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Inspired Science

The document outlines an activity where students will research the history and process of invention by exploring the evolution of a specific invention, charting its inception and impact, and presenting their findings. Students will choose an invention to research, trace its development over time and in relation to other events, and create a report and presentation on the invention.

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Anurag Goel
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28 views

Inspired Science

The document outlines an activity where students will research the history and process of invention by exploring the evolution of a specific invention, charting its inception and impact, and presenting their findings. Students will choose an invention to research, trace its development over time and in relation to other events, and create a report and presentation on the invention.

Uploaded by

Anurag Goel
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Inspired Science Grade Level: Middle School Curriculum Connections: History, Science, Language arts Required Software: Microsoft

Encarta Reference Library 2004 What's in this Lesson:


Teacher Guide (including How to Begin) Student Activity, Step-by-Step: Step A: Explore the Process of Inventing Step B: Create Your Report Step C: Present Your Findings

Teacher Guide Summary: In this activity, students will explore the process of invention from an inventor's conception and as a factor of history.

Objectives: To demonstrate an understanding of how inventions evolve and influence the world around them. To chart the inception and affects of a specific invention. Time Allotted: Approximately two or three class periods

How to Begin: 1. Go to the article Paper in the Encarta Reference Library 2004 and show the students the image of "Machine Papermaking." Discuss why the mass production of paper is important to human society. What are some of the pitfalls? What inventions needed to come before it? Show the class the image of "Papyrus Scroll" from the same article. 2. Have students name their top three inventions and justify their choices. Discuss the difference between discoveries and inventions. As with machine papermaking, many inventions (and possibly discoveries) will likely have preceded most of the student's examples. Tell students that they will trace the evolution of an invention and its historical importance.

Extensions:

Have students create a timeline of all the inventions in either a notebook or piece of banner paper on the bulletin board which shows how inventions were built on previous ones. Coordinate a group or whole-class Encarta multimedia presentation based on this activity. Facilitate the presentation of student and class projects as part of a class Web site, perhaps linked with the Global SchoolNet Foundation home page, http://www.gsn.org/

Student Activity Description: You will research the history and importance of an invention. Step A Explore the Process of Inventing 1. Start Encarta and read the article Invention (device or process), including the sidebar "Landmark Inventions of the Millennium," by Herb Brody, which evaluates the differences between important discoveries and inventions. 2. Choose an invention to research. (Tip: To help you select a possible subject, use the keyword "Invention" to find the Encarta list, "Notable Inventions and Discoveries.") 3. Browse related entries, multimedia, and Web sites suggested by the Encarta articles on your subject, including a biography of the inventor. Ask yourself:

what were his or her intentions for this invention? Is it used in ways he or she imagined? 4. Check the Encarta dynamic timeline to find out what other events were happening when this invention was created. How did it influence the events that followed? Step B Create Your Report 1. Gather information from all appropriate articles, sidebars, media features, and Web sources to describe and illustrate the creation and importance of this invention. (Suggestion: Use Encarta and Web searches to find descriptions and images of products that have resulted from the invention.) 2. Be sure to include a picture of the invention or it in use. If you are doing a timeline activity, make sure you know where it would be placed in time. Step C Present Your Findings 1. Use the Encarta Researcher as your guide to preparing your report. Include any pictures, text, maps, or other items that help illustrate your findings. 2. If possible, present an oral report and show the class examples of products that have resulted from this invention.

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