5th graders will gain an understanding of how, what, and why people invent tools. This PowerPoint provides a complete description of what tools are, types of tools, why we make tools and what impact they have had on society. There are...

Use this lesson plan to discuss inventions that have changed your class's world and have impacted society. Middle schoolers investigate important inventions of their time and design an invention in a simulated business atmosphere. Modify...

Young scientists investigate the scientific concepts and principles that help make common toys such as hula hoops, yo-yos, slinkies, and silly putty work. As a class, they read "Backyard Rocket Science, Served Wet" to get a look behind...

3D printers, selfie sticks, smart watches. GPS, self-driving cars, YouTube. Imagine life without inventions. Believe it or not, these items were all invented in the last 10 years. Inventions, and the inventors responsible for them,...

Third graders invent gadgets using simple machine principles. Once they have assembled graphic organizers containing information about their invention, they draw diagrams and explain how their gadget works. Lastly, 3rd graders write...

Students recognize that inventions are developed to fill a need.In this inventions instructional activity, students become familiar with the inventing process and create simple inventions. Students complete a worksheet about their...

Try out a writing prompt that is great for a warm-up or an in-depth research project! Have kids describe an important invention and trace its development over the years. Use the writing prompt in a language arts class, social studies...

Learners formulate new applications for simple machines in an original invention that solves a common problem. They brainstorm ideas for a new product using simple machines and communicate a finished project through an oral,...

Students discover the life of Benjamin Franklin by studying his inventions.  In this biography instructional activity, students identify the inventions of Benjamin Franklin and their impact on society today.  Students create a...

Students understand that inventions fulfill a need. In this inventions lesson, students create simple designs of inventions that fill a need and understand the value of how inventions help society.

Young scholars identify the elements of science fiction literature. They write and illustrate a science fiction story using real and exaggerated science. In addition, they read their stories aloud in small groups.

Students explore the scientific career of Benjamin Franklin. In this science lesson, students discuss Franklin's correspondence with other scientists and write letters describing Benjamin Franklin's experiments.

This site contains a variety of worksheets and activities to supplement the on-line problem-based learning activity about how imagination and how inventions are created. TheWright Brothers are used as a case study. The links and...

Pupils complete a web survey for Thomas Edison's inventions. In this Thomas Edison instructional activity, students visit the websites to learn about the inventions of Thomas Edison.

Explore physical science by reading Barthlomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss. Discuss the moral of the story and the discretion an inventor must use when creating something they want instead of something they need. This lesson is...

Third graders explore the world of inventions by describing their impact on their own lives.  In this technology lesson, 3rd graders practice writing descriptive paragraphs about different inventions that they find...

Students examine Science in present day life.   In this oral communication lesson, students discuss and rank  scientific events from least to most important. Students discuss their responses and why they are different....

Third graders explore WWII by analyzing technological advances. In this invention lesson, 3rd graders discuss the use of the Enigma machine which decoded private German messages that communicated with U-boats. Students utilize a timeline...

In this math information learning exercise, learners read one page factual accounts of the early math inventions of the abacus, the calculator and early computers. There are 40 questions to answer about the reading.

In this creative writing worksheet, students pretend they are writing and illustrating an article for "New Inventions Magazine." They label the new weekly invention, draw it and write an entry about it.

Students identify the characteristics of effective speeches. Students find elements of good speeches in the text and in the delivery of model speeches. Students build a working three-dimensional model of an invention or an actual...

Explore biology by researching adaptation. First, learners research and define a list of insect vocabulary terms and discuss the benefits of each insect characteristic. They then utilize a worksheet to create their own insect and share...

Class members use e-mail and the merry-go-round story format to create a science fiction story. Each writer begins by selecting one of three prompts, crafting the introductory paragraph and sending the paragraph to the next person on the...

In this cause and effect review learning exercise, students create inventions to extend their understanding of the concept of cause and effect.