Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Movers and Shakers

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners explore how the centuries-old invention of the lever led to today's applications in mobiles and crowbars. They watch a video on the lever, then utilize worksheets imbedded in this plan to guide their experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking the Codex

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars work with an online multimedia show to study the life of Leonardo da Vinci in Renaissance Italy. They explore different writing systems and create an advertisement for one of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telephones of the Future

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore communication. In this telephone lesson, students create a model of what they think telephones of the future will look like. Students list inventions of the past that have led to current technology. Students then create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventing Insects

For Teachers K
Students explore the world of insects and discover what it might be like to live like one. They create an insect with physical characteristics and demonstrate how it moves. Students also compare and contrast insects to spiders and how...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Inventor's Challenge Review

For Students 9th - 10th
In this science activity, students match each invention or device to its inventor listed on the right. There are 32 inventors listed and some may be used twice. Then they order the items in each group from oldest to newest and state the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Marshmellow Machine

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students invent a pretend machine. In this technology activity, students pretend to make a marshmallow machine. Each student acts out a part of the machine and tells what their job is. Students discuss the importance of technology...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventors and Inventions 2:Air and Space

For Teachers K - 5th
Students fly their own paper airplanes. In this flight lesson plan, students create paper airplanes and see whose plane will fly the farthest. They discuss what factors affect the flight and attempt to create a plane that will go...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Timely Technologies

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explain how society influences the type of technology developed. In this science lesson, 2nd graders research about a topic they chose from the given list. They develop a creative presentation about it such as a play,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading: An Amazing Swimsuit

For Students 5th - 6th
In this inventions instructional activity, students read a one page text about the new type of swimsuit used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics called the Speedo LZR Racer. Students answer 10 true or false questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pumpkin Roll

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners build a machine to roll a pumpkin. For this invention lesson, students work in groups to build a machine, in the classroom, that will roll a pumpkin farther than their classmates machines. The lesson ends with a competition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Innovation of Our Generation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the innovations that have impacted their lives.  In this inventions lesson students write and present a speech on the greatest innovation of their generation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers analyze water quality data from real data. In this environmental science lesson, students examine how salinity and dissolved oxygen affect the living organisms in the estuary. They interpret graphs to support or disprove...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Impact

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners study inventions and how they have impacted us.  In this investigative instructional activity students study the history of two inventors then pretend that they are an inventor. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions 2: The Impact

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students see what inventors have to think about when making an invention, particularly the kinds of effects they can have on people.
Worksheet
Curated OER

What's In a Name?

For Students 2nd - 5th
In this new names learning exercise, learners think of new names for inventions that are already invented. Students create new names for 11 inventions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing About an Invention

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners discover the process of creating an invention by writing a how-to paper.  In this engineering instructional activity, students research their science book while discussing invention ideas.  Learners write a paper...
Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Designing Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How do you convey someone’s creativity? Individuals answer the question as they design exhibitions to showcase the intellect and genius of Benjamin Franklin. After conducting research, classmates work in groups to try to capture and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peregrine Falcon

For Teachers 5th
Young environmentalists study the effects that pesticides have on birds, such as the peregrine falcon. They also look at predator/prey interactions. Some wonderful in-class activities accompany an inventive activity. After an activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sound Extenders

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learn about communication engineers. Students observe a demonstration using a slinky of how to diminish sound with distance. They also learn about Alexander Graham Bell and his invention of the telephone.
PPT
Curated OER

The Who's Who of Quantum Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This wonderful recap of powerful figures in scientific history includes pictures, important dates, and the information about their inventions or impact. Atomic structure and the photoelectric effect are introduced. The first slide gives...
Unit Plan
Beyond Benign

Green Chemistry, Biomimicry and Intermolecular Forces

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know plywood was invented around 3500 B.C.? It was also featured as something new and unusual at the 1905 World's Fair. Scholars complete an experiment with various types of adhesive. Then they read three case studies and...
Interactive
PHET

Capacitor Lab

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
The first capacitor was a Leyden jar, invented in 1745. Physics scholars explore capacitors in an engaging simulation. They may view one or set up circuits which contain two to three either in series or parallel. Other views include...
Interactive
PHET

Generator

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Michael Faraday was self-educated, earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford, invented the first Bunsen burner, discovered the laws of electrolysis, and proved that a changing magnetic field produces a current. In this...
Lesson Plan
Santa Monica College

Flame Tests of Metal Cations

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Scientists used flame tests to identify elements long before the invention of emission spectroscopy. Young chemists observe a flame test of five metal cations in the fourth lesson of an 11-part series. Individuals then work...

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