Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Economic Spotter: Inventors and Entrepreneurs in the Industrial Age
The Industrial Age has also been called the Age of Edison. Edison patented more than 1000 inventions and gave rise to three industries: electric utilities, phonograph and record companies, and the film industry. This instructional...
Other
Edison: His Life and Inventions: The Telephone, Motograph, and Microphone
This site offers the text of a book by Frank Dyer and Thomas Martin published in 1929 on the inventions of Thomas Edison. This particular page discusses Alexander Graham Bell's development of the telephone and the controversy over Thomas...
PBS
Pbs Kids: How to Be an Inventor
Part of the Real Stories series from "Martha Speaks," this read-along story teaches young children how easy it is to be an inventor.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Martha Speaks: Super Inventions
In this interactive story, learn how animal abilities have inspired inventions over the years.
Text Project
Text Project: Fyi for Kids: Young Inventors: Chester Greenwood [Pdf]
This magazine article explains how Chester Greenwood invented ear warmers when he was 15 years old.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Super Glue Was Invented: Moments of Vision 8
Today, super glue is a nearly indispensable household item - but its incredibly sticky nature almost caused it to be abandoned in the development phase - twice. Jessica Oreck shares the wartime origins of this sticky substance. [1:53]
Other
African American Inventors and Their Inventions: Granville T. Woods
Here is a thorough biography of inventor Granville T. Woods, who is credited with improving railway safety for bot the trains and trainmen. Find out what concepts in railroad safety are still being used today.
Other
United States Patent and Trademark Office: The Cycle of Invention
Read about the cycle of invention where one invention inspires someone to create another one.
Other
Up to Ten: The History of Inventions
Place the inventions on the interactive timeline in chronological order to advance to the next level.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: People and Events: Alexander Graham Bell
This PBS American Experience page provides a biographical survey of Alexander Graham Bell's life and inventions.
Other
History of Recording Technology: Edison's Invention of the Phonograph
Click through the pages on this site to read about Edison's development of the phonograph as well as a discussion of Edison's rivals who were seeking to develop a similar product. Read about the changes in the ways to record sound as the...
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: Who Were Wilbur and Orville?
Classroom activities, interactive experiments, timelines, and other artifacts that celebrate the Wright brothers' first flight.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Inventions
Investigate past and present inventions, and use the tape player as an example to explore issues inventors must deal with, including patents, theft and technological obsolescence. Use the scientific method to choose, design and develop...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Inventors and Innovators Improve on the Original
This lesson plan focuses on discussion of inventions, brainstorming new products or improvements, and identifying the protection, production, and marketing processes.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: The Science of Microbes: Milestones in Microbiology
Middle schoolers read about six important discoveries in microbiology and put them on a timeline. They develop an understanding of how these discoveries connect to the invention of new scientific tools and technology. The lesson and...
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Alexander Bain
Find out about the life and work of Alexander Bain, the Scottish inventor and engineer who was first to invent and patent the electric clock.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Meet George Zaidan
Meet George Zaidan, science media jack-of-all-trades and rock climber!
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: List of Scientists
Looking for some research on famous scientist? This list contains men and women who changed the world through there scientific contributions and inventions.
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Inventors
The New York Times Learning Network has developed interactive & printable crossword puzzles. The theme of this one is Inventors.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Otis Boykin 1920 1982
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.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Inventions and Resource Development
Outline of the burgeoning inventions and discoveries that characterized a second industrial revolution in the U.S. during the later half of the 19th Century.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Significant Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
This resource presents a long list of important inventions during the First Industrial Revolutions, organized consecutively from 1701-1839. Includes short descriptions and images. This is followed by a table listing inventions from the...
National Geographic
National Geographic: American Genius: Perseverance
Students investigate the importance of failure to the process of innovation by investigating several items that were invented by accident. They share one "failure to success" story by creating a 3-panel comic strip poster, and then write...