Incredible Inventions
Overview:
Introduction:
Do you know how an everyday object such as Velcro was invented? What will a vacuum cleaner of the future be like? Who was Rube Goldberg? You will learn the answers to these questions and more as you explore the incredible world of inventions.
Tasks:
#1 - Myth vs. Reality
-Choose one of the following inventions and brainstorm how you think it
was invented:
-ice cream cone, roller skates,
Velcro, or your choice
-Use the 5Ws and H chart to record your guesses.
www.5ws_and_h.htm
-Then, research the real story behind the invention using these sites:
http://inventors.about.com/library/bl/bl12.htm
www.howstuffworks.com
http://www.inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa010500a.htm
-Use another copy of the 5Ws and H chart to record
your research.
#2 - Inventor Bio-Poem
-Choose one of the following inventors and research their life and invention:
Elisha Graves Otis, George Eastman, Fannie Farmer, Robert
Goddard, or your choice
-Use the following sources:
http://www.b-link.co.uk/ckn/inventors/
http://www.cbc.ca/kids/general/the-lab/history-of-invention/default.html
-Write a Bio-Poem (biographical poem) about the inventor and invention:
www.bio_poem.htm
-Illustrate your Bio-Poem with things that represent this person and his/her
invention.
#3 - Past-Present-Future Invention Book
-Choose one of the following inventions:
-dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, typewriter, camera, fountain
pen or your choice
-PAST: Create a page in your book that includes an
illustration of what this invention looked like in the past and write a
description of it.
-PRESENT: Create the next page in your book with an
illustration of this invention as it looks today and write a description of it.
-Use these websites to help you:
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa010500a.htm
http://www.cbc.ca/kids/general/the-lab/history-of-invention/default.html
-FUTURE: Now create a page in your book of what you think the
future of this invention will be - what will it look like? be used
for? be made out of? etc. Be creative and have fun!!!
#4 - Rube Goldberg Invention
-Rube Goldberg was an inventor who took very simple everyday tasks and created a
unique, elaborate way of doing them. His inventions are quite silly and
outrageous!
-Look at the examples of his inventions on this site:
http://www.rube-goldberg.com/
*Notice how he uses nature and animals in his inventions as well as various
tools and everyday objects.*
-Now, choose one of the following simple tasks and create your own Rube Goldberg
invention. Label the steps and write a description of each.
*Your invention must consist of at least 8 steps.*
-How to put toothpaste on a toothbrush
-How to stick a stamp on a letter
-How to sharpen a pencil
-How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
-How to give your dog food and water
-Your choice
#5 - My Invention Book
-Create a book about your own invention. It could be an invention that
makes your life easier or more enjoyable. It could also be a modification
of an existing invention: example: telephone -> cordless phone
-> cell phone.
-Use these headings for each page in your book:
Cover: My Invention, Name of
Invention: , Inventor:
A physical description of my invention:
Materials that I need to make my invention:
Blueprint/schematic of my invention:
How I thought of my invention idea:
Why my invention is useful/important:
Procedure used to make my invention:
How my invention functions:
One thing that worked well in creating my invention:
One thing that I would do differently next time:
-If you do not know the meaning of word in one of the headings, use www.dictionary.com
to look it up.