Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions of the 19th Century

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore inventions that have been created since the nineteenth century.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Sights and Sounds: Inventions That Changed A Century

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze the role and impact of technological innovation in the late 19th and early 20th century. They evaluate manuscripts, sound recordings, and motion pictures to construct historical meaning. Students observe the connections...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Eli Whitney: A Top Ten Inventor?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers conduct research and present their findings in a persuasive manner. Then they work in groups to enhance the development of cooperative work skills. Students also present their findings through persuasive skills in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invention of the Parachute

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the invention of the parachute and how Leonardo da Vinci came up with the design.  In this aerodynamics lesson students test the properties that make parachutes more efficient.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Bank On it! Inventions

For Students 4th - 5th
In this science worksheet, students complete a cloze activity about inventions. They read an article about Isaac Merritt Singer, who invented the sewing machine. The article includes 9 blanks to fill in.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invention of the Telegraph

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students study the history of telegraph invention. In this technology lesson, students build their own Morse Telegraph System. They discuss how this invention benefits the society.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invention of the Airplane

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore the history of the airplane and the Wright brothers.  In this aviation lesson plan students examine the Wright brothers stories and kites.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Special Feature: Forgotten Inventors

For Students 9th - 10th
This fascinating site from PBS features seven inventions from the 19th and 20th centuries, along with information about the men and women who created them. Click on one of the small photos to learn more, or scroll down through the...
Interactive
South Carolina Educational Television

Know It All Media: Nasa: The Invention Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive timeline of notable inventions and inventors from the 19th century to the present.
Article
New York Times

New York Times: 32 Innovations That Will Change Your Tomorrow

For Students 1st - 9th
If you don't know that the incandescent light was a failure before it was a success, it's easy to write off some modern energy innovations like solar panels because they haven't hit the big time fast enough. Worse, the fairy-tale view of...