PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Young Inventors
In this stills collage adapted from the National Science Teachers Association/Craftsman Young Inventors Awards, see several inventions by students in grades 4-7 and read about some of the challenges they faced during the design process.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Frederick M. Jones
Inventor Frederick M. Jones is featured in this brief biography for his lasting contributions to the refrigerator and cinema industries.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Lloyd Augustus Hall
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.
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Inventors' Stories: Newman Darby
Article on Newman Darby, the inventor of the windsurfer. It describes the various stages his invention went through as he refined it, and other watercraft that he designed.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Invention of the Week: Ernesto E. Blanco: Stair Climbing Wheelchair
Read about MIT teacher and practitioner Ernesto Blanco, inventor of the stair-climbing wheelchair. This article provides details on the inventor's life, his career outside of MIT, and his inventions that continue to help the handicapped...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Martha Speaks: t.d. Reports: Chewing Gum
Take a walk through history with this kid-friendly, multimedia research report on the inventors of chewing gum.
Library of Congress
Loc: Everyday Mysteries: Who Invented the Automobile?
Not an easy answer! Many people contributed to the invention of the automobile as there were many different types of automobiles and many different types of parts that went into them. Here's a good summary of the inventors.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Invention of the Week: Robert Jarvik: Artificial Heart
Read about Robert Koffler Jarvik, the "inventor of the first permanently-implantable artificial heart." This article provides a biography of the inventor, the reasons why he became interested in creating an artificial heart, and his...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Invention of the Week: Bessie Blount: Self Feeding Device for Amputees
Read about Bessie Blount's contribution to medicine--her work as a physical therapist and her invention of a feeding device for amputees.
PBS
Pbs Nova: The Other Elevator Inventor
Explore the early world of elevator technology. You will find out that there were actually two people with the name of Otis involved in the invention of the elevator: Elisha Otis and Otis Tufts. The practical technology won out. Click on...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Invention of the Week: Cyrus Mc Cormick
Called the "Father of Modern Agriculture," Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, which turned the prairies of the Midwest into "the 'breadbasket' of the nation." This article, in addition to telling about the creation of the...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Anna Keichline
At this site from Massachusetts Institute of Technology you can read about inventors, Anna Keichline and Lillian Gilbreth, who sought to make women's lives easier through their household items.
Other
Brockton Historical Society: Thomas Alva Edison
Site devoted completely to the achievements of Thomas Edison. Includes a detailed biography, inventions, photo gallery, and quotes.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Inventions of the 1800s
Many modern items were invented in the 1800s. This resource presents a lengthy chronological list of significant inventions from the 1800s and their inventors.
A&E Television
History.com: 6 Key Inventions by Thomas Edison
Edison's genius was improving on others' technologies and making them more practical for the general public. Thomas Edison applied for his first patent in 1868, when he was just 21 years old. The famous inventor's first brainchild was...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Chester Carlson
Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides interesting information on Chester F. Carlson, the inventor of the photocopier. The site provides good background on the history of the photocopier, and a photo of Carlson.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: R. Buckminster Fuller
Read about the transcendentalist and inventor, R. Buckminster Fuller, who created the geodesic dome.
CommonLit
Common Lit: How an 11 Year Old Boy Invented the Popsicle by Shelby Pope for Npr
A learning module that begins with "How an 11-Year-Old Boy Invented the Popsicle" by Shelby Pope, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 4: Inventions and the Great Plains
Read and study the sources about inventions from the late 1800s. As you read the three sources, think about the effects that the inventions had on the American economy.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Edwin Herbert Land
Learn about the scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation, Edwin Herbert Land.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: George Washington Carver
This brief article from MIT Invention Dimension on George Washington Carver (1865-1943 CE) provides an overview of his education and his inventions, which influenced the world of agriculture.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Philo Farnsworth
Crack open a present day television today and it may not be as apparent, but every television designer is aware of the name Philo Farnsworth. Find out about the man behind the first all electric television among the 299 other patents...
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Ernst Werner Von Siemens
Find out how Werner von Siemens became the pioneer of the electro industry and brought about a great technological advancement with many of his important discoveries.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Leland Clark
This article describes the biography of Leland Clark. Learn how he invented many biosensors.