Procedures

• SET UP:

  This lesson offers several options for you to use with your students whether you are teaching in class, using a hybrid model, or engaging through distance learning. It can be completed in steps as a class, as a jigsaw activity, or students can move at their own pace and complete the activities independently.

  You can post links to the videos in the lesson along with the related handouts and engage in discussion to share responses on a discussion board or learning management system.

  You can also save and share the following Google resource for students to use with this lesson.

  HANDOUT: Inventors (Google Doc)

  In Google, choose "File" then "Make a Copy" to get your own copy. You can make any needed adjustments in the instructions such as which activities students need to complete, when it is due, etc. and then make it available to them via Google.

• WARM-UP:

  Engage in a brief class discussion about inventors. Ask students to share what they know about inventors and the products they created.

• INTRODUCTION:

  Have students watch the following two video clips that discuss inventions as well as the qualities that embody inventors. They can take notes on their handout and be prepared to share their findings with the class.

  Video Clip 1: Overview of Historical Inventions (3:17)

  Video Clip 2: Qualities of Inventors (2:49)

• EXPLORATION:

  Break students into groups or have them choose inventors they would like to learn about from the collection below. They should take notes using the handout or complete the individual Bell Ringer questions associated with each video clip, and be prepared to share their findings with the rest of the class.

  VIDEO CLIPS

  • Benjamin Franklin (5:05) Walter Isaacson talked about the scientific experiments and inventions of Benjamin Franklin.

  • Eli Whitney (1:14) Lee Ann Caldwell talked about the impact of the cotton engine on Georgia.

  • Robert Fulton (6:09) Kirkpatrick Sale explains that while Robert Fulton did not invent the steamboat, his knowledge of machinery and an ability to incorporate the inventions of others into his own work led to the development of the first truly workable steamship.

  • Samuel Morse (2:00) Kenneth Silverman talked about the impact of the telegraph on the country.

  • Thomas Edison (13:28) David Dazer gave a tour of the Thomas Edison Depot Museum and spoke about Mr. Edison’s time growing up in Port Huron, Michigan, where he lived from ages 7 to 16.

  • Alexander Graham Bell (2:35) Professor Christopher Beauchamp talked about Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone.

  • George Washington Carver (2:20) Christina Vella talked about the inventions and accomplishments of George Washington Carver.

  • Henry Ford (5:46) Bob Casey talked about Henry Ford, the Model T and his impact on transportation.

  • Nikola Tesla (8:48) Guests talk about Nikola Tesla and his work in Colorado Springs, his scientific breakthroughs, and his rivalry with Thomas Edison.

  • The Wright Brothers (5:42) David McCullough talked about Wilbur and Orville Wright, the first manned flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and their motivation to constantly improve on their designs and invention.

  • Jonas Salk(10:39) Charlotte Jacobs talked about her book, Jonas Salk: A Life, about the life and career of the creator of the polio vaccine.

  • Steve Jobs (4:18) Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli talked about the life of Steve Jobs and what made him a successful innovator.

  • Mark Zuckerberg (3:16) Mark Zuckerberg talked about how Facebook has evolved since its inception and its vision for the future.

• CONCLUSION:

  Create groups of students so each inventor is represented among the group members. Students can take turns sharing the information they learned about the individual and take notes on other students' programs.

• ACTIVITY:

  As an exit assessment, have students write responses to the following questions.

  • What is the name of the inventor you learned about?
  • Explain the contribution of this individual.
  • What impact did this have?
  • Describe their legacy today.

• EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

  What invention would you like to create?

  • Describe the product you would like to develop.
  • What would you name it?
  • What is your target audience?
  • Explain the impact of your product.

  Students can draw a picture of their product or create a short advertisement using their phones.