until 3:00 pm. Family Workshops are designed for children and adults to participate together. Taught by artists and museum educators, each two-hour workshop includes an interactive tour in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio session. Ages 8 to 11. Workshops are free, but preregistration is required.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC, 202-783-5000. www.nmwa.org  Dancing Delight: Silk Road Dance Company, March 21, at 1:30 pm also at 3:30 pm. Join the Silk Road Dance Company for an afternoon of traditional Turkish folk dance, featuring breathtaking costumes and choreography. Then learn some of the moves yourself! Presented in conjunction with A Dream...but not Yours: Contemporary Art from Turkey. Free for ages 6-12 accompanied by an adult. No reservations required. There are two performances; one at 1:30pm and one at 3:30pm.

NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington DC, 202-357-2991,
www.postalmuseum.si.edu  Women’s History Month Family Day Celebration, Saturday, March 6, from 11:30 am until 3:00 pm. The Smithsonian celebrates Women’s History Month with a festival devoted to women in the arts. Enjoy music and dance performances and workshops, hands-on art and stamp-collecting activities, and a special Red Carpet area for stars of all ages!

PORT DISCOVERY MUSEUM, 35 Market Place, Baltimore MD, 410-727-8120, www.portdiscovery.org  Wonderful Wednesday, March 3. Visit every Wednesday for a day dedicated to children ages birth through kindergarten. Participate in special art, music and literacy programs designed to develop early learning skills! Healthy First Saturday, March 6. Begin each month on a healthy note with a visit to Port Discovery! Each Healthy First Saturday offers a variety of health related activities and information. "Cook & Tell" with Wegmans at 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Health Corner with Baltimore Health Care Access from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Visit from FIDOs for Freedom from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Tobacco Bus, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. UMBC Health Fair from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Infant Toddler Day, March 20. Enjoy a special day dedicated to the little ones in your family! This fun-filled program is a combination of live animals, fun props and audience volunteers. Through hands-on experiments, children will learn how an animal's features help it survive! See Port Discovery website for details.

RENWICK GALLERY, 17th Street at Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC, 202-357-2700, www.americanart.si.edu.  Family Day: Womens History Month, Saturday, March 6, from 11:30 am until 3:00 pm. Kick off Women’s History Month with musical performances and hands-on art and stamp activities, and walk the red carpet at a celebrity dress-up and photo station. Jointly presented by the American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, and Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Kogod Courtyard, American Art Museum. Tales for Tots, Friday, March 12 and 26, at 11:00 am. Story time in the galleries and the Luce Foundation Center followed by hands-on activities for ages five and under. Attendance limited. Meet in the G Street Lobby American Art Museum. To register email AmericanArtPrograms@si.edu or call (202) 633-8490.

REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, 830 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202. 443-263-1800 or 443.263.1829, www.africanamericanculture.org  Puppet Program, Saturday, March 13, at 11:00 am. Underground Railroad, Not a Subway. Celebrate the legacy of Harriet Tubman with a story about a young boy who decides to escape slavery and run north. Ages 6 to 8.

TEXTILE MUSEUM, 2320 S. Street NW, Washington DC, 202-667-0441, www.textilemuseum.org  Matsuri: A Midwinter Japanese Festival For Family, March 7, from 1:00 until 5:00 pm.  Experience Japanese culture with the whole family! This free festival offers hands-on activities, demonstrations and performances for all ages. Program highlights include origami folding, a “chopstick challenge,” Japanese food sampling and dance performances by Shizumi Manale. Other activities include a picture taking studio with kimono and kamishibai, a paper box theater. Escape the winter doldrums with an exploration of Japan! Free; no reservations required. My Room, My Way, Saturday, March 27, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Learn about decorating through The Art of Living, and design a pattern or textile for your own bedroom. Free, no reservations required.