TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Biomimicry: Natural Designs
Students learn about biomimicry and how engineers often imitate nature in the design of innovative new products. They demonstrate their knowledge of biomimicry by practicing brainstorming and designing a new product based on what they...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History
At the museum's online home, find illustrated and interactive overviews of its collections and programs, along with an extensive set of innovative resources for teaching and learning about major events and themes in American history and...
PBS
Pbs Nova: The Design Process: From Idea to Solution
What does innovation look like, and how can one generate innovative ideas in the classroom? This collection is built around "design thinking" and is intended to help educators and learners explore the invention of real, practical...
PBS
American Experience: Technology Timeline: 1752 1990
Short descriptions of important technological innovations produced in America and the date of their introduction.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Eureka!
Take a look at how inventions, such as plastic, have changed our lives and how they are changing the future of living in space. Students explore the concept of invention and innovation by studying the use of plastics. Various uses of...
Other
Wake County Public School System: Core Concepts of Technology
In this assignment you are asked to identify significant inventions or innovations in our world today, and place them in the appropriate category. These things may have existed for a long time, or they might just recently have been...
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Alexander Graham Bell Primary Source Activity
Eighth graders will critically examine primary sources to gain a better understanding of Alexander Graham Bell and the impact of his inventions.
PBS
Pbs: They Made America
Companion site to the four-part series on looking at America through inventors. Focuses on inventors from the early days of the country to modern day. From Robert Fulton and Samuel Colt, to Ted Turner and Russell Simmons, this site...
PBS
Pbs: A Science Odyssey
Website for the PBS series "A Science Odyssey." Numerous opportunities to explore the people and discoveries of science.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Capital Chips (Part 3)
Through the use of a historical timeline of the capital investments made by the company the resulting benefits will be examined. The benefits from the capital investments of Herr Foods, Inc. will be related to their effect on the...
Have Fun With History
Have Fun With History: Retro Future
Have fun with history videos from the past which explored technologies and innovations of the future that is now, some relevant and others not, teaches students about the dreams of the past.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Gallery: The Modern World
Innovations in transportation, communication, and weapons transformed the world in the 20th century. The modern era is the most complex yet, and the most fragile. This photo gallery highlights some of these innovations.
National Academy of Engineering
Greatest Achievements: Computers
Computers are one of the top 20 engineering innovations of the 20th century. Read the history behind this great invention.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Rapid Prototyping Google Glass
Rapid prototyping is a method used to accelerate the innovation process. Tom Chi explains how this method was used to create one of Google's newest inventions, Google Glass. [8:08]
Other
Milwaukee Art Museum: In the Year 2121
Students research the advances of an invention's industrial design over decades or centuries. They then project future improvements and innovations with drawings and descriptive prose.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
Get a taste of what inventors do by exploring exhibits at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in North Canton, OH.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: An Introduction to the Song Dynasty (960 1279)
The Song dynasty was the second great "medieval" period of China. Northern Song (while it lasted) and the Southern Song (from 1127 until 1279) achieved incredible feats of learning, science, art, and philosophy. International trade and...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity
The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a radio program that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity. The program uses the record of history to reveal the way art, technology, and ideas have shaped us. Episode topics...
Read Works
Read Works: Practice Makes Perfect
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about creating or improving innovative products. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Nasa Online: Invention Process: Brain Teasers
Interactive brain games that challenge thinking and creativity skills.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Economic Spotter: Inventors and Entrepreneurs in the Industrial Age
The Industrial Age has also been called the Age of Edison. Edison patented more than 1000 inventions and gave rise to three industries: electric utilities, phonograph and record companies, and the film industry. This lesson will help...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Transportation: They Say We Had a Revolution (Part 1)
Advancements in transportation have played a key role in the growth of our nation. U.S.government policies have also had a considerable impact on the development of transport as we know it today. In this series of three lessons, the...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Transportation: They Say We Had a Revolution (Part 3)
Advancements in transportation have played a key role in the growth of our nation. U.S. government policies have also had a considerable impact on the development of transport as we know it today. In this series of three lessons, the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Timeline of Flight
Library of Congress exhibit presents this timeline with photos and images as part of a special commemoration of the centennial of flight.