Teaching Themes
Inventors: Everything You Need
Students research, report on, and emulate inventors using these resources.
Articles, Online Learning Activities
From Abacus to Computer: The History of Computing Machines
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5
Learn about the history of computing machines including the world's first computer, the abacus.
All Activities Issue - Boxes & Blocks: Making Machines
Grades: PreK–K
Church offers ready-to-use summer teaching ideas in planning and problem solving, for mixed ages, in this "All Activities" issue of scholastic early childhood today. In this activity, children will use planning and problem-solving skills to create an original invention.
Inventors Books
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Check out these great books at The Teacher Store.
 Alexander Graham Bell (Grades 3-5)Grades: 3–5 Discover the life and inventions of Graham Bell, and how his contributions to science—including the invention of the telephoneâ€Ã... |
 Thomas Alva Edison (Grades 3-5)Grades: 3–5 Discover facts about Edison's early life and his many inventions, including the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb. Built in Notebook... |
 Interactive Whiteboard Activities African American Inventors: A Black History in America ActivityGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Students meet 10 history-making African Americans, from the inventor of peanut butter to the creator of the gas mask. |
 Computer Lab Activities, Interactive Whiteboard Activities, Listen and Read Activities Native American Inventions: A Listen and Read Book, Level BGrades: 1–2 Through photos, texts, and audio, early readers will discover a few entertaining and delicious items that were invented by Native Americans. |
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Articles Mathematicians Through HistoryGrades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 Resources for learning about famous mathematicians, math pioneers, and math inventors, and their influence on history. Includes biographies, a... |
 Articles Inventions: From Ideas to RealityGrades: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 This content resource helps teachers locate online resources on inventors and inventions. Web links to invention topics, facts on inventors and... |
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Articles, Online Learning Activities Rockin’ RobotsGrades: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 This content resource helps teachers locate information on robots and space from various Web sites. Links, space facts, and a helpful teacher's... |
Articles, Online Learning Activities Simple MachinesGrades: PreK–K, 1–2 Suggests places on the Internet that offer insight into the world of simple machines, as well as hands-on activities for students of all ages. |
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Booktalks The Invention of Hugo Cabret BooktalkGrades: 6–8 A mechanical man, a secret notebook, a stolen key and a hidden message. What do they have to do with Hugo, a lonely orphan who lives in the walls... |
 Lesson Plans, Book Resources So Many Inventions!Grades: 1–2 Students build their own compasses to learn about Chinese inventions in this lesson plan. |
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Articles, Booktalks The Doom Machine BooktalkGrades: 3–5 Booktalk for The Doom Machine by Mark Teague |
 Activities and Games, Lesson Plans Bicycle Built for TechnologyGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Compare an early bicycle with a modern one to discover how inventions are made of many smaller inventions, and how and why bicycle design changed.... |
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Lesson Plans, Online Activities, Computer Lab Activities, Online Learning Activities, Writing Activities Internet Field Trip: Simple MachinesGrades: 6–8 Students gain knowledge about simple machines through an Internet Web quest that will apply to all three lessons in the unit. |
Lesson Plans, Computer Lab Activities It's a WhatchamacallitGrades: 6–8 Students will utilize higher level thinking skills by formulating new applications for simple machines in an original invention that solves a... |
 Teaching Guides African American Inventors and TrailblazersGrades: 3–5 Students learn about 10 African Americans whose innovations directly impacted culture and society. |
Lesson Plans, Book Resources Books for Teaching Simple Machines and the Inventions They CreatedGrades: 6–8 These resources will add excitement to the classroom library while reinforcing knowledge of simple machines and their purposes. |
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Activities and Games, Articles Inventing TogetherGrades: Early Childhood, PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5 Build creative thinking in the classroom when children invent together. For more information, see the related articles, "Home-School Connection",... |
Summer Activities: Magnificent MachinesGrades: PreK–K Children use the scientific method and problem-solving skills to explore tools and machines. They observe how things work, and experiment with... |
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Lesson Plans, Unit Plans, Writing Activities New Creations from Six Simple MachinesGrades: 6–8 Students explore simple machines and their importance in the development of modern technology. |
 Teaching Guides Celebrating 100 Years of Flight Teacher's GuideGrades: 3–5, 6–8 Students explore the history, science and adventure of humankind's journey through the air. They build their own virtual planes, write newspaper... |
