Curated OER
The Roaring 20s
America during the 1920s was quite an interesting place! Bring the jazz, poverty, consumer excess, culture, and politics to life with this presentation. Primary source images, excellent descriptive text, and a wide span of topics are...
Curated OER
Ford's Revolution
Industrialization and mechanization of products such as cars have deeply affected the US economy. The class discusses the affects of Ford's assembly line production of automobiles. They watch a video, fill out worksheets, and investigate...
Curated OER
Paper Production
Learners compare paper making by hand and by assembly line. In this manufacturing lesson, students compare and contrast the two main ways to make paper, by hand or by machine. Learners research paper making and have a class discussion...
Curated OER
Creating a Shared Culture
Students simulate working on an assembly line in a shared culture. In this consumerism lesson, students participate in a lecture and note-taking session before working on a simulated assembly line. They work in a timed situation to...
Curated OER
Assembly Line and Henry Ford
Students examine how an assembly works. In this assembly line lesson, students discuss the details of an assembly line, then think of something in their home that they could put together in steps. Finally, they list the step-by-step...
Curated OER
Interchangeable Parts Revolutionize Clock-making
Students consider assembly line production. In this lesson on Industrialization, students explore rifle manufacturing then create a workshop in the classroom to assemble clocks. They determine the pros and cons of assembly line...
Curated OER
Mass Production Using an Assembly Line
Fifth graders examine the industrial revolution. In this industrialization instructional activity, 5th graders explore the concept of mass production via the assembly line. They then create an assembly line which demonstrates its costs...
Curated OER
Henry Ford: A Cultural Icon
Students conduct research online for information about Henry Ford and his assembly line, examine economic, technological, and social changes that resulted from Ford's innovation, and use notes and resources to write five paragraph essays...
Curated OER
Quilting Bee-Assembly Line Style
Learners identify the roles of a producer and a consumer. In this economics lesson, students define the roles of a consumer and producer and produce a quilt using an assembly line.
Curated OER
Assembly Line
Students explore the benefits of using the assembly line method of production rather than the conventional factory method. They create animals in the assembly line method. Students are assigned a certain task to do in order to complete...
Curated OER
The Assembly Line
Students create an assembly line and build a simple car from LEGO bricks. They explore about the effects of Ford's use of the assembly line, auto financing, and increased wages to make his fortune early in the 20th century.
Curated OER
Time, Talent, Treasure and Economics
Students work cooperatively to create a quilt. They choose a pattern and determine the specific skills and steps needed to produce that quilt. Labor is divided equally between group members and a quilt is created assembly line style....
Curated OER
Assembly Line Burgers
Students explore the reasons why the assembly line was formed and how it improves productivity. They practice with their own assembly line by making "burgers" out of wafers and frosting.
Curated OER
Writing Crazy Crayons
Second graders observe the workings of an assembly line. They classify old crayon pieces by color, melt them in candy molds, package them, and produce advertising literature to sell the product. Students share their work with the class.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Industrialization
A learning module on the Industrial Revolution in America that includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include how manufacturing...
The Henry Ford
Henry Ford Museum: The Innovator and Ford Motor Company
This resource briefly explains how, with the development of the Model T, the Ford Motor Company became the largest automobile manufacturer in the world during the early 20th century.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Impact of Technology: Cars
This video segment adapted from A Science Odyssey looks at the invention of the automobile and the development of mass production. [4:21]
Digital History
Digital History: The Industrial Revolution [Pdf]
This site covers both the initial Industrial Revolution in the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and the second revolution that highlighted new inventions and the businessmen who financed industry. Read brief...
University of Michigan
National Endowment for the Humanities: Automobile in American Life and Society
An interactive website that looks at all aspects of the automobile in American life. Teacher and student resources are included.
PBS
Pbs: Ford Installs First Moving Assembly Line
A look at the history of the assembly line discusses how the use of this tool was initiated by Henry Ford in his Automobile plant.
PBS
People's Century: On the Line
An overview of the assembly line and labor before World War II. Read two personal interviews from men who worked for Ford during this era. Includes teaching guide and links to additional resources.
Other
Management Control: Scientific Management
A look at the ideas of scientific management in mass producing products in the early 20th century. Includes ideas of Henry Ford, Frederick Taylor, and Elton Mayo.
Other
Introduction to Anthropology: Taylorism and Fordism
Read about the precepts of Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford in their applications of scientific business management that improved productivity and increased output of consumer goods.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Age of the Automobile
Henry Ford's use of the assembly line to manufacture his automobiles led to many ramifications. Read about the spin-off industries created by the growth of the automobile industry, and see what impact the auto had on culture.