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Lesson Plan
National Geographic

National Geographic: American Genius: Perseverance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the importance of failure to the process of innovation by investigating several items that were invented by accident. They share one "failure to success" story by creating a 3-panel comic strip poster, and then write...
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Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Helen Murray Free

For Students 3rd - 8th
Biography of Helen Free, detailing her life as a chemist and inventor who developed many products for consumer use, including a convenient at-home glocose level test.
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Handout
Other

Black Inventor Online Museum: William Purvis

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Read about the African-American inventor, William Purvis, who improved the fountain pen. Included is a list of his other inventions.
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Website
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Invention of the Zipper

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The Great Idea Finder tells how Whitcomb Judson came up with the idea of the zipper. His employee, Gideon Sundback, made it a success.
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Handout
Other

Lemelson Center's Invention at Play: Surgical Robot Inventor

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a biography of Akhil Madhani, the inventor of the surgical robot, and about his teleoperated surgical instruments.
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Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Invention of the Week: George Eastman

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of George Eastman, who revolutionized photography with his innovations in film and photograph development. From the MIT School of Engineering.
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Alberta Inventors and Inventions: George Clynch

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the biography of George Clynch and learn about his 'Laser Digitizer System' that is designed to build socket pieces on custom prosthetics.
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Alberta Inventors and Inventions: Bernie Stene and Lional Desmarais

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Bernie Stene and Lional Desmarais's "Rail Mount Plowing System", a method to lay thousands of kilometres of the cable without disrupting railway traffic.
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Alberta Inventors and Inventions: Grant Skinner

For Students 9th - 10th
Canada's top Macromedia Flash Developer, Grant Skinner, is highlighted on this site by the Heritage Community Foundation.
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Handout
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Alberta Online Encyclopedia: Alberta Inventors and Inventions: Jack Stothart and Howard Fredeen

For Students 9th - 10th
What is the only breed of farm livestock to originate in Canada? Learn about Jack Stothart and Howard Fredeen and their development of the Lacombe swine.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America? Willis Carrier

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find information about the life and work of Willis Carrier, the inventor of the air conditioner, at this PBS site devoted to the role of technology in society. Site visitors can locate Carrier on a timeline, along with other...
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Website
Rutgers University

Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive look at the inventor, Lewis Latimer, from the Thomas Edison Papers at Rutgers University. Read essays about his life and inventions, the culture in Boston which encouraged his work, and his life outside his inventions. A...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: What Edison Teaches Us About Success

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this interactive lesson, young scholars examine Thomas Edison's character traits and how they contributed to his becoming one of the greatest inventors in history. In this interactive lesson, students watch videos to gather evidence...
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Handout
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame: Eli Whitney: Cotton Gin

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Eli Whitney's cotton gin and its importance to the cotton industry.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Learning Page: Thomas Edison

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides lesson plans and information about Thomas Edison and his inventions.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: More About Bell

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of the larger site about Alexander Graham Bell from the series, American Experience, this biography focuses mainly on his education and experimentation which resulted in his development of the telephone. Included is information...
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Lesson Plan
Ohio State University

Osu History Teaching Institute: The Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explores the development of the textile industry in Great Britain, focusing on the invention of various machines. Also,discusses the social effects of the Industrial Revolution and the connections between the Industrial Revolution and...
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Unit Plan
George Eastman Museum

Eastmanhouse: Inventors in Imaging Technologies

For Students 9th - 10th
See how George Eastman, Thomas Edison, and Wilhelm Roentgen impacted American film history and had inventions that were interrelated.
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Website
Great Idea Finder

Fascinating Facts About Alexander Graham Bell

For Students 3rd - 8th
Fascinating facts about Alexander Graham Bell, the Canadian inventor of the telephone. Incorporated into the site include and 'at a glance' summary of his life, a 'milestones' timeline and a brief summary of his life story. In addition,...
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Lesson Plan
Ohio State University

Osu History Teaching Institute: Alexander Graham Bell Primary Source Activity

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders will critically examine primary sources to gain a better understanding of Alexander Graham Bell and the impact of his inventions.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: True Colors Dyeing Yarn

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting history and exploration of the technology and invention of dyes and dyeing from earliest times to present and the effects of new colors in yarns on the economy. This is a complete unit of lessons with activities and...
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Handout
BBC

Bbc: Bitesize History: The Industrial Revolution: Causes

For Students 6th - 8th
An overview of historians' views of the causes of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and of the inventions, inventors, and industries that propelled it.
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Inventors and Inventions 1

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research and explore the importance of two inventions that people use every day: sticky notes and Velcro.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Kid Inventor: The Collapsible Lacrosse Stick

For Students Pre-K - 1st
In this video segment from ZOOM, Lauren explains how she invented a way to make her lacrosse stick fit in her backpack. [1:09]

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