Curated OER
Inventions Over Time
Explore the inventions of the past with a project on ancient tools. After reading an article about hunting during the Archaic period, the Late Prehistoric period, and the Historic period, kids fill in a cause-and-effect chart about the...
World Intellectual Property Organization
Learn from the Past, Create the Future: Inventions and Patents
3D printers, selfie sticks, smart watches. GPS, self-driving cars, YouTube. Imagine life without inventions. Believe it or not, these items were all invented in the last 10 years. Inventions, and the inventors responsible for them, are...
Biology Corner
Technology and Inventions Project
Technology—what exactly is it? Find out with a project designed to inspire the inner inventor in us all. The activity begins with a captivating podcast and a search of multiple websites that display different inventions and technology,...
Curated OER
Thomas Edison's Inventions in the 1900s and Today: From "New" to You!
Students research types of technology available to Americans at the beginning of the 20th century and compare the style of living to modern times. They identify Thomas Edison's contributions to technology and their own current lifestyles.
Curated OER
Chinese Inventions
Learners identify inventions as coming from China. In this Chinese inventions lesson, students are given a list of common items such as cast iron, a wheelbarrow, and the decimal system, then conduct research to identify where they were...
Curated OER
The Invention of the Parachute
Students study the invention of the parachute and how Leonardo da Vinci came up with the design. In this aerodynamics instructional activity students test the properties that make parachutes more efficient.
Curated OER
Modern Myths
This entertaing presentation challenges students to consider several modern myths, such as: alligators live in the sewers underneath New York City, and, if you swallow gum, it stays in your stomach for seven years. They acces a website...
Curated OER
Invention Convention
Eighth graders research how science and technology have evolved by studying inventions. In this invention lesson, 8th graders discuss inventions and work in teams to create an innovation to present at the Invention Convention. Students...
Curated OER
Science in History Part I: the Abacus To the Modern Computer
In this math information activity, students read one page factual accounts of the early math inventions of the abacus, the calculator and early computers. There are 40 questions to answer about the reading.
Curated OER
Rise of the Modern City
Students explore industrial design and photography with an emphasis on the history of Paris. In this modern art lesson, students analyze and discuss the images of modern city life in Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Students participate in a...
Curated OER
Photo Analysis of American Inventions
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this inventions lesson, students analyze photographs of American inventions and and discuss the needs the inventions met...
Curated OER
Taking a Closer Look at Wacky Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
In this Industrial Revolution instructional activity, students examine inventions from the time period and then respond to 5 short answer questions about uses for the inventions. Photographs of the inventions are not included.
DocsTeach
Patent Analysis: Thomas Edison's Lightbulb
Watch lightbulbs go off in learners' heads as they look at a patent for Thomas Edison's most famous invention. After examining the light bulb patent, young historians speculate on how the invention changed life in the 1880s and its...
San Antonio Independent School District
Inventions and Innovation
What effect did innovations like the Bessemer Process, the light bulb, and the telephone have on the industrialization of the United States? Here is a nice graphic organizer that will help your young historians approach this question.
Curated OER
I Can Live Without It!
In this inventions learning exercise, students pretend that they have to choose modern inventions to get rid of. Students fill out a chart with the inventions they could live without and the reason they don't need or want it.
Curated OER
Invention of the Tricycle
Appreciate the power of the pedal by learning about the history of the tricycle during National Bike Month.
Curated OER
Calling All Inventors: Celebrate National Inventors Month
Start off the school year by engaging learners in a creative study of inventors and their inventions.
Curated OER
Modern Issues
Ninth graders examine how modern issues of the world affect their lives. They listen to a lecture about the differences between developed and developing countries, act out physical representations of charts and pictures on the overhead,...
Curated OER
Science and Cloning
Here is an ambitious lesson which has learners take a look at which nations came up with the most important scientific inventions/advancements during the 20th century. Focusing on group work, cloning is explored. All of the worksheets...
Curated OER
Technology and Invention Farm Equipment
For this technology and invention worksheet on farm equipment, learners describe equipment being used in each of 3 farming scenes. Then they outline the differences between the early tractors as compared to the modern tractors, including...
Curated OER
Is Modern Civilization Civilized?
Students examine the concept of civility. In this modern civilization lesson, students study Gandhi's teaching about the attributes of civilized societies and discuss how they can contribute to fostering civilization in their own community.
Curated OER
Technology Newsletter
Students discuss impact and value of modern technological inventions on society, contemplate world without technology, skim magazines and newspapers for advertisements highlighting modern technologies, and work with partner to create...
Curated OER
Made in China
Students create a power point presentation. In this Chinese inventions and discoveries lesson, students view sample products that are the product of ancient Chinese civilizations and their innovations and discoveries. Students select a...
Curated OER
Eureka! I’ve Got an Idea!
Students explore many inventions and inventors. In this science lesson, students collaborate as they research inventors and their times in order to compile information to build an informative Web site.