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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: National Council of Economic Education: Capital Chips

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This site has a multi-part lesson that explores several aspects of productivity. The site incorporates online resources and activities.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the father of photography, his efforts and research that took him to this point. (In Spanish)
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Widget Production: Producing More Using Less

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Through this economics lesson you will learn about widget production. One of the tasks is to see how productivity can help solve problems.
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Article
CNN

Cnn: Space Age Inventions You Probably Use (2007)

For Students 9th - 10th
Some common items that help save lives every day or make lives a little easier are compliments of NASA technologies. This article features ten of these developments
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: Africans in America: Part 3: Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin

For Students 9th - 10th
History of Eli Whitney and his cotton gin. Other links to sites with information on this topic.
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Granville T. Woods

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Granville T. Woods is featured in this brief biography for his multiplex telegraph which was a useful invention for the railroad industry.
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Website
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Hedy Lamarr

For Students 3rd - 8th
Use this site to learn about Hedy Lamarr (1913-2000 CE), the movie actress who "helped the Allies win World War II" through her involvement in inventing "a classified communication system."
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Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Lloyd Augustus Hall

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Lloyd Augustus Hall is featured in this brief biography who made several contributions to the food and drug industry such as his patented method for curing meats so they would keep better.
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Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Madame C. J. Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
Inventor Madame C. J. Walker is featured in this brief biography for her invention of the Walker Hair Care System.
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Hero(n) of Alexandria

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the life of Hero of Alexandria and discusses Hero's contribution to the development of the steam engine. Text is the actual radio transcript of a syndicated radio broadcast on invention and ingenuity.
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Fulton's Submarine

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the technological and political conditions which led to Robert Fulton's invention and development of the submarine. Includes some biographical information and some graphics of early submarine sketches. (Text is the actual radio...
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Inventing the Riverboat

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of Robert Fulton's and Henry Shreve's contribution to the evolution of the steamboat. Includes photos of early steamboats and some biographical information on Fulton. (Text is the actual radio transcript of a syndicated...
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Big Diesel Engines

For Students 9th - 10th
Traces the historical evolution of the diesel engine. Explains the distinction between gasoline engines and diesel engines. Discusses the uses of diesel engines. Interesting, anecdotal and well-written. (Text is the actual radio...
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Article
Other

Ed Surge: Can Anyone Be an Inventor? Mit's Invention Education Officer Says Yes

For Students 9th - 10th
This article is part of The EdSurge Podcast. Today, there are plenty of middle and high school students who have developed solutions to major economic and social challenges, ranging from health care and transportation to agriculture and...
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Handout
Other

Cyberartsweb: Imagination

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which is provided by Cyberartsweb, gives a brief definition of term "imagination" with links to related concepts.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: The Wright Stuff

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion website to the PBS documentary on the Wright Brothers and their contributions to aviation.
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Handout
Other

Symposium Papers: Following the Footstpes of the Wright Brothers

For Students 9th - 10th
A compilation of symposium papers that have been presented on the Wright Brothers which includes details about their lives, invention, and historic flight.
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Article
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Coaxial Cable 1929

For Students 9th - 10th
As more and more American households acquired telephones, the pressure was on to create a better cable to accommodate the increasing demand. Engineers Lloyd Espenschied and Herman Affel answered the call.
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Unit Plan
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Bell Telephone 1876

For Students 9th - 10th
Acoustics, variable resistance and allegations of foul play contribute to the exciting story of the invention of the telephone.
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Unknown Type
EL Education

El Education: Rock and Mineral Machine Poster

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students complete field observations and work with local geologists to collect rock and complete a lab on rock and mineral testing and identification. Students then invent a fictional machine to identify rocks, and finally they create a...
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Activity
NASA

Nasa: Testing a New Spacecraft Material

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is a site from NASA that provides an activity where "You have invented a new material to use for the fuel tanks on the spacecraft. But before you send your new material into the harsh environment of space, you must test it on Earth...
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Website
Other

Velorama Bicycle Museum: Netherlands

For Students 9th - 10th
The Dutch are known for being avid bike riders, and this site by the Dutch Fietsmuseum proves it. Watch a slide show on various bicycle inventions over the years or take a virtual tour of the museum to learn about cycle history.
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Handout
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame: Alexander Graham Bell: Telephone

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information and a photograph of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.
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Website
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame: Philo Taylor Farnsworth

For Students 9th - 10th
Invent Now Hall of Fame explores the life and career of the "father of television", Philo Taylor Farnsworth. In 1983, he was honored with a postage stamp bearing his picture.