Curated OER
The Industrial Revolution
Contrasting between the "Haves" and the "Have-Nots" of 18th-19th century Europe, this presentation explores the social and technological implications of the Industrial Revolution. Inventions, social trends, and scientific breakthroughs...
Curated OER
Creatively Creating Expository Essays
Students, after reading Fahrenheit 451, brainstorm inventions that could have been in the novel. They present their invention to the class and writing an expository essay about their creation.
Rutgers University
How the Allies Won World War II: Island-hopping in the Central Pacific
Using primary source documents, young historians explore the strategies the US used to defeat Japan during WWII. They also learn about the American military experience, and innovations that changed the style of warfare. Young scholars...
Curated OER
Block Buster
Here is a unique and innovative game which will help your charges learn the important skill of proofreading and editing their own writing. The class is divided up into groups, and each group uses actual samples of writing from students...
Curated OER
Technology and Change
Pupils write a paragraph explaining how a technological innovation from a particular country has affected the world. Using a variety of resources, students identify a technological innovation, giving accurate historical and functional...
Curated OER
The African American Inventor
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...
Curated OER
Make It All Better!
Students design an innovation that could help their community. In this technology instructional activity, students identify problems that could be solved by innovation. They present their ideas in class.
Curated OER
Make It All Better!
Students brainstorm ideas to solve a problem. For this technology lesson, students share their ideas to class. They research innovations that could benefit the community.
Curated OER
Survey Savvy
Middle schoolers explore various aspects of design innovation. For this design lesson, links are provided to three innovations from the Design for the Other 90% Web site in order for students to study and evaluate them. Middle schoolers...
Curated OER
The Automobile
Students are introduced to technological innovations that contributed to mass production of the automobile and how this allows large numbers of Americans to afford an automobile.
Curated OER
Steam Engines
Students investigate the invention of the steam engine. In this technology lesson, students investigate the advancement of technology over time. They relate science and technology together.
Curated OER
The Golden Gate Bridge
In this comprehension worksheet, students read and respond to five multiple choice questions about the story. Then they explain in a short answer response why there were people who opposed to the building of the Golden Gate Bridge and why.
Curated OER
Writing Exercise: The Renaissance II
Here is a cross-curricular writing exercise with limited appeal as an engaging or interactive activity. A worksheet on the Renaissance that has learners responding to 3 simple prompts, each of which can easily lead into deeper research....
Curated OER
Migration and Technology
Students identify a technological innovation associated with human migration, either forced or voluntary. They explain how the migration was influenced by technology and how technology influences migration through a written essay.
Curated OER
Economics Lesson: The Real McCoy
Students research the origination of the expression "The Real McCoy." For this economics research lesson, students read the book The Real McCoy. Students examine Elijah McCoy and his invention of the oil cup and how it relates to the...
Curated OER
Inventors of New England
Students examine recent inventions and discuss the steps the inventor had to go through to develop this product. They share their ideas with the class.
Perkins School for the Blind
The Printing Process
The printing process was a technological innovation that revolutionized the modern world. Your learners with visual impairments can experience this process by creating a print by using letterpress printing. They use cardboard, glue, and...
Teach Engineering
Not So Simple
Compound machines, nothing more than a combination of simple machines working together, are the focus of an activity that asks class members to use the provided information to take a look at the way innovators combine simple machines to...
Curated OER
Too Bright At Night?
Students explain what causes light pollution and how it can be curtailed. They consider the negative consequences of nighttime lighting, enabled by the invention of electric lights at the close of the 19th Century.
Curated OER
Splendid China
Sixth graders gain an appreciation for the traditions and vast contributions of the Chinese culture in this unit of lessons.
Curated OER
Should Humans Be Cloned?
Students explore links on the Internet to collect facts about cloning then prepare an essay on their findings. In this research writing lesson students examine how to include their opinions on what they have found in their research.
Curated OER
Get the Picture?
Students explore the movement to design low-cost solutions for the world's population and create a graph to represent the information. In this design and graphing lesson, students review the concepts of graphing and visit the...
Curated OER
Who is Rube Goldberg?
Fifth graders practice technology skills while searching online for information about inventor, Rube Goldberg. They discuss Rube Goldberg's use of simple machines, and write journal entries about their findings.
Teach Engineering
Design a Flying Machine
Wrap up the unit in one final design. Pairs use their knowledge of aviation to design new flying machines and record how their designs take into consideration the forces that act upon airplanes. The pupils determine whether their designs...