Lesson Plan: Invention Convention
Author(s):
Subject: Science and Social Studies
Concept: Continuity and Change
Grade Level: 4-12
3.8 Science, Technology and Human
Endeavors
The students will:
know, explain,
and analyze how human ingenuity and technological resources satisfy specific
human needs and improve the quality of life.
§
(Grade 4)
Describe a technological invention and the resources that were used to develop
it.
§
(Grade 7)
Identify and explain specific examples of how agricultural science has met
human needs and has improved the quality of life.
§
(Grade 10)
Analyze a recently invented item, describing the human need that prompted its
invention and the current and potential social impacts of the specific
invention.
know, explain, and evaluate the pros and cons of applying
technological and scientific solutions to address problems and the effect upon
society.
§
(Grade 4) Identify and discuss examples of
technological change in the community that have both positive and negative
impacts.
§
(Grade 7)
Describe ways technology extends and enhances human abilities.
§
(Grade 10)
Analyze the impacts on society of accepting or rejecting scientific and
technological advances.
8.2
Historical Analysis and Skill
Development:
The students will:
identify, describe and analyze how continuity and change have
influenced
§
(Grade 6)
Beginnings to 1824: iron, sailing, fur trade, steam boat, Conestoga Wagon
§
(Grade 9) From 1824 to 1914: John Roebling’s
steel cable, steel-tipped plow, iron, steel, and glass
§
(Grade 12)
From 1890 to Present: polio vaccine, steel industry, service industries, air
pollution, nuclear power plant
8.3.
Historical Analysis and Skill Development:
The students will:
identify,
describe and analyze how continuity and change have influenced U.S. History.
§
(Grade 6)
Beginnings to 1824: fur trade, cash crops, cotton gin, Whitney; wooden clock,
Banneker; stove,
§
(Grade 9) From
1824 to 1914: manufacturing,
§
(Grade 12)
From 1890 to Present: tin Lizzie, Radio, World Ride Web, corporations, and
conglomerates.
Materials: Image cards and bibliographic information cards printed on colored
cardstock:
NOTE: The activities in this
lesson were adapted from a feature on the Learning Page, “What In The World Is
That?” http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/science/learn_more.html
Introduction/Anticipatory Set: Show
students a photo of a school classroom at the turn of the century. (NOTE: You may wish to distribute individual
copies of this image and/or project the image on a large screen.)
Ask students to compare
that classroom to their own today. What has
changed? What has remained the same?
Which changes were made possible by technological inventions? Invite
your students to examine and analyze other inventions found in the Library of
Congress archives.
Learning Activities Sequence
1.
Partner
Investigation
a.
Partners find
each other by looking for duplicate invention.
b.
Answer
questions with partner:
1)
What is the
invention?
2)
What do you
see in the photo that is interesting or strange?
3)
When was it
invented?
4)
Who invented
it?
5)
Where was it
invented?
6)
How did it improve
life at that time?
2.
Team Analysis
a.
Regroup by
color. Each team will have inventions
related to a common theme. Answers are
given on the Image Table above.
b.
Answer
questions with team members:
1)
Share your
invention and inventor with the group.
2)
What do your
inventions have in common? (What is the
theme of the group?)
3)
Place the four
inventions in a timeline.
4)
Did these
inventions lead to other inventions? If
yes, what?
5)
What new
invention would you like to see in your lifetime? (Related to the theme)
Closure:
Teams report back to total class.
1.
Show
pictures. Name inventions and inventors.
2.
Answer group
question #4 and #5 above.
3.
Make a
timeline with all sixteen inventions.
Assessment: Students will be evaluated on cooperative work skills, critical
thinking, and presentation skills using the rubric
provided.
