+
Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Madame c.j. Walker

For Students 3rd - 8th
At this site from the MIT Program you can read how Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker, or Madame C.J. Walker, and Marjorie Joyner "founded beauty schools for blacks" and changed the lives of African-Americans.
+
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Alexander Graham Bell

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Alexander Graham Bell, American inventor of the telephone, who was featured on the ten cent postage stamp.
+
Website
Other

New York Subway History: Beach Pneumatic Transit

For Students 9th - 10th
Not all inventions turn out to be good ideas! Read about Alfred Ely Beach's idea to build a pneumatic tube under the streets of New York City for subway trains to use.
+
Activity
National Inventors Hall of Fame

National Inventors Hall of Fame: Henry Ford

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography on the automotive engineer, Henry Ford.
+
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Thomas Edison

For Students K - 1st
Brief biographical sketch of Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of the light bulb and phonograph.
+
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Alexander Graham Bell

For Students K - 1st
Brief biographical sketch of Alexander Graham Bell who was most famous for his invention of the telephone.
+
Website
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Refrigerator

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a brief overview of the invention of the refrigerator.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
+
Unit Plan
Other

Canada's Digital Collections: Marconi

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Marconi tells the story of how he sent the first wireless signal across the Atlantic in 1902.
+
Website
Other

Earliest Voices: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource offers historic voice recordings of Thomas Edison. There is a recording of animal sounds, and a speech given at an electrical exhibition in 1908. A biography and downloadable images of him are also included.
+
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: Who Were Wilbur and Orville?

For Students 9th - 10th
Classroom activities, interactive experiments, timelines, and other artifacts that celebrate the Wright brothers' first flight.
+
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to George Washington Carver, the talented, intelligent inventor. Learn why he was called a "Miracle Worker" for his vast knowledge of plants and agriculture. (In Spanish)
+
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 587: Alexander Graham Bell

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of the life and achievements of Canadian inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. Focuses on the two fascinations that marked Bell's whole life: his concern for the deaf and for flight, and the inventions that resulted. This is a...
+
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Wizard of Menlo Park

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the famous American inventor, Thomas Edison. Find out about his childhood, some of his famous inventions, and even some of his mistakes.
+
Handout
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The Great Idea Finder presents a lengthy biography of Thomas Edison, followed by a wealth of suggested resources including books, movies, and the Internet.
+
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Elmer Sperry

For Students 9th - 10th
A prolific inventor and businessman, Sperry engineered a gyrocompass that made piloting ships, airplanes, and even spacecraft more reliable. He formed eight different companies to produce his inventions, some still in use today.
+
Handout
Great Idea Finder

Computing History

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a listing of computing inventions and inventors throughout history with links for more detailed information.
+
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Gail Borden, Jr. 1801 1874

For Students 3rd - 8th
Good resource for biographical information on Gail Borden who was a teacher, soldier, surveyor, tax collector, missionary, but most of all an inventor. Best known for his invention of condensed milk.
+
Website
Other

Museum of Ingenuity: Musee J. Armand Bombardier

For Students 9th - 10th
The museum of Joseph Armand Bombardier(1907-1964), the Canadian inventor of the snowmobile. The museum offers its visitors a look into the personal and professional life of Bombardier as it outlines his achievements, patent information,...
+
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 695: John Ericsson

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of John Ericsson, a man who invented in three countries over most of a century. He invented an early locomotive, a hot-air engine, screw propeller, and the Monitor, which was used in the Civil War. This is a transcript of an...
+
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Cyrus Mc Cormick 1809 1884

For Students 3rd - 8th
Easy to read brief biography of the man who invented the mechanical reaper, Cyrus McCormick (1808-1884). View a timeline and see pictures of the reaper and other harvesting machines.
+
Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Energy Pioneers: Lee De Forest

For Students 9th - 10th
A profile of Lee de Forest who lived from 1873 to 1961. He was one of the most important inventors of radio and electronic technology, whose inventions touch everyday life.
+
Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: History and Archaeology: Eli Whitney in Georgia

For Students 9th - 10th
Although Eli Whitney was born in Massachusetts, it was in Georgia that he invented the cotton gin in 1793.
+
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Ben Franklin's Idea

For Teachers K
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a little-known invention made by Benjamin Franklin. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

Other popular searches