• View the PowerPoint on From Flight to Fancy http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/flight/index.html 
  http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/flight/index.html
  • Note the background of each slide is the same to prevent distractions.  The transitions between slides do vary a little. 
  • Note the citations on the final slides of the show.  The name of the picture and the address of each is given.
    http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/index.html
    http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/index.html

    • From Flight to Fancy   Click under the Picture where it says to download the slide show. 
    • Then click OPEN not save.  It will take a little while to download
    • To go off the slide show and back to American Memory, click on the "Back" button at the top left .
• What in the World is That?    http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/science/flash.html

  http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/science/game.html

  • Play the game:  What in the “World is That?”    
  • Go to Learn More… when you have completed the game.
  • Go to each one and Learn More.
    • Begin saving information and pictures of inventors and inventions. 
    • Be sure to include citations for all of the information and/or pictures. 
    • Each inventor should be in a separate WP document.
    • These are to be saved in your Research Folder.  

  Include the following:

  • The name and if possible a picture of the inventor
  • The names (and if possible a picture of at least one) of their inventions,  
  • Information about the inventor such as the years of their life,
  • The characteristics that they possessed to be able to become an inventor.

   
  
  
  
  

Goal #1   To keep records and a journal of unit activities

Illinois Standards

1C3a, 3B3a, 5A3a

    Activities:

• The student will record the progress taken during this unit. 
  • When possible this log sheet will be signed by an observer and is part of the final project.
• Pictures/audio and/or video (dated) of various activities will also be included.
• An electronic portfolio will contain various activities assigned such as PowerPoint presentations and Inspiration reports.
  • Folders should include:
    • Research Information
    • Media, media downloads and citations.  (Photos of progress)
    • Assignments and a folder for
    • TeacherTalk  (Information/Directions provided by the teacher is placed here.)
• Sketching Gadget Anatomy:  (practice for sketching individual "inventions".)
  • Classroom Activity http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/SketchGadgetAnatomy.html 
  • Make use of the classroom activity of sketching Gadget Anatomy.

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Goal #2  To study and research a minimum of 6 inventors and 6 inventions.

Illinois Standards

1C3a, 1C3b, 1C3c, 3B3a, 3C3b, 4B3a, 5A3a,  5A3b,  5A3c, 5C3c

Activities:

• Research the netLibrary ebooks on inventors. http://www.netlibrary.com/  Search - inventors   http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/ 

  • Save a WP document for each of at least 6 inventors.  Each document is to have:

    •  (The citations for all of the information and/or pictures.)

    • The name and if possible a picture of the inventor

    • The name (and if possible a picture of at least one) of their inventions, information about the inventor such as the years of their life and the characteristics that they possessed to be able to become an inventor.

   

• Research the netLibrary e-books on inventions. http://www.netlibrary.com/  Search - inventions   http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/ 

  • Save a WP document for each of at least 6 inventions.  Each document is to have:

    • (The citations for all of the information and/or pictures)

    • The name and if possible a picture of the invention.

    • The name of the inventor and date of the invention.

    • The use of the invention and how it impacts on society.

• Write a biography of an inventor.  Include the inventor’s successful and unsuccessful inventions.  Describe the motivations of and the obstacles faced by the inventor.

• Produce a radio or television news segment interviewing a famous inventor. Dress according to the time period.

• Use adaptations of Inspiration templates to compare/contrast inventors.

• http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/LeosMysteriousMachinery.html  Play the game about Leonardo’s Mystery Machinery

•  Make a list of familiar inventions – (E.g.  Cars, appliances, tools, games, toys, food, drink, safety pin, tooth paste, mousetrap, and suggest what prompted the invention.)

• Make a list of products/devices and suggest another use for each of these. E.g. 

• Rain gutter for book display.

• Combine pencil, string for compass.

• Put a pencil to name a plant.

• Ways to memorize.

• A new card game.

• What prompted the invention of (a list of familiar inventions – e.g..  (cars, appliances, tools, games, toys, food, drink, safety pin, tooth paste, mousetrap)

• Imagine:  describe the invention from a given invention name list.  http://www.inventnow.org/html/finalists.html

• Name it:  suggest a name for the given invention.  http://eduplace.com/science/invention/resources/real_inventions.html

• Create a class table of inventions that came about from failures of other inventions.  E.g., Post-It Notes, which were developed using glue intended for another purpose

• Communicate with senior citizens to determine what inventions have most influenced their lives.  Communication can be made via e-mail or internet with senior citizen groups across the country.  Compare findings for various groups of senior citizens.

• Create a timeline of inventions and inventors.  This timeline can be a class project that continues to grow as students do more research.  Use creative writing and illustrations.

• Study old photos to trace the development of  invention over time. (Eg. auto, train, airplane)  What can you tell about the tools, technology, etc available at the time?

• Hypothesize about the uses of unusual objects found in old photos.

        Teacher:

•  http://www.amazing-kids.org/kids3-00.htm#industrious  Read about amazing kids inventions…

• http://www.noogenesis.com/inventing/pencil/pencil_page.html     Inventing a new kind of a pencil…

• Assign:  Make a PowerPoint / (Slideshow) Presentation of Inventors and Inventions.

• Slide 1 – Title page, include your name and date

• Slide 2 - At least one slide for each of 6 inventors.  Include name, dates of life, significant information, and picture if possible.

• At least one slide for each of 6 inventions.  Include the invention name, significant information (how used, importance to society, etc.)  and picture if possible.

• Closing slides are to include the citations for information gathered unless the citations are included with the material on the individual slide pages.

• A final closing slide -

• Research Web Sites:   More LOC Resources…

• Visit the British and American Invention Exhibit.  Note the way the exhibit is able to include documents that are not allowed to be used in this on-line exhibit.  http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/brit-5.html 

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Goal #3  To solve problems and perform activities which employ and emphasize creative thinking skills.

Illinois Standards

11B, 5C3c

    Activities:

• Use Inspiration to Brainstorm Topic Ideas: (rapid fire)

• Uses of a paper clip

• Ways to say hello, goodbye, yes, etc.

• Ways to get to Hawaii

• Reasons to eat healthy foods

• Ways to catch a frog

• How you can reach high places

• Suggest a use for a combination of articles found in a paper bag.   (e.g... Empty TP roll, pencils, and 3 paper clips) Write an explanation and draw a picture of the combined articles.  Suggest a name, use/uses, cost, etc.

• A different way of looking at something.  Solve a puzzle – Inside/Out Puzzle…  (Make “Puzzles” for each group. --Take a full page picture, cut around the edges so that it is not completely square.  (Stiff paper – perhaps from a calendar.)  Fold and cut this page in fourths.  Now cut each piece into puzzle pieces.   Have students put the “puzzle” back together. 

• New ways of seeing:  optical illusions

• The Necker Cube

• 3D illusions:  Statue of Liberty, etc.

• Young/Old Lady

• Make a PowerPoint flip book to show “motion”

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Goal #4  To use ingenuity to develop a new product or new method of doing things. –

Illinois Standards

3B3a, 3C3a, 5C3c, 11A3a, 11A3b, 11a,3c, 11a3d, 11a3e, 11a3f, 11B3a, 11B3b, 11B3c

Activities:

Journal any/all of the following:  

• Make of list of things that bother you or problems that, if solved, would make life easier for you.

• Survey at least 5 others as to things that bug them or problems to be solved.

Think about or look around school, home, fun things you do,

• What tasks (chores) could be made easier?  Done better?

• What fun activity could be made to be more fun?  More challenging?

• What object could work better?  Easier?  What could be added to it?  Subtracted from it?

      Apply ecology ideas:  reuse, recycle, reduce??

Skills to keep in mind while problem solving..

• Open and curious mind to world around

• Acquire as much information as possible about the idea, problem, or invention before starting

• Continue to use trial/error in the problem solving process.

• Strive to improve the idea or design after the solution

• Be dedicated, persistent and optimistic about the solution

• Keep in Mind...

• What can I read?

• Who can I talk to?

• What material are needed?

• Control the cost.

• Keep records of the steps to follow and the time for each step,

• Give directions on how to test the item.

• How can one be sure of safety?

• Check if there already is a patent of the idea.

Teacher: 

• Inventing a New Kind of Pencil  (Teacher Led Discussion)

  • http://www.noogenesis.com/inventing/pencil/pencil_page.html

  • http://www.noogenesis.com/inventing/kids/kids_page.html

• Assign:  Make an invention: 

• An invention can either be a:

• device (apparatus, machine e.g. telephone, pencil, TV., skateboard) or

• procedure (method, process, such as the steps to coat a thin sheet of plastic, such as tape, or post-em notes )

• which has the following two characteristics:

• New (novel)

• Useful

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Goal #5  To make a presentations of the results of the study

Illinois Standards

3B3a, 3C3a, 4B3a, 5C3c

    Activities:

• Presentation on Inventors/Inventions.
• Presentation on "new" idea or process.

• Who is the audience for this invention?

• What is the cost?

• How can this be advertised, packaged?  "Why does the world 'need' this?"

• Give a name for this product or process.

• Identify the safety features and simplicity of construction.

• Give a Written Report, Poster, Product, PowerPoint or SlideShow

• Package for the product?  Why the world needs this!

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Goal #6  To evaluate the completed study according to a given rubric

• Journal Records

• PowerPoint Presentations of Inventors/Inventions

• Electronic Portfolio of Assigned Activities

• Final Invention Project and Presentation.

• Informal Observations

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