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Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Zoom Inventors and Inventions

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site has an alphabetized list of inventions and inventors throughout history. You can also explore by era, topic or nationality.
Primary
Rutgers University

Thomas Edison Papers: Latimer's Patents

For Students 9th - 10th
Find a list of patents issued to African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer, to him individually or with another inventor. Clicking on the invention takes you a diagram of the invention as well as its description submitted to the U.S....
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: American Visionaries: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
Despite being born a slave, read how Dr. Carver persevered so that he could become successful.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Invention Features: Lewis Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
Smithsonian site features the life and many accomplishments of Lewis Latimer, the famous African-American inventor.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Mathematician and Astronomer Benjamin Banneker

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician and scientist. Also contains portraits and a map of New York, which can be enlarged for a closer view.
Website
Other

Pioneers, Inc.: Black Scientists and Inventors

For Students 9th - 10th
Find brief descriptions of the inventions of many African-American inventors in many fields in the 19th century.
Handout
Other

Black Inventors Online Museum: Benjamin Banneker

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn about Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806 CE), an African American that created the first clock built in the United States and was known as our first great Black Inventor.
Lesson Plan
University of Nebraska Omaha

University of Omaha: The Real Mc Coy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
The University of Omaha provides a cross-curricular lesson plan for 4-6th grades involving economics and language arts. "Elijah McCoy was an African-American inventor who successfully designed an automatic oil cup that may have inspired...
Handout
Other

Black Inventor Online Museum: William Purvis

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Read about the African-American inventor, William Purvis, who improved the fountain pen. Included is a list of his other inventions.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Otis Boykin 1920 1982

For Students 3rd - 8th
Otis Boykin was a successful African American inventor whose inventions include resistors for electrical equipment and missiles, a controller for pacemakers, and a burglar-proof cash register.
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 522: Jan Matzeliger

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Jan Matzeliger, an African-American inventor who revolutionized the shoe manufacturing industry. Read about his early troubles and how he graciously lived his life. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio...
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 158: Lewis Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Read about his association with both Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison in developing the incandescent light bulb. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
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PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Garrett Augustus Morgan

For Students 9th - 10th
The African American inventor of a life-saving device, mechanical traffic signals, and more had to fight for recognition.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Who Made America? Garrett Augustus Morgan

For Students 3rd - 8th
The African American inventor of a life-saving device, mechanical traffic signals, and more had to fight for recognition.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to George Washington Carver, the talented, intelligent inventor. Learn why he was called a "Miracle Worker" for his vast knowledge of plants and agriculture. (In Spanish)
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Jan Matzeliger

For Students 9th - 10th
Jan Ernst Matzeliger is remembered for his creation that had a tremendous effect on the shoe industry. He was a Surinamese inventor of the "lasting machine," patented in 1883.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Frederick M. Jones

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Frederick M. Jones is featured in this brief biography for his lasting contributions to the refrigerator and cinema industries.
Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Granville T. Woods

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Granville T. Woods is featured in this brief biography for his multiplex telegraph which was a useful invention for the railroad industry.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Lloyd Augustus Hall

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Lloyd Augustus Hall is featured in this brief biography who made several contributions to the food and drug industry such as his patented method for curing meats so they would keep better.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Madame C. J. Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Madame C. J. Walker is featured in this brief biography for her invention of the Walker Hair Care System.
Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
The online companion to past Field Museum exhibit on the life and scientific contributions of George Washington Carver, this resource includes a biography, photo gallery, an overview of Carter's goal-oriented research, an educator's...
Article
PBS

Pbs: Africans in America: Benjamin Banneker

For Students 9th - 10th
This website describes the life of Benjamin Banneker, a free and educated black man from Baltimore, Maryland. It describes his many accomplishments.
Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Madame c.j. Walker

For Students 3rd - 8th
At this site from the MIT Program you can read how Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker, or Madame C.J. Walker, and Marjorie Joyner "founded beauty schools for blacks" and changed the lives of African-Americans.
Handout
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score H/ss: Booker T. Washington

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Biography of Booker T. Washington. Includes photographs and illustrations.