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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Inventors Study

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about African American inventors. In this inventing lesson, students are assigned an African American inventor to research. Students work in pairs to complete their research. Students write a compare and contrast paragraph...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington Carver and Sharing

For Teachers K - 5th
Students research George Washington Carver. In this science lesson, students discuss George Washington Carver's contribution to science. Students explain how peanut butter is produced.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Inventors

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners use the Internet to research African American inventors. They work with a partner to complete a graphic organizer about the inventors and the inventions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The African American Inventor

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study various African American inventors and their contributions. They select their favorite invention and work in groups to research a specific African American inventor. After conducting their research, they share their...
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Handout
Other

Black History From a to Z

For Students 3rd - 5th
Students will enjoy exploring this colorful site during Black History Month, or any other month! Follow the timeline of famous African American women and inventors, or just click on a letter of the alphabet to find brief pieces of...
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: American Visionaries: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
Despite being born a slave, read how Dr. Carver persevered so that he could become successful.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: African American Odyssey: The Booker T. Washington Era

For Students 9th - 10th
One section of this "Booker T. Washington Era" page of the LOC's African American Odyssey site is devoted to a very brief biography of Booker T. Washington. Other sections of the page summarize the history of African Americans between...
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Otis Boykin 1920 1982

For Students 3rd - 8th
Otis Boykin was a successful African American inventor whose inventions include resistors for electrical equipment and missiles, a controller for pacemakers, and a burglar-proof cash register.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to George Washington Carver, the talented, intelligent inventor. Learn why he was called a "Miracle Worker" for his vast knowledge of plants and agriculture. (In Spanish)
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship

For Students 9th - 10th
Online exhibit from the Library of Congress explores black America's quest for equality from the early national period through the twentieth century. Exhibit contains a wealth of items including books, government documents, manuscripts,...
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Activity
University of California

Princeton University: The Faces of Science: African Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explores the role of African Americans in science. Past contributions, present activity and future possibilities are all discussed.
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Handout
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Inventor Granville Woods Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed biography of Granville T. Woods, who was known as "the Black Edison" because of his many inventions. He is best known for greatly improving the safety of railroads by his invention of the Multiplex Railway Telegraph.
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Handout
University of California

University of California: Otis Boykin: Inventor

For Students 9th - 10th
Otis Boykin (1920-1982 CE) is attributed with developing twenty-six electronic inventions, including devices for guided missiles, IBM computers and a control unit for an artificial heart stimulator.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Garrett Augustus Morgan

For Students 9th - 10th
The African American inventor of a life-saving device, mechanical traffic signals, and more had to fight for recognition.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs Who Made America? Garrett Augustus Morgan

For Students 3rd - 8th
The African American inventor of a life-saving device, mechanical traffic signals, and more had to fight for recognition.
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Handout
Other

African American Inventors and Their Inventions: Granville T. Woods

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a thorough biography of inventor Granville T. Woods, who is credited with improving railway safety for bot the trains and trainmen. Find out what concepts in railroad safety are still being used today.
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Handout
Other

Ohio Trek: African Americans in Cleveland 1809 1925

For Students 9th - 10th
Cleveland's famous African Americans - Garrett Morgan, George Peake, Charles Chestnutt, and others - are discussed here in the context of general information about African American history in Ohio.
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Elijah Mc Coy

For Students 9th - 10th
According to this article, Elijah McCoy (1844-1929 CE) is one of the most prolific inventors in American history. Read about his parents who escaped slavery by traveling on the Underground Railroad and about his invention, the automatic...
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Website
Other

African American Inventors and Inventions: Elijah Mc Coy the Real Mc Coy

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Elijah McCoy and a description of one of his inventions that made factory machinery run smoothly.
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Handout
Other

New Bedford Historical Society: Lewis Temple

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of African-American Lewis Temple, whose toggle iron radically improved the harpoon used by whalers in the 19th century.
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Handout
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score H/ss: Booker T. Washington

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Biography of Booker T. Washington. Includes photographs and illustrations.
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Invention of the Week: Bessie Blount: Self Feeding Device for Amputees

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Bessie Blount's contribution to medicine--her work as a physical therapist and her invention of a feeding device for amputees.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: African American Scientists and Inventors

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Besides George Washington Carver, what other African-Americans made contributions to American life? The class will explore the careers of famous and not-so-famous African-American scientists and inventors. Also, they will plan and...