Find out about the men who pioneered the development of the steam engine and the engines that they developed.

This fascinating museum exhibit is on how the development of the steam engine has impacted the lives of many people over the last two hundred plus years.

This collection uses primary sources to explore the steam engine and transportation in the nineteenth century.

A virtual exhibition on the history of steam power, with animated images of the first steam engines. Covers the history of coal mining and engine building by millwrights and engineers, and gives biographical information about early...

Describes the evolution of Thomas Newcomen's steam engine development. Provides several photographs and sketches of Newcomen's machines.

From the Smith College Museum of Ancient Inventions website. Description of Heron's invention of the aeolipile - a precursor to the steam engine. Includes a graphic depicting a replica of the device.

In this STEAM lesson, students are immersed in a world of transportation design as they use the design thinking process to create their own vehicle prototype out of everyday materials.

This complete chronology of steam power is designed in time line fashion. Next to each year is a detailed description of the invention. Another useful aspect of this site is the "Link to the decades," found at the top of the page. Each...

Create scenes for pictures of your favorite steam engines by selecting a background scene, your favorite engine, and things to put in your picture.

image of steam engine simple machine

image of Steam Engine Simple Machine

In this textbook unit, students learn the reasons why the Industrial Revolution took root in England first, and the innovations that made this possible. These included textile inventions such as the flying shuttle and the spinning jenny,...

This essay from the University of Virginia provides an incredible graphic of the Corliss steam engine as shown at the America's Centennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia in 1876. Includes some descriptive text.

An interesting historical account of the development of the steam engine. Provides pictures of the earliest of steam engines.

A steam turbine is defined at Applied Thermodynamics. The individual steps of a steam turbine engine are illustrated and explained.

Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This one uses...

From the Engines of Ingenuity web site. A lengthy page discussing ingenuity and invention as it pertains to steam engine history. Very anecdotal and interesting. Includes biographical information and interesting details about Hero of...

From the Engines of Ingenuity web site. A lengthy page discussing ingenuity and invention as it pertains to steam engine history. Very anecdotal and interesting. Includes biographical information and interesting details about Hero of...

This activity gives a real world example of challenges and choices engineers face in their careers. The Della Steam Plant Case Study allows students to analyze and present finding about a problem found in the power plant's turbine...

From the San Francisco 49er's Museum Education Program which promotes STEAM projects, students construct an irrigation system for the football field. The concept of engineer design is explored.

image of Steam Engine Simple Machine

The second law of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy is applied to the topic of heat engines. The Carnot and Stirling engine are discussed. Efficiency is explained and an equation is derived.

This article provides information regarding James Watts and his improvements to the steam engine in 1769.

Biographical and scientific information about discoveries and technological advances credited to ten Scots, Lord Kelvin (Kelvin scale), Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), James Watt (steam engine), and Alexander Fleming (penicillin),...