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Curated OER

A View on Cities: Washington: Old Patent Office Building

For Students 9th - 10th
Old Patent Office Building (Washington)
Handout
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: Jefferson as an Inventor

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of a larger site on Thomas Jefferson discusses his involvement in the development of the patent system. Here, read about Jefferson's committment to science and his role as an inventor.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Invention of the Week: Alexander Graham Bell

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site provides a biographical sketch of Alexander Graham Bell and his inventions. Find out about Bell's patents in addition to the telephone.
Website
Rutgers University

Rutgers: The Thomas Edison Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Links to copies of papers written by Thomas Edison. Also includes biographical information and copies of his patents and companies.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian: A Different Light (Architectural Photographs)

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Smithsonian Institution this is "A Different Light", architectural photographs by Amy R. Boles of the renovation of the old Patent Office building in Washington D.C., presented here in an on-line exhibit.
Website
PBS

Pbs American Experience: Edison's Miracle of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explores the various challenges Edison faced upon attempting to produce electric power. It contains a historical essay, a complete list of Edison's patents, information on the AC and DC currents, recordings produced by the...
Handout
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame: Louis Pasteur

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides general information on Louis Pasteur (1822-1895 CE) and his patent number 135,245. The site also describes how he created pasteurization.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Letters Patents of King Henry Vii Granted Unto John Cabot

For Students 9th - 10th
A copy of Henry VII's letter granting John Cabot permission to explore the New World and claim what he finds for England. Difficult to read, but an important primary source document.
Website
Great Idea Finder

Great Idea Finder: Lewis Howard Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive biography of the life of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Find out about his primary claim to fame in the development of an incandescent light bulb, but be sure to read about his many patents, and his importance to...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Libraries:industrial Drawings at the Smithsonian: Doodles & Drafts

For Students 9th - 10th
Drawing is a key element in an inventor's skill set. When it comes to the working out of new ideas, inventors turn to pencil and paper. Mixing art and science, this exhibition site showcases a collection of industrial drawings that...
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
A good description of the inventions and life of this bright and ambitious man. As inventor of the light bulb, phonograph, movie camera and many others, Edison lived a very inspiring life. In Spanish.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Invention of the Week: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
As the inventor of the lightbulb, phonograph, and the printing telegraph, Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), improved the daily lives of everyday people.
Graphic
Curated OER

Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
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Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Washington, d.c.: Old Patent Office

For Students 9th - 10th
Current home of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
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
Library of Congress

Loc: The Atlantic World: America and the Netherlands

For Students 9th - 10th
Available in both English and Dutch, this Library of Congress and Library of the Netherlands collaborative project offers over 11,000 digitized images relating to the Dutch in America. Includes a letter describing the purchase of...
Website
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Qwerty Keyboard Invention

For Students 9th - 10th
Where did the idea of the QWERTY keyboard come from? Read about typewriter inventor, Christopher Sholes, and how he came up with his idea of a new keyboard design way back in 1875. Additional links to related sites, fascinating facts,...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Nikola Tesla

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth biography of inventor Nikola Tesla. Discusses his many inventions, his troubles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and information on his multitude of patents.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Gif (Graphics Interchange Format)

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia entry that defines a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) graphics file and explains how and why it was created. Sections of the article include history, Unisys and LZW patent enforcement, usage, color, alternatives,...
Website
Other

Uspto: Trademarks

For Students 9th - 10th
Great site to review submitted trademarks, obtain forms and fee schedule to file trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Design Step 2: Research the Problem

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Through Internet research, patent research, standards and codes research, user interviews (if possible) and other techniques (idea web, reverse engineering), students further develop the context for their design challenge. In subsequent...
Handout
Rutgers University

Thomas Edison Papers: Biography of Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
The first person to make the storage battery practical, with 147 patents, Edison's life is a testimony to invention. This biography, in outline form, is in two parts; go to 1879 site after this.
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Biomimicry in Engineering

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson focuses on the concept of Biomimicry and students learn how engineers have incorporated structures and methods from the living world in products and solutions for all industries. Students then work in teams to develop a...
Website
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) recognizes the enduring legacies of exceptional U.S. patent holders. Inventors not only create new inventions, but they can create new industries that employ millions of people. Their...

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