BUILD IT YOURSELF TOY
LABORATORY
http://northshore.shore.net/~biy/
“Ever dream that
your toys could do more than they do?
Use the best parts from LEGO®, K'NEX®, Radio Shack®, the local hardware
store. Add junk from around the house, a cup full of your imagination and stamp
it: "Made In Another Universe" “Build-It-Yourself publishes an on-going
series of multimedia files (animated plans and building tips) that inspire kids
between 8 - 16 years to build whimsical toys. Projects incorporate commonly
found materials, LEGO Dacta parts and programmable microcomputers.” Sections: Join the Crew, Missions, and Hot
Shots. Good
CHINESE INVENTIONS – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/15618/index.htm
We tend to think of inventions as
having origins in Europe, but the Chinese were
avid inventors, too. This site explores
several Chinese inventions. Sections:
History, Inventions and Inventors, Implications, and China’s Future. Good
CYBERSLEUTH KIDS – INVENTORS
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Science/Inventors/
Information for kids on inventors
such as Samuel Morse, George Eastman, Charles Babbage and more. Plus links to
other sites. Good
DELPHION GALLERY OF OBSCURE PATENTS
http://www.delphion.com/gallery
Not all inventions are useful or
successful. For instance, the bird
diaper. Click on the Gallery and the
Historical Patents links to view some strange and interesting patent sketches. Good
DISCOVER GAMES
http://www.discovergames.com/
A resource for game inventors to
promote and showcase their games.
Includes help for inventors getting started. Good
THE ELI WHITNEY MUSEUM
http://www.eliwhitney.org/
Information on the Eli Whitney
Museum, a biography,
exhibits and an online MOOseum. Good
ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS AND INVENTORS NEW!
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/engineers.htm
Brief profiles of a large number
of scientists, engineers and inventors.
Good
FORGOTTEN INVENTORS
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/sfeature/index.html
Features brief paragraphs about
little known inventors of such items as the gas mask, can opener, blue jeans,
and oil burner. Good
FREE PATENTS ONLINE NEW!
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/
A patent search engine. Good
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEW!
http://www.myoutbox.net/popstart.htm
An online book giving the history
of the U.S. Patent Office. It covers the
beginning to the 1940s. Good
HOW STUFF WORKS
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
How everything works. Not really inventions but helpful. Sections: Computer Stuff, Auto Stuff,
Electronic Stuff, Science Stuff, Home Stuff, Entertainment Stuff, Money Stuff,
Travel Stuff, and People Stuff. Good
HUNGARIAN INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS
http://www.hpo.hu/English/inventor/eindex.html
While we are
most familiar with American, British or French inventors, there were inventors
working in all countries. This site
lists the work of Hungarian inventors.
Good
INVENTING
ENTERTAINMENT
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edhome.html
An
American Memory collection from the Library of Congress. Recordings of Thomas Edison’s early
inventions in sound. “This
site features 341 motion pictures, 81 disc sound recordings, and other related
materials, such as photographs and original magazine articles.” Gives students a chance to actually hear Edison’s inventions.
Includes a biography. Good
INVENTIONS NEW!
http://www.tjlibrary.org/inventions.htm
A site by middle school students
with links to sites about inventors and inventions. Sections: Inventors, Mrs. Press Websites,
Inventions and 20th Century Inventions. Good
INVENTIVE KIDS NEW!
http://www.inventivekids.com/indexFlash.html
A collection of fun activities
for primary/elementary students. Good
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS NEW!
http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/currl/inventors/default.htm
Links to sites about inventors
and inventions. Sections: Informational
Sites, Individual Sites, Interactive Sites.
Good
INVENTORS DIGEST – FUN FACTS NEW!
http://www.inventorsdigest.com/funFacts.aspx
Some fun facts about
inventions. Good
INVENTORS DIGEST – ONLINE MAGAZINE NEW!
http://www.inventorsdigest.com/default.aspx
An online magazine for
inventors. Includes Classified,
Resources, Submit an Article and more.
You can view past issues online.
You need to subscribe to get the full magazine. Good
INVENTORS, INVENTIONS, INVENT-NET – THE INVENTORS NETWORK
http://www.inventnet.com/
Provides help for inventors in
doing patent searches, finding patent attorneys, chat room, forms, scams, and
much more. A site for aspiring
inventors. Good
JAMES WATT BY ANDREW CARNEGIE
http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/carnegie/
A short online book by Andrew
Carnegie on the work of James Watt with steam.
A personal account. Good
MECHANICAL MARVELS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY NEW!
http://www.bigredhair.com/robots/
Information and illustrations on
four mechanical robots of the Victorian era.
Click on the smaller photo on the right for more complete
information. Good
MEET AMAZING
SCIENTISTS AND INVENTORS NEW!
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/scientists
Brief profiles of George Washington Carver and Thomas
Edison. Good
THE NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME
http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/1_0_0_hall_of_fame.asp
The official site of the National
Inventors Hall of Fame. Note: Site has been redesigned. Sections include: Search (by inventor, date,
decade, invention), Invention Channels (by topic i.e. computer, agriculture,
etc.), Competitions, Invention Camp, Induction, Patents, and more. Note: This site no longer includes
videos. Good
THE ONLINE ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH GALLERY
http://www.inkyfingers.com/Record.html
A photo gallery of personal
collections of antique phonographs. Good
REINVENTING THE PAST – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002039F/
A student site focusing on
inventors Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Edison, Henry Ford, and The Wright Brothers.
The lives and inventions of each are discovered. For elementary students. Includes a Crossword Puzzle. Good
ROTHSCHILD PETERSON
PATENT MUSEUM NEW!
http://www.patentmodel.org/default.aspx
“The Rothschild
Petersen Patent
Model Museum
is the largest privately-owned collection of United States patent models in the
world. Containing nearly 4,000 patent models and related documents, the
collection spans America's
Industrial Revolution.” Click on
the illustrations of the models for information about its use, date and
inventor. Includes a History of Patent
Models from 1790 to 2004. Good
TECHNOLOGY TIMELINE – 1752-1990
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/timeline/timeline_text.html
A timeline of technological
advances from 1752’s Lightning Rod to 1990s Hubble Telescope. Good
A TIMELINE OF INVENTIONS NEW!
http://www.cbc.ca/kids/general/the-lab/history-of-invention/default.html
A timeline of inventions from
???BC to 1995. For primary and up. Good
TOTALLY ABSURD
INVENTIONS
http://totallyabsurd.com/
A fun site for useless
inventions. Features an absurd invention
of the week and archives of past choices.
Fun. Good
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL PATENTS NEW!
http://www.lightlink.com/bbm/weird.html
A collection of strange patents
for everything from cheese-flavored cigarettes to a “levitationarium”. Good
WOMEN INVENTORS A-Z NEW!
http://inventors.about.com/library/blwomeninventors.htm
An alphabetical list of women
inventors. Each link gives a brief
profile and description of the invention. Good
LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM
ACTIVITIES
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL’S PATENT FOR THE TELEPHONE AND THOMAS EDISON’S
PATENT FOR THE ELECTRIC LAMP – TEACHING WITH DOCUMENTS – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/telephone-light-patents/
A lesson plan which uses Bell’s and Edison’s
patents as a basis for the lesson. Sections:
The Documents, Standards Correlations, Teaching Activities, and Documents
Analysis Worksheet. For junior high and
up. Excellent
APPLIANCES WITH MINDS
OF THEIR OWN: EXPLORING AND INVENTING APPLIANCES THAT THINK – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000413thursday.html
A
lesson plan for grades 6-12. “In
this lesson, students examine how everyday appliances might soon possess the
capacity 'to think' as a result of recent technological advances. Students then
display their knowledge of this new technology by creating a poster design of a
'smart' machine.” Excellent
THE BUSINESS OF GOOD
IDEAS: UNDERSTANDING ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PATENTS – LESSON
PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050407thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on patents for grades 6-12. “In this lesson, students consider economic
factors in patenting a new invention. They then research an already-patented
health product and assess its profitability, followed by inventing their own
similar but imaginary products and persuading others that it is "worth"
patenting.” Excellent
CLEVER CONTRAPTIONS: DESIGNING AND “PATENTING” ORIGINAL INVENTIONS –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990909thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A
lesson plan for grades 6-12. “In
this lesson, students appraise the qualities of successful inventors and
inventions, as well as examine the ways in which the Internet supports
inventors, as a springboard for designing and 'patenting' inventions that would
be helpful to them in their daily lives.”
Excellent
CHIP SHOT: DEVELOPING
SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE USES FOR ADVANCED MICROPROCESSOR TECHNOLOGY – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20080410thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on technology. “In this lesson, students investigate
current developments in the use of advanced microprocessors and develop their
own proposals for socially-responsible uses of the technology.” Excellent
DOING THINGS THE “WRIGHT” WAY: INVESTIGATING INFLUENTIAL INVENTIONS OF
THE 20TH CENTURY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990316tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A
lesson plan for grades 6-12. “In
this lesson, students investigate 20th century inventions in order to examine
how inventions reflect the historical events during which they were developed
and improved. Students research what they feel are significant 20th century
inventions and create illustrated timelines of the evolution of those
inventions.” Excellent
ELI WHITNEY’S PATENT FOR THE COTTON GIN – TEACHING WITH DOCUMENTS –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/cotton-gin-patent/
A lesson plan which uses Eli
Whitney’s patent document as a basis for the lesson. Sections: The Documents, Standards
Correlations, Teaching Activities, and Document Analysis Worksheet. For junior high and up. Excellent
AN ERA OF INNOVATION – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/eraofinnovation/
A lesson plan for grades 5-9 on
inventions. “Students will research
significant transportation milestones during the past century; determine the impact of these milestones on
society, the economy, communication, travel, and their lives; and design and present "decade in
transportation" exhibits.” Excellent
EUREKA! – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=EM167&page=teacher
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on
inventions. “Take a look at how inventions, such as
plastic, have changed our lives and how they are changing the future of living
in space. Students explore the concept of invention and innovation by studying
the use of plastics. Various uses of plastics are discussed and students are
asked to list new innovations and then create a new use for plastic.” Excellent
EXPERIENCE
INNOVATION: INVESTIGATING NOTEWORTHY INNOVATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20070201thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on inventions. “In this lesson, students share opinions
about innovations that affect their lives. They then identify and summarize
articles about innovative ideas, products or activities that appear in The
Times. Learning is synthesized by writing proposals for innovations designed to
resolve questions or problems that students face in their own lives.” Excellent
GLIDDEN’S PATENT APPLICATION FOR BARBED WIRE – TEACHING WITH DOCUMENTS
– LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/barbed-wire/index.html
A lesson plan which uses
Glidden’s patent application for barbed wire as a basis for the lesson. Sections: The Documents, Standards
Correlations, Teaching Activities, and Documents Analysis Worksheet. For junior high and up. Excellent
GREAT AMERICAN
INVENTORS: USING NONFICTION TO LEARN ABOUT TECHNOLOGY INVENTIONS – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=957
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on inventors. “Reading
biographies about famous inventors can help bring enthusiasm and a sense of
exploration to your classroom. As students read, gather, and present
information about Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver, and
Stephanie Kwolek, they learn how their inventions changed and shaped America's
past and influenced the future of technology. Further, students examine how the
inventions directly impact their own lives.”
Excellent
INVENTING AND
PRESENTING UNIT 1: ANALYZING NONFICTION AND INVENTING SOLUTIONS – CURRICULUM
UNIT NEW!
http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=161
“In this culminating interdisciplinary unit, students use what they
have learned about experimentation and the scientific method, critical
thinking, clear writing, and effective speaking. Students read about inventors,
propose inventions to solve problems they have identified, and build and test their
inventions. They record and graph data and create visuals to share that data.
In addition, students study famous speeches to identify the elements of
effective speaking, and they propose in writing an appropriate scenario for
sharing the results of their experimentation. Each student delivers a speech in
a large-group setting.” Excellent
INVENTING AND
PRESENTING UNIT 2: EFFECTIVE SPEECHES AND BUILDING THE INVENTION – CURRICULUM
UNIT NEW!
http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=162
“In this culminating interdisciplinary unit, students use what they
have learned about experimentation and the scientific method, critical
thinking, clear writing, and effective speaking. Students read about inventors,
propose inventions to solve problems they have identified, and build and test
their inventions. They record and graph data and create visuals to share that
data. In addition, students study famous speeches to identify the elements of
effective speaking, and they propose in writing an appropriate scenario for
sharing the results of their experimentation. Each student delivers a speech in
a large-group setting.” Excellent
INVENTING AND
PRESENTING UNIT 3: PERSUASIVE SPEAKING AND INVENTION PROMOTION – CURRICULUM
UNIT NEW!
http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=163
“In this culminating interdisciplinary unit, students use what they
have learned about experimentation and the scientific method, critical
thinking, clear writing, and effective speaking. Students read about inventors,
propose inventions to solve problems they have identified, and build and test
their inventions. They record and graph data and create visuals to share that
data. In addition, students study famous speeches to identify the elements of
effective speaking, and they propose in writing an appropriate scenario for
sharing the results of their experimentation. Each student delivers a speech in
a large-group setting.” Excellent
INVENTION CONVENTION:
INVENTING AND MARKETING PRODUCTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20061116thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on inventions. “In this lesson, students work in groups to
create products that can help address everyday annoyances. They then design
business plans for the manufacturing and marketing of their inventions.” Excellent
THE INVENTION FACTORY: THOMAS EDISON’S LABORATORIES – TEACHING WITH
HISTORIC PLACES - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/curriculumkit/lessons/edison/4edison.htm
A lesson plan based on the
laboratories of Thomas Edison for middle school and up. “This lesson plan is based on the National
Register of Historic Places registration file, "Edison National Historic
Site," the archives maintained at the site, and other materials about
Thomas Edison and the West Orange.” Sections: About This Lesson, Setting
the Stage: Historical Context, Locating the Site: Maps, Determining the Facts: Readings, Visual Evidence:
Images, and Putting It All Together: Activities. Excellent
INVENTIONS 1: EDISON AND THE LIGHT BULB – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=k-2&BenchmarkID=3&DocID=356
Part one of a two-part unit on
inventions. “This
lesson is the first of a two-part series on technology and inventions. Students
are introduced to the world of technology and inventions and how its ongoing
development continues to affect all aspects of living—in both good and
potentially bad ways.
In Inventions 1: Edison
and the Light Bulb, students learn how inventions are created to solve problems
or improve the way things are done. The improvement of the incandescent light
bulb by Thomas Edison is used as an example.”
Excellent
INVENTIONS 2: THE IMPACT – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=k-2&BenchmarkID=3&DocID=357
Part two of a two-part unit on
inventions. “This
lesson is the second of a two-part series on technology and inventions.
Students are introduced to the world of inventions and how their ongoing
development continues to affect all aspects of living—in both good and
potentially bad ways.
In
Inventions 1: Edison and the Light Bulb,
students learn how inventions are created to solve problems or improve the way
things are done. The revolutionary invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison
is used as an example.
In
Inventions 2: The Impact, students focus on the process of inventing,
particularly on what short- and long-term issues inventors have to consider
before developing an invention. They examine a number of other revolutionary
American inventions and are encouraged to evaluate the effects of their own
invention ideas in terms of their usefulness and public impact.” Excellent
INVENTIONS: COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/inventioncomputertechnology/
A
lesson plan for grades 6-8 on inventions.
“Students will understand the following: 1.
Inventions can change the way we
live. 2. Many inventions start out
with design flaws and are refined later by subsequent inventors and designers. 3. The
computer, invented in 1834 by Charles Babbage and still being refined, is an
example of such an invention.” Excellent
INVENTIONS – TEACHER RESOURCES NEW!
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/inventions/teacher-resources/6636.html
Lesson
plans, printables, links and more for teaching about inventions and
inventors. Excellent
INVENTIVE LIVES:
CREATING POSTERS ABOUT INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051114monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on inventions and inventors. “In this lesson, students conduct research and
create posters illustrating famous inventors and their inventions. For
homework, they write essays reflecting on the history and future of American
innovation.” Excellent
THE INVENTIVE THINKING CURRICULUM PROJECT NEW URL!
http://www.pravel.com/docs/inventive%20thinking.pdf
A curriculum project in which
students are shown how to develop inventive thinking step-by-step. Sections: Introducing Inventive Thinking,
Practicing the Creative Part of Inventive Thinking, Practicing Inventive
Thinking with the Class, Developing an Invention Idea, Brainstorming for
Creative Solutions, Practicing the Critical Part of Inventive Thinking,
Completing the Invention, Naming the Invention, Optional Marketing Activities,
Parent Involvement, Young Inventor’s Day, and Enrichment: Stories About Great
Thinkers and Inventors. An outstanding
site. Excellent
INVENTOR’S WORKSHOP –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/invention-leonardoslegacy/
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
inventors. “Students will
understand the following: 1/ The
six simple machines are the
basis for all mechanical devices. 2/ The
six simple machines are as follows: the inclined plane, the lever and fulcrum,
the wedge, the screw, and the wheel and axle, and the pulley 3/ Leonardo da
Vinci was one of the greatest inventors of all time. 4/ Each of his designs
implemented one or more of the six simple machines.” Excellent
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS 1 – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/inventorsandinventions1/
A lesson plan
for grades K-5 on inventors and inventions.
“
Students will understand the following: 1. Some inventions come about accidentally. 2. The story of an invention can be
told in an interesting fashion.” Excellent
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS 2:
AIR AND SPACE – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/inventorsandinventions2airandspace/
A lesson plan for grades K-5 on
inventors and inventions. “Students will understand the following: 1.
They can conduct an experiment in which they change the size, weight, and wing
structure of paper airplanes to see how each plane flies.” Excellent
INVENTORS/INVENTIONS TEACHING THEME NEW!
http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/science/inventors/
Resources
for teaching about inventors and inventions including: Bulletin Board Set,
Downloads, Hands-On Activities, Interactive Sites for Students, Lesson Plans,
Resource Materials, Sites for Background Information, Webquests, Worksheets,
and Worksheets You Can Customize.
Excellent
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS THEME PAGE – LESSON PLANS, UNITS
http://www.cln.org/themes/inventors.html
“links to two types of resources
related to the study of inventors and inventions. Students and teachers will
find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about
this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials
(lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme.” Excellent
INVENTORS/INVENTIONS TEACHING THEME
http://www.bestteachersites.com/themes/science/inventors/
An extensive site for teaching inventors
and inventions. Sections: Bulletin Board
Set, Resource Materials (not free), Downloads, Sites for Background
Information, Hands-on Activities, Webquests, Interactive Sites for Students,
Worksheets, Lesson Plans, and Worksheets You Can Customize. (Note: We found a couple of broken links on
this site). Outstanding. Excellent
IT’S ABOUT TIME:
EXPLORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIME-SAVING INVENTIONS – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040408thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on inventions for grades 6-12. “In this lesson, students investigate
everyday activities and the devices that make these activities easier and more
efficient. They then design timeline exhibits that illustrate the evolution of
technological inventions leading to one of these modern devices.” Excellent
KIDS DESIGN NETWORK – CLASSROOM
ACTIVITIES
http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/kdn/index.html
From
the DuPage Children’s Museum. Students
investigate a challenge, dream up a design, plan it on the computer and submit
it to a real engineer. “Pick a
challenge that interests you. Think about a gadget you could make to meet the
challenge. There are many different solutions to each challenge. If your first
idea doesn't work, try something different. That's the way real engineers work,
too!” Challenges: Chemical
Engineering Challenge, Civil Engineering Challenge, Door Alarm Challenge,
Mix-n-Match Challenges, Nuclear Engineering Challenge, Puppet Challenge, and
Slowly Moving Marble Challenge.
Excellent
LEONARDO’S MACHINES – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=6-8&DocID=345
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on
Leonardo da Vinci. “As a
painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist, Leonardo da Vinci is a
fascinating historical figure. This lesson will highlight some of Leonardo's
futuristic inventions, introducing the elements of machines. Leonardo provides
an interesting context in which students can begin to develop their ideas about
the uniqueness of humans in the natural world. Our ability to use language and
thought sets us apart as the only species that can think, imagine, create, and
learn from experience. Humans have used this ability to create technologies and
literary and artistic works on a vast scale and to develop a scientific
understanding of ourselves and the world. (Benchmarks for Science Literacy,p.127.) No historical figure
embodies this idea better than Leonardo da Vinci.
The
main site used in this lesson is an Internet resource that lends itself to
individual or small group explorations. Before you do the activities with the
class, read the "Letter to Teachers."
Excellent
MAD SCIENCE:
UNDERSTANDING HOW MODERN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES OVER TIME – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060725tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on medical technology for grades 6-12. “In this lesson, students will assess what
they know about historical medical practices, learn about President Garfield’s
preventable death, and conduct research on current trends in medical
technology. Students will then create artistic, informative pieces to be
displayed in a museum exhibition debuting in 2050.” Excellent
MISSION POSSIBLE: EXPLORING PLAUSIBLE INVENTIONS
FOR MAKE-BELIEVE MOVIES – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020926thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades
6-12. “In this lesson, students create
blueprints for imaginary inventions based on real-world technological
principles. They then write explanations of how their inventions work in the
form of movie dialogues.” Excellent
NECESSITY IS THE
MOTHER OF WHAT?: EXAMINING FAMOUS INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20080331monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on inventions and
inventors. “In this lesson, students create
a gallery exhibition and "inventor scrapbooks" about important
historical inventions and inventors.” Excellent
A NEW “SPIN” ON
NUCLEAR ENERGY: UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY OF NUCLEAR FUEL CENTRIFUGES –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040323tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on how inventions can influence society for grades
6-12. “In this lesson, students
describe how inventions can influence society, especially if misappropriated
for unintended purposes. They discover the principles underlying the
centrifuge, the invention on which nuclear energy relies.” Excellent
OUR ROBOTS, OURSELVES
– LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060720thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on robots. “In this lesson, students investigate
current research in artificial intelligence and imagine the ways in which those
technologies can be developed for use in daily life.” Excellent
PEANUTS, PECANS AND
PEAS, PLEASE – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=EM363&page=teacher
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on George Washington Carver. “George
Washington Carver, a great scientist, changed the economy of the South with his
agricultural knowledge. This lesson will investigate how the lowly peanut kept
the cotton farmers from losing everything.”
Excellent
POP SECRET
INFORMATION: PROPOSING PROCEDURES FOR INCREASING POPPING CORN SUCCESS RATES –
LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050419tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on inventing for grades 6-12. “In this lesson, students design procedures
for increasing the popping rate of a set amount of popcorn kernels, and then
carry out and document this experiment.”
Excellent
SAFETY FIRST: EXPLORING TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS TO PERILOUS PROBLEMS –
LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020411thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades
6-12. “In this lesson, students explore
safety issues and challenges related to various modes of transportation. They
then create blueprints for technological methods to make those modes of
transportation safer.” Excellent
TEACHERSFIRST
INVENTOR’S WORKSHOP
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/inventor/index.htm
A unit of study for upper
elementary and middle school teachers.
Sections: Unit on Inventors of the Industrial Revolution, A Quiz on
Inventors of the Industrial Revolution and a List of Invention and Inventor
Resources. Excellent
TECHNOLOGICAL TWINS:
USING TECHNOLOGY TO MIMIC NATURE – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030603tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on technology and nature. “In this lesson, students list comparisons
between technology and nature. Then they create superheroes with special animal
adaptations and describe how ordinary persons might replicate the adaptations
with technology. Finally, students attempt to patent their technological inventions
used to mimic animal adaptations.” Excellent
THANK YOU MR. EDISON: ELECTRICITY, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE –
LESSON PLANS NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/edison/intro.html
A lesson plan for grades 7-12 on
the impact of electricity on society. “Using
documents from American Memory, plus supplementary material, students
investigate electrification as both a technological and social process. A focus
of the student's investigation is Thomas Edison, because, as Nye contends,
"Electricity was the sign of Edison's
genius, the wonder of the age, the hallmark of progress" (p. 1).”
Consists of 4 lessons.
Excellent
TURN ON
INVENTIVENESS: POTATO POSSIBILITIES – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Interdisciplinary/INT0076.html
A lesson plan on inventiveness for grades 4-6. “This lesson is designed to "turn on
inventiveness" in students and to limber up their creative skills.
"Potato Possibilities" has students look at ordinary potatoes and
transform them into something totally different. Students practice
visualization through a fantasy trip and test their powers of observation by
blindly identifying their own potatoes.”
Excellent
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
EVALUATING THE PRESENT, INVESTIGATING THE PAST: INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN SCIENCE,
HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY – LESSON PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20081216tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on inventions for grades 6-12. “In this lesson, students investigate
historical ideas in science, health and technology from a fresh perspective and
create a “History of Ideas” magazine in the spirit of The New York Times Sunday
Magazine’s “Year in Ideas 2008.”” Excellent
WHOLE CLOTH: DISCOVERING
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGH
AMERICAN HISTORY - CURRICULUM
UNITS http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/whole_cloth/
Eight curriculum units that look at how the
development of textiles shaped American history. Excellent
CHINESE INVENTIONS: AN INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.askasia.org/teachers/Instructional_Resources/Lesson_Plans/China/LP_china_8.htm
Classroom activity on the many
inventions developed by the Chinese.
Designed to change students’ perceptions that the Chinese are not
technologically advanced. Very Good
INVENTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THE INDUSTRIAL AGE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM330
A lesson for grades 3-5. An economic
spotter can spot economic concepts at work.
Task: “You will be given a list of character traits and a list of quotations
from Thomas Edison. As you read the quotations, you will check off which
character traits you think he has. Then you will focus on your own character traits;
after comparing your traits to Edison's, you
will write a paragraph on why you would make a good entrepreneur or why you
would not.” Very Good
INVENTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS – A CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM62
Not every inventor is an
entrepreneur. An entrepreneur will take
an invention and pull together the resources to put the product onto the market
place. Students learn here the difference
between inventors and entrepreneurs and explore the importance of both. Includes activities and resource links. Very Good
INVENTORS AND
INNOVATORS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=114
A lesson exploring the contributions of diverse people to society for grades
6-8. “Students will
use the Inventor of the Week Archives to create and develop a project on
American inventions. There are about 150 inventors profiled in this
resource. In the first
part of the project, the entire class will work on a timeline that will include
information on all of the inventors profiled on the site. To do this, assign
five or six inventors to each student in the class. Provide Internet time for
each student to read their assigned profiles and ask them to write the
following information on an index card for each inventor: name, gender, date
and place of birth, and the name(s) and date(s) of their invention. Use the index cards to create a timeline of
American invention. Ask students to make generalizations about American
inventors based on the timeline. For example, how many inventors were women,
which regions of the country produce the most inventors, how many of the inventions
do we still use today.” Very
Good
THOMAS EDISON’S INVENTIONS IN THE 1900s AND TODAY – CURRICULUM
UNIT
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=408
A four-lesson unit for grades
3-5. “The
purpose of this lesson is to familiarize students with life and technology
around 1900 in order to better understand how Edison
influenced both. Through comparing and contrasting life and technology in the
early part of the twentieth century with technology found in their own homes
and experiences, students will gain a greater understanding of how far the
fields of industry and entertainment have progressed since Edison's day and of
how Edison's work was the foundation for technology they enjoy today.” Very
Good
BE INVENTIVE! LESSON PLAN
http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/BeInventive.html
A lesson plan in which students
use the elements of machines to develop their own inventions. Good
AN ENTRODUCTION:
INVENTION VS. INNOVATION – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM155
A
lesson for grades 3-8 in which students research inventions to determine which
were innovations and learn the difference between the two. Good
FOSSWEB- IDEAS AND INVENTIONS MODULE-
GRADES 3-6 NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/IdeasandInventions/index.html
The
Ideas and Inventions Module consists of four sequential investigations
that promote student creativity and inventiveness. Each investigation provides
valuable science content while introducing a conventional technique for
revealing the unseen. A bit hard to
navigate. Good
INVENTIONS 1780-1870 - LESSON PLAN
http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4812.html
A lesson plan in which students
learn about the proliferation of inventions from 1780 to 1870. Good
INVENTIONS - LESSON PLAN
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/lang/ceclang/ceclang079.html
A lesson plan for grades 7-12
designed to help students understand the relationship between things and words
by developing inventions and finding ways to describe them. Sections: Overview, Purpose, Objectives,
Resources, Activities, Day Two, Day Three, and Tying It All Together. Good
INVENTIONS WORD SEARCH WORKSHEET
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/invent/search/
A word search to print out using
invention terms such as patent, inspiration, enigma, etc. Good
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS LESSON PLAN
http://www.learningspace.org/instruct/lplan/library/Weaver.html
A high school lesson plan for
language arts in which students research inventors and inventions between the
years 1870 and 1914 and produce a research paper according to the requirements
given. Good
INVENTORS’ CLUB – SCIENCE/ART ACTIVITY
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/cando/invent.html
A classroom for science or art in
which children discuss how machines help us do things and then develop machines
to help them do things they want to do.
Sections: What You Need, What To Do, and Teaching Options. Good
INVENTORS CROSSWORD
PUZZLE NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/20031001.html
A crossword puzzle from the New York Times on
inventors. Good
JOHN’S WORD SEARCH PUZZLES – INVENTORS
http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/kids/inventors.html
A word search puzzle to print out
using the names of inventors. Good
PET INVENTIONS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/pets/invent.html
An activity for elementary
students in which they “invent” something to make their pets’ lives
easier. Sections: What You Need, What to
Do. Good
THE REAL McCOY – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/lessons/realmccoy.htm
An activity for elementary
students based on the life of Elijah McCoy, an African-American inventor who
may have inspired the expression “the real McCoy”. This is developed to cover other inventors
and inventions. Good
WEBQUESTS
EVOLUTION OF INVENTIONS WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.webquest.org/questgarden/lessons/12829-051221104944/index.htm
A webquest for
students in grades 9-10 on inventions throughout history. “This webquest is designed to give beginning
level engineering students a foray into design & inventions. It is
intended to allow students to investigate an invention of their choice.
Through their investigation they will see how a product evolves over
time. It is also hoped that they begin to understand the effects that
these inventions have on society as well as the effect society has on the
evolution of a design. Students will put their research findings into
PowerPoint presentation. This will be displayed around the classroom to
put together a time of design.” Excellent
INNOVATION AND INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.sabatoweb.com/InnovationWebquest/Innovation&InventionWebquest.html
A webquest on
inventions for grades 9-12. “You
will work in small teams (2-4 students) to innovate or invent something by
identifying a problem or challenge in your every day lives and creating a new
technological solution to the problem. You will produce a prototype or
graphical design rendering of your innovation or invention.
You
and your team will utilize the Internet to assist you in finding solutions and
to determine if your ideas exist. The final step in the project will be for your
team to present your prototype or design to the class and relate how it solves
a problem.” Excellent
INVENTIONS WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/departments/technology/media/5StarR_Research/InventionsWebquest.htm
A webquest for 2nd
grade students on inventions. “You
will look at several websites about inventions to decide which invention has
the biggest impact on our lives. You will research that invention and create a
poster that will convince the second grade teachers which invention is the most
important one ever.” Excellent
INVENTIONS – WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/stage2_Modules/inventions/inventions.htm
A webquest on
inventions for 5th grade students.
“An Alien Spaceship from Planet
Zap has landed on Earth and dropped a team of scientists onto the
planet to investigate useful inventions to take
home. CONGRATULATIONS! You
are a member of the team! As a member of the team your job is to assist
in compiling a database of the most important inventions on Planet
Earth. With other members of the team you will need to choose the
most useful inventions to take home to Planet Zap.” Excellent
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS WEBQUEST NEW!
http://ex.susd.org/ebartholomew/
A webquest on inventors and inventions
for 3rd grade students. “Did
you know that the Popsicle® was invented by accident? An 11 year old boy named,
Frank Epperson left his soda with a stirring stick in it on his porch
overnight. That night was really cold and his soda froze with the stirring
stick in it. Eighteen years later in 1923, Frank started his own business with
his new invention. Have you ever wondered who invented the telephone, the teddy
bear, or even the pencil you use everyday? During the webquest you will get the
chance to research famous inventors and their inventions. Throughout the
webquest you might just become a famous inventor yourself! Good luck on your
journey!” Excellent
M & M’S IN SPACE – INVENTION WEBQUEST
http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/moniteau.k12.mo.us/mathys/mandmwebquest.html
A webquest for
middle school students in which they research conditions in space in order to
invent an M&M dispenser that will work on the space shuttle. Excellent
SIMPLE MACHINES INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.jsd.k12.ak.us/~wittigs/sm/intro.html
A webquest for elementary
students and up on inventions. “It
is your job in this WebQuest to invent a new machine. Not just any
machine, but a compound machine based on the work of Rube Goldberg. You
will need to use at all six simple
machines at least once in an unusual arrangement to accomplish a simple
task.
Rube
doesn't have much time until his next cartoon is due so he is asking that you
work with others as you complete the first part of this project. You need
learn about patents, research simple machines and Rube Goldberg. Each of you
will make your own wacky invention (mostly at home) and try to convince the
patent board that your invention will benefit the most people and reap the most
money.” We found some broken
links on this site. Excellent
CHOCOLATE COVERED CREATIONS WEBQUEST
http://mws.mcallen.isd.tenet.edu/tiftech/ci/projects/radame/aajWebquest.html
A webquest for
middle school students in which they research chocolate and invent a new candy
bar and prepare to market it. “Using the internet web sites below, you will
research the history of chocolate. During your delicious adventure you will
tour a chocolate factory, create a new candy bar, develop a slogan, design an
advertisement, and be prepared to sell your famous new candy bar!” Note: We found a broken link on this
site. Very Good
CONVENIENCE FOOD INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.whsfamilylife.com/conv_invention/intro.html
A webquest for high school
students on inventing a convenience food.
“The leading Manufacturer of convenience foods has a monopoly on the
industry. You, the young, industrious, talented and creative cook and business
person that you are want to cash in on this very lucrative business. You have
decided to cash in on this popular food industry trend of convenience foods, as
well as the “eating for good health” trend. You meet with two friends and
decide to develop a new product, a healthy convenience food, that is not already
on the market today. Who knows this healthy new convenience product just might
make you and your friends millionaires! Possibly billionaires!!” We found some broken links on this
site. Excellent
EXPLORING SIMPLE MACHINES WEBQUEST
http://www.lakelandschools.org/EDTECH/Machines/Machines.htm
A webquest for 4th
grade science students. “Your project will be to invent and build a simple machine
that can be used in one of the
following places: •garden/farm •kitchen/restaurant •office/school •garage
•on a boat” Very Good
FAMOUS INVENTORS WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.gmpdc.org/webquests/vesey/index.htm
A webquest for 5th
grade students on inventors. “You
are representing a famous inventor at the World Science Fair in Hudson, New
Hampshire. The Committee of International
Science and Technology is going to decide which invention is the most important
invention of all time.
As a
group, you need to choose one invention, market your inventor’s original
invention and describe how it has changed or stayed the same over the
centuries. You must also support why it is the most important invention
of all time. If your invention is chosen, you and your inventor will each
win $100,000,000!How are you going to market your inventor and his invention
for the 21st century?” Excellent
INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/548/02WQ/Deirdre/index2.htm
A webquest on inventions for elementary students. “Have
you ever seen an invention and thought, "Hey, I could have invented
that!". Maybe you DO have an inventor's mind... it's time to find out.
Over the next three to four weeks you will be learning about inventions. You
will use various books, computer software, and internet resources to support
your studies. You will participate in cooperative groups, work independently,
produce projects, and read, write, discuss, create, and research.” Excellent
INVENTIONS- AMERICA’S BEST WEBQUEST
http://www.tccsa.net/webquest/cole_johnson/#Group%20Process
A webquest for middle school
students in which they form teams to research American inventions and determine
which five inventions had the most impact on our society. “As a team, you will explore American
inventors and their inventions. Each member of your team will research
and will become knowledgeable about great American inventions from four points
of view. You will then get together to share your information in the
quest to identify the five most important American inventions.” Very Good
INVENTIONS
DISCOVERED BY MISTAKE – WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.lockhartisd.org/~elemresource/teachers/tag/inventions/inventor.html
A webquest for
primary students on accidental inventions.
“Oh no, you just dropped the jar of peanut butter on the floor and it
splattered everywhere. You bend down to clean up the mess and realize you
need another towel and when you reach up to the counter to get it you
accidentally knock your chocolate candy bar on the floor too! Man, what a
mess. You really wanted both of these snacks. You decide that
instead of throwing it all away you may as well enjoy some of it so you take a
bite--peanut butter and chocolate--kinda tasty together and voila, a new candy
bar has been invented. Instead of just making a mess on the kitchen floor
you have provided the world with their favorite snack!” Doesn’t use any
outside links. Very Good
INVENTIONS WEBQUEST NEW!
http://research.education.purdue.edu/challenge/webquest/2001_2002/Showalter/index.htm
A
webquest for 6th grade students on inventions. “This unit is called An Introduction to
Technology & one of our main activities during this unit will be to
complete this WebQuest about Inventions! This activity is for 6th grade
Technology students at Tuttle Middle School here in good old Crawfordsville Indiana. Students are
going to use some links on the web to locate information about all kinds of
inventions throughout our history. Things like who invented what, what's it
good for, why do we need it & when was it invented. Students will be guided
toward a vast amount of information about inventions, but they will be required
to choose certain types of inventions, that fit into specific categories.” We found some broken links on
this site. You’ll need to add your
own. Very Good
INVENTORS WHO HAVE
CHANGED THE WORLD – WEBQUEST NEW!
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/inventors/inventors.htm
A webquest on
inventors for upper elementary students. “Did you ever wonder what your life would be
like if we did not have electric lights, washing machines, cars, or computers?
Our world changes every time there is an important invention.
We
will learn about the lives of great inventors and how they achieved their
goals. Take a moment to think about which inventions are most important to you.
Through this exploration you may discover how these inventions were created!” We found some broken links on this site. You will need to add your own. Very Good
INVESTIGATING
INVENTIONS WEBQUEST
http://www.campbell.k12.ky.us/links/webquest/inventions/invent.htm
A webquest for upper elementary
students in which they research inventions and then develop an Invention Memory
Game based on what they learned. Very
Good
SIMPLE MACHINES INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW
URL!
http://cfievalladolid2.net/tecno/recursos/webquest/Simple%20Machines%20Webquest.htm
A webquest for upper elementary
students in which they research the principles of simple machines (i.e. lever,
wedge, pulley, etc.) and use them to design a machine. “NEWS FLASH---
Rube Goldberg, (click here:Machine Contest ) a famous wacky machine
cartoonist, has lost his creativity. He is sending out a mass alert to
children everywhere with imaginations to help him. The only problem is
that the patent board needs to patent your invention so that Rube can use it.” Very
Good
TO FLY….IS EVERYTHING – A VIRTUAL MUSEUM COVERING THE INVENTION OF THE
AIRPLANE NEW!
http://invention.psychology.msstate.edu/
Sections: Library, Images,
Patents, Inventors, Merchandise, Models, Simulator (download a 1903 Wright
flyer simulator), Tale and Links. Very
Good
THE WEIRD, WACKY INVENTION WEBQUEST NEW!
http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=21700&sc_id=1157746402
A webquest for
elementary students on inventions. “Your task is to find the strangest, the most
unusual, the weirdest and the wackiest invention of all time. Not only must you
find it, but you must be able to defend your selection. What makes your choice
the strangest, the most totally unusual, the wackiest, not to mention the
weirdest invention of all time? You must give at least 5 reasons to back up
your decision. Be sure to include the name of the inventor and the purpose and
how the the invention works in your rationale. In addition, you must also
complete the following: ● create a computer drawing of the invention you
select ● write and perform a
commercial for the invention ● create a Power Point Presentation that
will persuade the Museum's curator, Mrs. Ward to feature your selection in the
Project Plus "Believe or Not Exhibition.”
Very Good
IMAGINATIVE INVENTIONS WEBQUEST
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/crc/webquest/inventions/inventions.html
A webquest for 2nd grade
in which students learn about inventions, perform invention activities and then
write about their favorite invention.
Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site. Good
