TeachersFirst: Ideas and Resources for Substitutes

Resources About Inventors

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Nikola Tesla, Inventor Grade 5 to 12 - - 1409

This site features Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla, inventor of a telephone repeater, rotating magnetic field principle, polyphase alternating-current system, induction motor, alternating-current power transmission, Tesla coil transformer, wireless communication, radio, fluorescent lights, and more than 700 other patents. It is a small site, but includes a biography and quotes from the scientist as well as links for student researchers to learn more.

Become an Inventor Grade 5 to 8 - - 946

Users interested in creating an inventions/inventors unit will find this site useful. It shows students the inquisitive process by which inventions come to be, and gives students a chance to search out problems that need inventive solutions. Lots of links to other inventors give you a way to show how others developed their own inventions.

Inventors of the Industrial Revolution Grade 5 to 12 - TeachersFirst- 170

This unit, completely revised in late 2007, provides an on-line introduction to inventors and inventions of the industrial revolution in England and the United States. In addition to information on key inventors and their inventions, there are interactive activities designed for student involvement, timelines, and an interactive quiz. An extensive list of "invention links" lets students learn more about inventions and inventors.This unit is written for middle and high school but is also adaptable for upper elementary.

In the Classroom:
See the lesson ideas page for ways to use this on your interactive whiteboard or with students working on their own. There are several ideas for projects and competitions to engage, challenge, and assess. You will definitely want to share this link on your teacher web page as a review tool, as well.

Inventor of the Week Grade 6 to 12 - MIT Lemelson Center- 6692

The Lemelson Center at MIT offers a weekly profile of an inventor - some famous, many less so. If you're doing a unit on scientists, creativity, or economic/industrial growth, this site can help students understand how many advances are the result of small, incremental improvements rather than revolutionary breakthroughs.

Inventure Place - The National Inventors Hall of Fame, Akron, Ohio Grade 5 to 12 - - 1362

Read about kids around the US who have invented their own products. The site is indexed and searchable. Students could easily use these biographies to start a research project, or you can post them on a bulletin board.Help inspire your students!

In the Classroom:
Open the link entitled "inventor's tool kit" on the interactive whiteboard or projector, and use it to create an inspiring discussion about inventions with students. Or print out the information in the Inventor's tool kit, and use it as a learning center. This specific activity calls for a lot of individual brainstorming, so results could be posted on a display board for kids to display their creativity!

The Invention Dimension Grade 1 to 12 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology- 49

This site provides a look at the ongoing exploration of inventors at M.I.T. There's a new inventor featured each week, along with features, resources, and additional information on how inventing takes place, including an introduction to intellectual property laws. There are also a range of invention-oriented games and trivia. This site is a "must-see" for the inquisitive at any level.

In the Classroom:
Ask your students to visit the site and then write an essay about what kind of invention they would like to invent, using the information they have learned there.

Innovative Lives Grade 6 to 12 - Smithsonian Institution- 2142

Inventors didn't just live in the past! This site from Smithsonian introduces several dozen men and women whose inventions - in science, biology, engineering, etc. - have made major contributions to their fields. Students working on inventor projects will find these bios a welcome change from the standard fare.

Exploring Leonardo Grade 4 to 12 - Boston Museum of Science- 1359

An excellent site approaching Science through Leonardo DaVinci. Site includes The Inventors Workshop, (showing Leonardo’s inventions), Leonardo’s Perspective, a Biography and a section about his habit of writing from right to left! There are 4 pages with interactive elements and 5 lesson plans including hands on activities. Students can comment and send their ideas electronically to the Museum staff. Four stars from our reviewer!!

In the Classroom:
Within the inventors workshop are a set of classroom activities that would be useful in a unit about the renaissance, or it could even be stretched to cover the inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Within the Introductory letter there are also 5 lesson plans that can also be utilized. Save this site as a favorite on your desktop, to allow you to reference it at any time.

Forgotten Inventors Grade 5 to 8 - PBS- 114

Only few inventors become famous, but those that do not may be forgotten even though their inventions remain important. This site chronicles some of the forgotten creative minds that gave us inventions still in common use today.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as a starting point for individual or group projects on inventions. Have students choose a "forgotten" invention on the site, or have them research the background of another invention that they use every day.

The Inventor's Workshop Grade 3 to 8 - Learning Science Network- 10283

This site offers concise, grade level reading about Leonardo Da Vinci, the inventor and scientist as well as basics on simple machines. Although not overly interactive, the site offers links to larger vocabulary words, a quiz on Gadget Anatomy and Leonardo's Mysterious Machines; a game using Da Vinci's sketches. Also included in the site are lesson plans for having students sketch and build their own inventions.

In the Classroom:
Use this site when teaching about Da Vinci, during an invention unit, a science unit on simple machines, and more. Share the identification quiz on your interactive whiteboard or projector as practice and review prior to testing on the concept of simple machines.

Inventing Modern America: Games Grade 5 to 12 - Lemelson-MIT- 8559

Students dream about becoming an inventor. This site shows that even the smallest item in life, such as the paper clip, was once invented by 'someone.' You can promote creativity and encourage 'thinking outside the box' through this site. Play the 'Which Came First' game at this site to see if you can guess which invention came first, especially in conjunction with a social studies class on the inventors and industrial revolution. (Warning: It's harder than you think!) Or you may opt to play the 'Invention Connection' game, a challenging activity that builds higher level thinking through attribute listing and looking for common characteristics of diverse inventions. For pure information and inspiration, click on the five featured inventors to find video footage and other information about their lives and inventions. You will need the Shockwave plug-in to play the 'Invention Connection' game.

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard to play the games in science class as you talk about inventions, engineering, and the inquiry process that drives them or as an interdisciplinary connection in your lessons on inventions and the Industrial Revolution.

Middle School Language Arts Grade 5 to 9 - BCISD- 8204

This collection holds a multitude of language arts related lesson plans (too many to count) that all incorporate technology. Most of the lesson plans provide state standards (for Michigan), assessments and explicit details about the activities. There are interactive activities, printable worksheets, discussion topics and much more. Some of the topics include African American inventors, amazing animals, buying and financing a car, foreign language, medieval madness, multimedia fairy tales, the Holocaust and many others. Many of the technology activities provided require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Browse the selection of lesson plans for those that match your curriculum. Get your interactive whiteboards ready and utilize these ready-to-go activities or adjust them for your needs. There are printable worksheets, interactive activities, discussion topics, assessments and many other resources.

Great Minds of the Century Grade 4 to 8 - TeachersFirst- 179

Use this unit to let students explore a great thinker or inventor of the past century. Students pick a personality, research him or her, then give a portrayal about the person's accomplishments.

Great Minds of the Millennium Grade 4 to 8 - TeachersFirst- 178

Use this unit to let students explore a great thinker or inventor of the past thousand years. Students pick a personality, research him or her, then give a portrayal about the person's accomplishments.

Invention at Play Grade 6 to 12 - Smithsonian Institution- 3799

Don’t miss this engaging exploration from the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for Invention. Learn why play is important for both adults and children, and discover the essential relationship between play, creativity, and invention. The site is loaded with interactive examples and games, and those with broadband connections will enjoy well produced video interviews and explanations.

In the Classroom:
Try this one if you work with gifted students or are planning a unit on invention or inventors.

Kids' Design Network Grade 4 to 8 - DuPage Children's Museum- 3491

This site from an Illinois museum offers an elaborate, on-screen facility for students to design "gadgets" to solve specific problems, then submit them for review and assistance from a real-world engineer. There is also information on brainstorming, problem-solving, and lots of the other things that engineers and inventors do.

In the Classroom:
This site could be useful either as an entire project or as an example of how real-world problems get solved.

Inventing Entertainment - the Edison Recordings Grade 6 to 12 - Library of Congress- 155

Much of the content in this Library of Congress site about Thomas Edison and his phonographs is beyond the scope of middle schoolers. However, there are sound recordings from the original machines that let students listen to the product of Edison's work, and the basic biographical information will be useful for those studying inventors. Explore this one in some depth; there's a lot here.

The Great Idea Finder Grade 5 to 12 - Vaunt Design Group- 10282

TGIF! The Great Idea Finder, that is. Inventive ideas and history abound here. Some helpful highlights are Facts and Myths, Inventor Biography, Innovation Time line, and Games and trivia. Within the features section, there is a "Did You Ever Wonder About?" which provides interesting history about common and popular items such as the American flag, the piggy bank, and the origins of holidays like Mother's Day.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as a research resource for students. It would be great to use the "Did You Ever Wonder?" information as class starters to encourage thinking and creativity. Have students use this site to research an invention or something else highlighted at this site and then create a class Wikinvention – a wiki all about inventions and innovative thinking, including invention ideas of their own! Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

Meet Amazing Americans Grade 1 to 8 - The Library of Congress- 9665

This site offers some basic research on MANY "Amazing" Americans. Click to learn more about "Amazing" Leaders & Statesmen, U.S. Presidents, Activists & Reformers, Adventurers & Explorers, Musicians & Composers, Writers & Artists, Industrialists & Entrepreneurs, Scientist & Inventors, or Athletes and Entertainers. Be prepared: when you click on one of the topics you may have a few people pop up OR more names than you can count! This is an excellent site for research, teaching students about American heroes, or using to enhance your social studies, science, or music curriculum. There are pictures, information, and even some interactives. There are also links to a Presidential Scavenger Hunt, a "Dynamite Presidents" interactive, and other "extras." Some of the activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This site could be used throughout the entire year. Why not highlight a "hero of the week." Share the information on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students write diary entries (or blogs) from the perspective of the "hero of the week." Use this site for individual research projects and have students create multimedia presentations about their hero: a Powerpoint, website, blog, wiki, or video. This site can be used in more than just social studies topics. Music classes, science classes, and gifted classes can also benefit from the many research areas.

Cyrus Rowlett Smith Grade 4 to 10 - learningbox.com- 9349

Use this site to learn about Cyrus Rowlett Smith, a pioneer aviator and patriarch of American Airlines. This website offers a simple interactive timeline of his life and accomplishments. The time line stretches from 1899 - 1990. There are graphics, historical and scientific information, information about World War II, and biographic information about C. R. Smith. The site and timeline are very simple to use and offer some little known information.

In the Classroom:
Use this website as a resource for a research project about inventors. Share the timeline on an interactive whiteboard or projector during a unit about inventors, engineers, or aviation.

Social Studies Presentations Grade K to 12 - Jefferson County Schools- 8139

This website provides free PowerPoint presentations on over 100+ social studies topics. There are presentations for grades K-5 and 6-12. Some of the exciting presentations include Ellis Island, Colonial America, Statue of Liberty, American Inventors, The Great Depression, the Civil War, and much, much more. Many of the presentations include lesson plans, interactive activities, games and other information. You may need PowerPoint software on your computer to view these files, depending upon how the site creators saved them.

In the Classroom:
Try these ready-to-go PowerPoint presentations on an interactive whiteboard or projector in your classroom. Some may also be well-suited for individual students to run on a single classroom computer for individual study, remediation, or review. There are games, resources and a lot of information.

The site includes a disclaimer asking to be notified if users find any unauthorized, copyrighted material. TeachersFirst recommends that you NOT download copies but instead use them online, just in case.

Who Invented it? When? Chinese Inventions: An Introductory Activity Grade 5 to 12 - Ask Asia- 1432

Learn about Chinese inventors and deflate erroneous stereotypes about Chinese technology. From the Ask Asia series.

In the Classroom:
Use this free lesson plan in class during a unit on Chinese inventions and innovations. Make sure to mention the years inventions were made while performing the activity, students will be amazed just how many inventions we use today were made almost 3 thousand years ago!

Books for Young People Book Lists Archive Grade K to 12 - Through the Magic Door- 10405

This site has archives of lists of books, organized by theme and displayed pictorially. Specific subjects feature books divided into two or three levels, including picture books, books for independent readers, and YA books. Featured books are not annotated, but bibliographic information is included. There are many widely varied themes, from the classical to the offbeat (Something from Nothing, and In Praise of Bad Books). The themes are too numerous to mention them all: Adventures on the High Seas Booklist, Africa Booklist, American Military Stories Booklist, Building Things Booklist, Children Putting on Plays Booklist, Exploration Booklist, First Day of School Booklist, Inventors and Inventions Booklist, Mother Goose Booklist, and countless others. A search feature allows teachers and students to search by many different criteria: Type of Child, Title, Author/Illustrator, ISBN, Genre, Subject, Series, Format, Fiction or Non-Fiction, Reading Level, Grade Level, Lexile, Setting, Author and Illustrator Demographics, Personal issues, and other categories. A free login allows users to submit reviews, tag books, or create wishlists (suggest other themes). Registration does require an email address, but it is free. You do not need to register to access the booklists.

In the Classroom:
Turn to this comprehensive list if you are searching for books on a certain theme. These books are a perfect addition to units on the various topics presented. Share the link with your students if they want other books about subjects that have interested them. Keep these booklists handy for students seeking independent reading. If you use a list in conjunction with a curriculum unit, be sure to invite students to "review" the books by putting the list on a class wiki or in a spreadsheet where they can enter comments and indicate that which books they have read. This will allow other students to choose books based on what a fellow student with similar taste recommends. Google Docs Spreadsheets reviewed hereare an easy online tool for students to collaborate and comment. The teacher can create one that is editable publicly and link to it from the class web page. You may want to provide this link on your class website for families to access at home.

National Historic Chemical Landmarks Grade 6 to 12 - American Chemical Society- 9773

Learn about the important people and places of science (not just chemistry)! The site traces dates back to the late 1700's. Learn about medicine, the invention of products (such as the zipper), and more. Links include Frontiers of Knowledge, Medical Miracles, Industrial Advances, New Products, Cradles of Chemistry, & Take Action. This site is ideal for research projects (in chemistry, history, or health class).

In the Classroom:
Have students use this site for individual research projects. Share the New Products link to learn more about inventions of the 20th century during an invention unit. Or share the scientific events that occurred during a certain time period in history as your social studies class tries to understand bygone eras. Challenge students to create multi-media projects about specific inventions or inventors. Or have students create their own inventions!

Planet Science Grade K to 12 - NESTA- 8920

This MUST SEE interactive science website features eight specific areas. The "News" section includes weekly news updates and features. "Wired" has challenging interactive games for grades 4-12. "Sci-Teach" provides countless resources for teachers of all grades. "Out There" takes you to the "back garden of science delights," including inventors, sound, vampires, and the flu. "Parents" has useful ideas - even science experiments for children's parties. "Under 11s" is geared for younger students, an excellent collection!. The activities teach traditional science topics using new multimedia. The "Next Steps" link challenges students to think about their future careers (both science and non-science). There are printable pages and interactive activities for elementary, middle, and high school students. The "Library" link features countless online science resources.

Nearly every one of the activities requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Nearly all of the activities are ideal for interactive whiteboards (or projectors). This site is so rich it may be overwhelming. If you are an elementary teacher, start at the "Under 11s" link. Otherwise, visit the "Sci-Teach" link first for some excellent ideas, resources, and science fun. Preview this site before starting any science unit to find related activites and extensions.

The Case Files Grade 4 to 12 - The Franklin Institute- 8913

This wonderfully informative website provides numerous "case files" about many famous people from the world of science and technology.. There are five major areas including computing, transportation, cosmic inquiry, energy, and communications. Once you click on one of the major areas, a list of names appears. Then click on the names of the famous people to learn more about their specific inventions and/or contributions to science and technology. The text also includes images of artifacts from each scientist's life: diaries, writings, and more, all clickable to bring up a larger image of the "real thing." Numerous famous scientists and inventors are included (Alexander Graham Bell, William Jennings, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Catherine Gibbon, and many others).

In the Classroom:
There is a "teachers link" available to learn more about this website. Why not use this website as a resource for "case file" research projects. Assign each student (or groups of students) a different person to investigate. Weaker readers may need a partner with strong reading skills. Then have the students present a multimedia presentation about their "case file." Or have a day when students actually portray their scientist and interact with others “in character.”

Reaching Out: The Evolution of Communication Grade 6 to 10 - Steven Brian Grotsky, Mathieu Markus, Dieter van de Walle- 8745

This amazing, interdisciplnary site was constructed as a Thinkquest contest entry by high school students from the United States, Belgium and The Netherlands in 2000 and won awards for its innovation. It deals with both written and spoken communication and has many nifty features that allow you to hear languages other than English, including Hindi, Bengali, and Korean. It has sections for inventors and inventions in communication and many pictures of things as diverse as the communication part of the brain and maps of the different countries where languages are spoken. The site allows you to enter using Java, normal, or text-only formats.

In the Classroom:
Have an international day with communication as the theme. From history and inventions to geography and countries to science and the brain to English and language, there is something here for everyone. Have your students use the subject they are best in and create a package about that language or the communication tools used. With the diversity of students in the classroom today, this is a good opportunity for students of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds to showcase their skills to other students. Extend the communication topic as you create a class wiki about the read-write web and its growth as a communication tool even since 2000. One page could include a time line of communcation methods, and that is just a start.

How Products are Made Grade 5 to 12 - Advameg, Incorporated- 8557

Got a curious student? Need a motivator to connect to science lessons? Trying to find real world applications of scientific principles? This site supplies volumes (literally seven volumes) of products and how they are made. Just click on the volume number and each list is alphabetized for your students' perusal. Don't just read the short excerpt about the product. Click on the product name to read full details on product purchasing, its history, and much more. Below the "Volumes" section is another section of inventors and their biographies.

In the Classroom:
When it is 'science report' time, direct your students to this site, loaded with hundreds of possibilities. Better yet, as you teach science principles, first share how something works that uses the same principle (on a projector or whiteboard). Then challenge students to find other REAL applications of the principle and create a class wiki glossary of concepts with example links. Model this the first few times, then assign them to work in groups. Since this site permits reader contributions at the end of entries, you may opt to find a product that needs more research and allow your students to add content information to the site (with your approval, of course). Every science teacher, gifted teacher, or tech ed teacher will want to share this site on your teacher web page.

Inventing Modern America: Invention Connection Grade 4 to 10 - The Lemelson - MIT Program- 8352

This website helps to "connect" the dots of inventions. The "Invention Connection" challenges students to trace the paths and interconnections of many inventions. Students can complete this activity over and over again and learn about new inventions each time. The text portions may require some explanation to elementary students. This site requires Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this wonderful resource during your inventions/inventors units. This activity helps students to understand the connections between numerous inventions and forces then to think about unusual commonalities between unlike objects. This invention activity is perfect for an interactive whiteboard. You may want to have a separate window open to "look up" some of the more esoteric inventions that show up, since they may not be familiar to you and your students.

Monster Mash Grade 3 to 12 - Cara Bafile- 7961

Students play inventor or entrepreneur and create a "monster mash" in this open-ended, creative activity. A detailed lesson plan, standards and an assessment are provided.

The 7 Red Flags: Warning Signs when Sifting WebQuests Grade K to 12 - Tom March- 7121

One of the original "inventors" of the webquest explains the potential weaknesseses of a poorly-designed webquest. It is "a series of questions that can be applied to any Web-based activity to see if in fact it is a great WebQuest." He explains the distinctions between web-based activities that truly challenge and meet the needs of all learneers and those that invite students to slip through loopholes. This one-page listing with links to examples is an outstanding, yet brief, explanation of the concept of "webquest" through example and counter-example. It is a MUST for anyone considering using or designing a webquest.

In the Classroom:
Keep this one in your Favorites as a reference to help you decide about any webquest and its value in the classroom.

Toys and Games Timeline Grade 5 to 12 - History Channel- 4989

Take a unique and delightful approach to history with this site that examines the evolution of toys and games. To get the full benefit from this site, some creative teacher planning is required, but the possibilities are endless. As students discover the origins of some of their favorite toys, as well as those enjoyed by their parents and grandparents, they can explore the cultural and societal influences that affected these diversionary inventions. Learn what goes into the production of some of our favorite toys and games, and meet the industry’s most successful inventors. After exploring the site, take the interactive quiz and see how much you’ve learned. There is also a "Toy Timeline." You’ll never look at Lincoln Logs or checkers in quite the same way! This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students further research some of their favorite toys and learn the science (in addition to history) of how some toys work. Why not bring in some of these famous toys that students might not be familiar with?

Dream of Flight Grade 6 to 12 - Library of Congress- 4884

Highlighting the incredible courage, ingenuity, and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, this Library of Congress site traces the importance of flight through history as it chronicles the brothers’ amazing achievement in Kitty Hawk, NC. Rich in text, photographs, and primary source documents, this electronic exhibit could form the basis for a teacher-created Web hunt, or serve as a visual supplement for a unit on American history and inventors.

In the Classroom:
Within the section entitled "the dream" is a collection of primary resources that reflect society's obsession with flight. Print out or download these images separately on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Once students are in groups, assign each student a resource - with each group analyzing and interpreting the meaning of the pieces of art. After each group has dissected their resource, have a classroom debate as to which is the most reflective of human desire to fly? Which is the most inspirational? Which was the most scientific? Not only will the debate explore each of the sources but it will depend on students background knowledge of the history of flight. Because of this, this activity is probably best served at the end of a unit when it can be used as an informal review.

Across the Curriculum with the Wright Brothers Grade 4 to 12 - NASA- 4760

Another NASA site, this resource has as its emphasis a cross-curricular approach to the centennial of flight. There are links to History (Wright time lines, history of flight timelines, history of NASA); Science, Math & Technology (posters, links to other sites, links to lesson plans), Geography (featuring some stunning satellite photos of Kitty Hawk and other Wright-related sites), Language Arts (related books, a link to poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, a friend of the Wright Brothers’), and Careers (as inventors and in aeronautics, with a special emphasis on women in aeronautics).

In the Classroom:
This site is the definition of a 2-fer! On one hand, NASA provides free lesson plans and activities for educators teaching about about space exploration. In addition, the site has plenty of web activities to make it the perfect learning station. Save it as a favorite on classroom computers and allow students to work on it in pairs or cooperative learning groups.

Animated Engines Grade 4 to 8 - privately published- 4227

Looking for a nice animated illustration to add to your discussion of inventors and technology? This site offers accurate “wire-frame” illustrations of how several different types of internal combustion and steam engines operate. Each includes a step-by-step explanation of how the engine operates, making it easy to compare differences among engine designs. Even grownups will like this one.

Capsule Pipelines Grade 9 to 12 - - 3833

Try this site, which introduces the concept of moving people or freight in capsules, on the inventors in your classroom. Could this concept work? What might it cost, and how would it work. What principles of physics would come into play? Interesting possibilities abound

Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens Grade 6 to 12 - PBS/Nova- 3774

This site from the PBS Nova series chronicles Galileo’s life, experiments, and scientific accomplishments. Users will find a detailed time line, articles about Galileo’s accomplishments, and a nice series of interactive "experiments" illustrating his fundamental discoveries. Great site for the study of astronomy, inventors, or the Renaissance.

In the Classroom:
A teachers’ guide is in the works, but was unavailable at the time of this review.

Edison's Miracle of Light Grade 6 to 12 - PBS- 2827

This companion to an American Experience episode doesn’t offer a lot for teachers, but there’s a good timeline showing Edison’s life and work, as well as a gallery of some of his most important inventions. You’ll need to find other resources to tell the full story, though.

Eureka! Grade 4 to 12 - Thinkquest- 2141

This thinkquest guides students through the most important inventions of the 20th century. Students can take the "guided tour," where they can learn a brief blip about each of the inventions. There is also another function of the site that encourages students to be their own inventors, and create a wacky new product that can help us in the future! This is a great site to accompany any study of the Age of Inventions in a US history course.

In the Classroom:
Use this interactive site as a learning center or station during a unit on inventions from the 20th century. Save this site as a favorite, and have students work on it individually or in pairs. To assess what students have learned from this site, have them complete the section where they create their own invention! A great outlet for the creative students in your class.

Moving Along with Simple Machines Grade 3 to 5 - - 2138

Here's a four-week unit on simple machines developed by Georgia's Henry County Public Schools. The unit includes machine-specific activities, as well as connections to social studies, language arts, and other subject areas.

Be Inventive Grade 4 to 8 - - 2137

Here's a classroom activity from the Boston Museum of Science that asks students to create their own inventions to solve a problem of their own choosing. Based arounsd Leonardo DaVinci's and the properties of simple machines, the unit asks students to design their own invention.

FIRST Competition Grade 4 to 12 - FIRST- 1156

Created by inventor Dean Kamen, this competition encourages students in different age groups to team up and tackle challenges in robotics, physics, and engineering. The site offers detailed instructions as well as information on previous competitions - including some examples.

In the Classroom:
If you have students who are serious competitors, this would be a great challenge.

How Stuff Works Grade 4 to 8 - Howstuffworks, Inc.- 88

This site does precisely what the title suggests: provides explanations of how commonly encountered machines and devices work. The site provides diagrams, text, videos, and a range of other resources to show a curious student what makes something tick. The site's explanations are a great resource for "kitchen science" projects, for getting budding inventors started, or for providing added explanations of how things work the way they do. Ignore the advertising; the site content is worth it.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an “activator” to introduce a new science unit or lesson on a projector. The videos on earth and life science topics provide a great launch pad for further class discussions.

The Babbage Pages Grade 9 to 12 - University of Exeter- 80

English mathematician, economist, and inventor Charles Babbage was a pioneer in concepts which led to the development of today's computers. This site from the University of Exeter helps to tell his story. If your students are interested in the history of computing, Babbage is a name to include. This page may seem a little plain vanilla, but the information is well organized and worth a look.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an “activator” to introduce a unit or lesson on inventions or the history of computing.

Super Scientists Grade 4 to 10 - California Energy Comission- 10180

This site is a great mini reference site for students who need a place to start research on famous scientists or to learn about a number of scientists in a very short span of time. Each scientist is listed with a photo and a brief synopsis. There are links to additional information on specific scientists on the individual pages.

In the Classroom:
For a short lesson, students could work in pairs to create "clue bags" about the scientists by reading the information and putting objects (drawings, science supplies, personal things from their book bags) into a paper bag. The bags would then be circulated between pairs where the site could be used to decipher the clues and identify the scientist. The site would be great for a "mystery scientist project" where you assign small groups of three to four students to a scientist and have them create a short presentation without the name of the scientist and have the groups that are observing solve the scientist mystery with the site. Why not create multimedia projects such as podcasts, online books, or a talking photo. For creating podcasts, use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report using Voicethread reviewed here.

Pete's Powerpoint Station Grade K to 12 - mrdonn and phillip martin- 9803

Need a PowerPoint? Check this site first to find one on a topic you need from the vast array available. The free PowerPoints and interactive activities are easily downloaded. To find the FREE PowerPoint presentations, click on the FREE Presentations in PowerPoint Format link found directly under the red train. There are literally hundreds of topics (over 1,200 at the time of this review). Topics are listed in alphabetical order. There are so many topics: Plagiarism, Integers, Interjections, IQ Tests, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Graphic Organizers, Graphs, Gold Rush, the Bible, Economics, Amelia Earhart (and many other heroes), Descriptive Writing, Coral Reefs, Civil Rights Movement, Autism, Ancient Civilizations, Presidents, Louisiana Purchase, Money, Music Instruments, How to Write an Outline, Rosa Parks, Resumes, Terrorism, Vietnam War, and many MANY others. Primary teachers will appreciate simple activities on Dolch words and other sight vocabulary! Pages are arranged in topics such as "Plants and Animals," "World History," "Biology, Chemistry, and Physics," and "Problem Solving." Each page includes a vast array of subtopics. Other links on the page include "Greta's Game Station" and "Hannah's Help" which offers information on researching. Some of the links at “Greta’s Game Station” require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use these PowerPoints to provide background information for projects or further inquiry in class. For example, use a PowerPoint on cells to give background information. Create questions for students to answer while viewing the PowerPoint or add your own "lecture" notes while showing to a class. Remember that PowerPoint does not HAVE to be shown on a screen. Students can watch them as tutorials at a center or computer cluster. Learning support teachers will appreciate having an alternate way to present basic concepts to visual learners. Assign students a particular cell part to research more information about the part.

blist Grade 3 to 12 - blist- 9441

TeachersFirst Edge Entry: for moderately adventurous technology users. This online database-creation tool allows you (and your students) to create a database online, including images, links, and more. A "blist" is a "web list." Blists can be shared with others as totally public or by invitation only. They can also be entirely private (accessible only to the person who created them). The tool and was designed for general consumer use, not education, but it has many potential uses in the classroom, for teachers, and parents. As Blist explains it, "A blist can be as simple or as complex as you need it to be. Compared with a spreadsheet like Excel, blist is much more visual and intuitive - plus, blist is really social, it's easy to share with other people and groups. What's more, you can also find blists created by other users, so you don’t have to start from scratch." You can view the data through a "lens" or filter (show data that meets certain criteria, such as only the entries from a certain city in an address list, include photos, create groups for sharing the blist, allow others to input their information, import and export with Excel, and more. Here is a sample blist about ways to use blist in the classroom from the TeachersFirst Edge Team. Add your ratings to our ideas or add more ideas for how to use blist!

Be aware that this site is currently in transition. The original Blist is still available. However, they are upgrading and changing their site to Socrata. As this upgrade is completed, TeachersFirst will be reviewing the new site. For now, you can click on a link to take you to the original Blist.

This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Skills Needed: If you like directions, explore the links form the home page about ways to use blist. To start right in, create the account (requires email) then start right in. No email verification needed. Explore options under the Dashboard (icon at top right. Explore some blists created by others to see examples (teachers should do this without students, since these are public blists that may not be classroom-appropriate). Create a blist from another model or from scratch using simple drag and drop arrangements. Set the privacy level of your blist to public, shared with specific users, or private. Our example is public, with specific permissions for what others may do. See recent changes to your blist made by others from your dashboard. Explore the options for creating contacts to "share" blists, including emailing a blist to someone (shows as an table in the email). Blist will even save contacts you enter.

Safety concerns: Registered users set their own screen display name or choose "undisclosed." We recommend using generic display names for students so only the teacher can identify them, since "undisclosed" will not tell a teacher which student did which work. Although single blists can be private or limited to groups you create, students can easily see other "popular" blists (possibly not classroom-appropriate), participate in public blists, follow the activity of others, and add others to their "contacts" (a more businesslike term for "friends"). You may want to use a teacher Gmail account and assigned subaccounts to be able to track the activity of students if you allow them to use the site on their own. Other options: a blist user agreement with specific permissions and consequences with parent permission> If you use web 2.0 tools in general in your classroom, you may want to create a single classroom policy in accordance with your school's AUP and simply list the tools your classes will use, having students and parents sign. This will allow you to spell out caveats about public interaction, profiles, posting student work, damaging the work of others, etc. If sharing a blist you created for students to add to (such as a classroom database of independent reading choices), use the URL for direct access to the blist to avoid some of the more "public" areas. These areas will still be easily accessible for curious clickers, however. Some messages during "loading" times encourage exploration. One unfortunate tip we noted unhappily: "Be a voyeur. Click Discover." Teachers with students not accustomed to self-controlled behavior on the web will want to limit use of this tool to teacher-centered or whole-class activities. The tool IS worth learning for just for these!

Possible uses: Teach about data collection and analysis using this tool on your interactive whiteboard or projector. The highly visual, drag and drop interface will make data manipulation work more intuitively for your students to understand. Let them click and drag to create a blist and resulting graphs from surveys the class conducts. If you are comfortable allowing students to use the tool, create an inventory of books read independently with reviews, ratings and more. Students can add to it from home and collect credit for outside readings or find books based on others' reviews. Collect lab data, have groups collect data on famous people, inventors, or historic events. Compare consumer goods. Share important dates and checklists for major projects by allowing student and parents to VIEW (not edit) a database you create. Assign students to evaluate and compare different web resources as part of a class research assignment. See more ideas in the sample blist about ways to use Blist in the classroom from the TeachersFirst Edge Team.

Ning in Education Grade 7 to 12 - Ning- 9415

Teacher's First Edge Review: for thoroughly adventurous or organized technology users. Ning is a tool for creating social networks. Though that may be a scary term to parents and a concept prohibited in your school, this education initiative from Ning provides advertising-free, private spaces for classroom use in K-12. Because of concerns over COPPA (federal legislation protecting children on the web), Ning specifies that the tool is for ages 13 and up. Users outside the U.S. do not need to worry about this law. There are related blog posts and debate about whether the law applies if you configure your Ning a certain way, but TeachersFirst cannot recommend circumventing the law. A Ning provides an online space for forums (threaded discussions), blogs, “friends,” groups, personal spaces for members, and more. As the administrator of your Ning, you can control the actual set-up. Assuming you can access the Ning URL at school, this tool can provide a PRIVATE online space for your classes or teaching team as an electronic home for use in and out of school.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Before you start, make sure your specific Ning URL will not be blocked by filtering on the school network. See some of the tips from the Edge team . Join Ning and set up a network, including name, URL, and description. Be sure to choose Private to limit viewing of your network to those you INVITE to join. Drag your desired features to create your Ning layout. You can always change it later. Make appearance choices. Create a “master key” (and for heaven’s sake WRITE IT DOWN somewhere secure – not on a sticky note at your classroom computer). Customize at will, but right away you will want to follow Steve Hargadon’s blog entry with detailed directions to remove the ads from your Ning for education space. The ad-free offer began in November 2007 and may not continue forever, so do it now!

Safety/security concerns: Since the Ning tool establishes profiles for each member; you will want to customize the profile settings to stay in accordance with your school policies. You will probably not want students to be able to set up groups, since they might make them “private” and lock you out. You can also change the questions they are asked as part of their profiles. The simplest way to set up student accounts may be through a teacher Gmail account with subaccounts. You could then create the accounts and passwords on your own or have students enter the information. Even though your space is private, we recommend asking for parent permission mostly to be sure that they are aware of this positive use of social networking and all the lessons about Internet safety that can grow from its use in class. A modified version of the Blogging agreement offered by TeachersFirst would work (a word doc).

Possible uses: A class social network has limitless possibilities. Engage students in discussions on current events, independent reading, literature, and more. Create groups for students to work on projects and use the space as a forum to work out tasks, scheduling, and file sharing. Get creative and ask students to play the role of a historical figure on a social network across time: Ben Franklin networks with Harry Truman to argue about the atomic bomb. Use the Ning as a forum for any simulated or real task. Invite parents to join to give their points of view on upcoming elections. Include the principal or superintendent in your class discussions of students’ rights as you study the Constitution. Your students themselves will suggest ways to use this all-too-familiar tool from their world. Imagine the “profiles” they could create as characters from fiction or inventors from history! Steve Hargadon, creator of this Ning in Education initiative invites participants to join a Ning for teachers who are using this tool. We hope you will tell them where you heard about it and send them over to check out (and suggest) more tools at the TeachersFirst Edge.

Digital Vaults Grade 3 to 12 - National Archives- 9314

This site offers digitized National Archives of the U.S. organized according to general category. You can finally explore and share primary source documents interactively through this Flash site. Start from eight featured topics. For a more in depth look at each subject and its associated categories, click on What's Interesting. A search feature is also available. An added feature at the bottom of the opening page is the "Pathways" tab. Students can participate in a "challenge" (in different levels) to find links between certain historical items. Students can also create their own pathways, writing about connections they find between certain archived items. In another section, students can create their own historical posters and movies from the archives. You can create a collection of items from the archives to retrieve or look at later, as well. This feature requires a free membership created by email address. There are also extensive lesson ideas and information for teachers at the small link, "Educators and Students," at the bottom of the page. Roll your mouse down to find it against the dark background. Note: the entire site is done in Flash (an HTML version is available from a small link at the bottom of the page). Get Flash from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as an anticipatory set for a unit in history or on inventions. Share a collection of images or invention drawings on a projector or whiteboard and ask what the invention will do. Or use the site as the starting point for individual or group projects. After demonstrating on an interactive whiteboard or projector, have students use laptops or lab computers to "collect" resources related to their assigned inventor, decade, or era in American history. Check your school policy regarding accessing student email. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how. Students can use their log-ins to collect resources.

Since the documents are in the public domain (are not copyrighted), students may also download and use the files as part of other projects, such as video compilations, Powerpoint presentations, or multimedia of any sort. To access the resources in non-Flash format, click the small link to "research this record in ARC" in the detailed view of the item. You can then view and Save As for use elsewhere. Be sure you teach students about copying the URL and relevant information from this ARC page to cite the source and give credit in any presentation they make. This site is excellent for enrichment or projects for the gifted, as well. Include it on your teacher web page for students to access both in and out of class for students who are working in History Day projects or other assignments for your class.

The Monticello Classroom Grade 4 to 12 - Thomas Jefferson Foundation- 9231

Invite your students to step into Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and experience colonial life. This educational website is beautifully designed for both students and teachers to use the extensive resources to learn about Jefferson, Monticello, and daily life. The Monticello Classroom provides a student portal with fact and resource sheets, an image gallery, online activities, and a saved favorites section. Web pages offer information by reading levels: elementary, middle, and high school. The image gallery contains a slide show builder for students to create a presentation using the images and copies of primary source documents. The presentations can be saved, printed, or emailed. Students can register for an account to save favorites and other resources. Registration requires a user name, password, first name and last name. Check your school’s policies before allowing student accounts, especially with full names! See more hints below.
Teachers can register for a teacher area to create assignments for classes, review the available lesson plans, or build your own, and save your favorites on your personal Monticello Classroom web page. Each class has its own log-in and password and students are able to submit their completed activities to the teacher for review. Some of the interactive online activities require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This site can serve a a hub for your unit on colonial life, Jefferson, or even inventors. If you wish your students to register for accounts, be sure to check the students’ acceptable use policies or get parent permission in writing. Instead of students using their real first and last names, have students create their own colonial names for registration. Be sure to keep a list of these names to be able to review and assess student work. Give a class introduction to the Monticello Classroom using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Be sure to help your weaker readers and ESL and ELL students by sharing the vocabulary words prior to reading, either on a handout or by projecting on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Highlight the vocabulary words in the text as you come to them.

Way Back: Flight Grade 3 to 8 - WGBH for PBS- 8706
This interactive website (created by PBS) presents the history of flight. What a fabulous way to integrate history, science, inventions, research, and writing. Click your way through the notable and not-so-notable flight pioneers. Other highlights of this website include a wealth of information about the Wright Brothers, a modern day female barnstormer, "joke" links, and more.

In the Classroom:
Use the "People to Know" section as a model for a class activity on any science or history topic. Share this section of the Flight site on a projector or whiteboard during your inventions or Famous Americans unit. Then, in your next unit, have students write about an important figure without his/her name and ask others to guess who it might be. Put the writings on your class blog or wiki and have other students respond with their guesses.

Xcellery (beta) Grade 6 to 12 - collaborall- 8565
TeachersFirst Edge entry: for moderately adventurous technology users. Create and collaborate on Excel spreadsheets using this online tool. You have choices to create and edit using the actual Excel program (with macros enabled) or edit in your browser--a more secure option for those concerned about macros. A user can create or upload an excel sheet and share it with others as a read only OR editable sheet. No more need to email versions around and have multiple users adding and changing versions that become impossible to "merge." The free membership seems just fine for schools. See a sample by logging in as "tf@tf.com" with password "test." You can even add to the TF sheet to play with the tools. Or click the "demo" log in to experiment with sheets created by other curious users like you.

In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Join the site--free. It requires an email address, though no validation via email is needed, so there is no "test" to be sure the email works. Our reviewers tried a "fake" address, and it worked. Create and save sheets using the browser edit mode (or Excel--see security note above). "Invite" others to work on the same sheet. Remember to SAVE. Some pros and cons: Our editors using the browser-based editor could not find out WHO made changes and no apparent way to "revert" the file if someone messes it up. The site home page says it is possible to revert to a previous version, but this may only be when using the full Excel program. You CAN also make copies (versions) manually.

How to use it? Your students can maintain a single set of lab data for analysis of an experiment repeated by several students. They can also maintain a simple flat-file database of information, such as flora and fauna observed in a plot of land at your school or facts about inventors or authors. Anything you can do in Excel, you can do in Xcellery. You can also email an invitation to "real" people to join in.

Some safety suggestions: unless your school uses student email addresses, do not allow students to set up individual accounts. Make a few "class" accounts that students can use, but make YOUR account the controlling one for all the sheets. That will allow you to change access at any time to "read only," such as when the deadline for work has passed. Be sure to demo how to use the site on a whiteboard or projector the first time for uniformity of use. Secondary students working on group projects, club fundraisers, etc. can also benefit from this tool as long as they stay within school acceptable use policies in using it. Note that this product is still in "beta," so features and pricing are subject to change.

Guide to British Life, Culture and Customs Grade 3 to 8 - Woodlands Junior School- 8317
This website provides a one-stop adventure for anyone wishing to learn more about Great Britain. There are over 1500 pages of information and activities - all "kid-friendly", entertaining and educational. You will find information about British culture, history, flags, education, daily life, climate and weather, government, the royal family and more. There are also links available to classroom activities to use while teaching students about Great Britain. These activities include WebQuests, "Winnie the Pooh" adventures, comparisons of Great Britain to various states in the USA and other countries throughout the world, worksheets, interactive activities and other learning adventures. A true inspiration for your students is the fact that much of the content was created by students aged 7-11. Some of the activities require FLASH, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
So many famous people and inventions are from Great Britain - J.K. Rowling, Shakespeare, the hovercraft vehicle, Darwin, Newton and countless others. If your class is learning about these famous people or inventions, use this website to further enhance their understanding of the people, inventions and culture of Great Britain.

As you study about what unites cultures into communities and countries, ask your class what they would include if they made a similar site about the city, state, or country where you teach. Use a wiki to start just such a site, including digital pictures. You can always start out simple and make a guide to your school itself -- including playground etiquette and favorite foods.

High School Social Studies Grade 9 to 12 - BCISD- 8219
One word describes this website: amazing. Check out the numerous free lesson plans that all integrate technology into the social studies lessons. Many of the lessons are interdisciplinary and include numerous subject areas. The lesson plans provide state standards (for Michigan), assessments and explicit details about the activities. There are interactive activities, printable worksheets, discussion topics and much more. Some examples of the unique topics include "Axis and Allies World War II Simulation", "State and Local Government, an Internet Experience", "Using Multimedia to Teach Core Democratic Values" and "Tour of Our Century". Many of the technology activities provided require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Do yourself a favor and check out this free website when planning your high school social studies classes. Get your interactive whiteboards ready and utilize these ready to go activities.

Middle School Social Studies Grade 5 to 9 - BCISD- 8208
This website provides numerous (ready to go) lesson plans. All of the lesson plans provide technology integration within social studies lessons. Most of the lesson plans provide state standards (for Michigan), assessments and explicit details about the activities. There are interactive activities, printable worksheets, discussion topics and much more. Nearly all of them are interdisciplinary and incorporate numerous subjects within the one lesson. Some examples of the unique topics include "Coming to America: Immigration Today", "Canadian Canoe Trip", "Exploring Virtual Europe", "The American Dream of the Decades" and many, many others. Some of the technology activities require FLASH. ALL the leson plans are in pdf (Acrobat) format and require Acrobat Reader. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. NOTE: Acrobat files take a little time to download. Be patient.

In the Classroom:
Do yourself a favor and check out this free website when planning your middle school social studies lessons. Get your interactive whiteboards ready and utilize these ready to go activities. There are printable worksheets, interactive activities, discussion topics, assessments and many other resources.

Elementary Language Arts Grade K to 5 - BCISD- 8197
Wow - the Best Practices lesson plans at this website are awesome! Each lesson plan incorporates technology to teach the students about a language arts topic. This is a site not to miss. Subjects include fairy tales, endangered species, spelling, poetry, sentences, sequential writing, research, My Town, tall tales, virtual vacations and many others. Most of the lesson plans include standards, assessments, explicit details and a ton of activities. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Many of these activities are perfect for your interactive whiteboards! These lessons are ready to go. Use the activities that are useful in your classroom to integrate technology into your Language Arts lessons.

Mind of Leonardo Grade 9 to 12 - Institute and Museum of the History of Science- 6536
This companion site to a museum exhibit in Florence, Italy, draws visitors into da Vinci's fascinating thought-processes that established a connection between laws of nature and principles of art. Filled with images of the master's sketches and paintings, accompanying commentary, and video, the site provides an intriguing glimpse into the art-science theme that dominated so many of his works.

In the Classroom:
This site is a great find for both history and art history teachers! In either course, use the information and images on this site to help introduce the famous Leonardo. This site has a ton of information for students working on research projects or papers, be sure to add it to your class wiki or web page to allow them to access it both in and out of the classroom.

Lighting a Revolution Grade 5 to 8 - Smithsonian- 6408
This online exhibition from the National Museum of American History examines the process of invention, breaking it down into five distinct stages. Enter one of the virtual laboratory doors to discover the similarities and differences between Edison's 19th century work on the electric lamp and the development of 20th century lighting devices. The site includes links to materials that explain the science and engineering behind electric lighting and the factors used to determine energy efficiency.

In the Classroom:
Use this resource to frame a student invention unit based on the five stages detailed on the site. Focus the invention process on current or future needs brainstormed by students in class.

Edison Invents Grade 3 to 8 - Smithsonian- 6163
The National Museum of American History created this concentration-based game to help students learn more about Thomas Edison and the impact of his inventions. While most students know about the light bulb and the phonograph, this site peers into the full repertoire of Edison's invention inventory, giving the story of how one man became a sort of national invention hero.

In the Classroom:
This site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Leonardo's Studio Grade 6 to 8 - BBC- 5799
What made Leonardo da Vinci's art and science so unique? Perhaps a hands-on exploration of his workshop might reveal some answers. This impressive, interactive site lets visitors prowl through his virtual studio, furnished with tools and objects that the artist most likely used. Click on each one to learn about them and the world in which Leonardo lived and worked.

They Made America Grade 7 to 12 - WGBH- 5234
Although this is a companion site to a PBS mini-series airing in November 2004, the content easily stands alone. Students can investigate the stories of influential "great minds" whose entrepreneurial spirits dramatically affected American industry and culture and then play an NCAA-style "tournament" to isolate the most influential innovator. Information can be accessed via an index, an interactive map of the United States, or a timeline which juxtaposes American innovations and major events in history.

In the Classroom:
Use the free lesson plans and activities offered on this site! Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of the Invention Era. This would be helpful for a a US history class.

Patent Office Kids’ Pages Grade 3 to 7 - US Patent Office- 4696
If you’re interested in doing a science or history unit on inventions, there are resources here – but less-than-helpful site design doesn’t make them easy to find. The explanation of the problem-solving involved in inventing is quite good; we wish there were more hands-on guidance. Still, this one’s worth a look.

In the Classroom:
Use the puzzle section as brain warming activity in the beginning of class to get students' minds warmed up and ready. Open the puzzle on the interactive whiteboard or projector and invite students up to try and solve it with the class or in groups. This would be a great activity to do in the beginning of a math class!

Historic Wings – Feature Stories Grade 6 to 12 - - 4694
If you’d like to incorporate elements of the history of aviation into a unit on science or history, this site’s nice collection of features on significant aviation history events could be useful. There’s a nice selection of items that spread over the years from the 1920s through the present. There could be more depth, but the essential information is presented well.

In the Classroom:
Each of the individual web explorations could easily be used to introduce separate units within a history class. When applicable, select the exploration you would like students to work on and save it as a favorite on classroom computers. Have students go through the information and make a quick and small poster to show what they have learned. We recommend an online poster creator such as Wallwisher, (reviewed here). The site offers information commonly left out of textbooks, but still relevant enough to apply to the Standards of Learning. They definitely make for interesting activators or introductions to units.

Eastman House –International Museum of Photography and Film Grade 6 to 12 - - 4563
This site highlights the offerings of the George Eastman House by providing information on each of the museum’s resident and traveling exhibits, as well as information about George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak company, and his historic estate in Rochester, NY. There are even 360 degree cameras for viewing the rooms and gardens of the estate. The Education and Research section has video demonstrations of historical photographic processes, and each of the exhibit explanations provide useful information on the history of photography.

100 Years of Flight Grade 6 to 12 - Time, Inc.- 4481
Time Magazine created this site to commemorate the centennial of powered flight in fall, 2003. Predictably, the site relies heavily on the rich archive of Time-Life photos from the early twentieth century. There are also articles and commentary on many aspects of the growth of commercial and military aviation.

In the Classroom:
Teachers will find both history and science connections at this site.

Einstein Grade 4 to 8 - American Museum of Natural History- 4476
How (and why) do you introduce Einstein to an elementary student? Here’s a presentation that does it effectively, drawing on Einstein’s love of trying something new and his willingness to “think outside the box.” While it’s mostly text, this site would be a great introduction for a student who is already curious about inventors, scientists, or the universe. This unit is part of the American Museum of Natural History’s “Ology” series that explores different aspects of the life sciences. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce your students to the creative mind of Albert Einstein.

Electricity in Education Grade 4 to 8 - - 4407
Here’s an extensive, Flash-based elementary level introduction to electricity, history of electricity, circuits, and electrical safety from a British power company. There’s plenty of content, but this one may be sluggish on dial-up connections. You MUST have the latest version of the FLASH plug-in to view this page.

In the Classroom:
Use the age appropriate section for your classroom as a learning center or station during a unit on electricity. There are also plenty of classroom activities and materials available for classroom use in the Teachers/Parents section. This would be a cool site to access in a Science and Technology classroom.

Whole Cloth Grade 6 to 12 - Smithsonian Institution- 2143
This site was developed by the Smithsonian as part of this year's History Day competition, which deals with the role of invention in American history. The site traces the way in which advances in the manufacturing of textiles created wholesale changes in American industry and social structures. Among the results: Once women were freed from the need to make clothing by hand, other opportunities became available. Good site for students interested in history day projects, or for use in a history or social studies curriculum.

In the Classroom:
Take advantage of the free lesson plans on topics from early industrialization to the 20th century! The late 19th century is a difficult time period for students seeing as it is so technological and very little social history, so these units provide some interest and intrigue where there may not have been before.

Ancient Inventions - Grade 4 to 8 - - 2140
This is a collection of inventions from antiquity compiled by students and faculty at Smith College. There are scores of ancient oddities, with photos and descriptions of each. It's a great site to show that people have been inventing things for centuries.

A Medieval Technology Timeline Grade 5 to 12 - - 1704
There's more here than meets the eye. This site offers a time-line showing the evolution of simple tools and technologies during the middle ages. Those who are persistent will also find more detailed drawings and explanations of the various implements. This is a great site to show how major changes can arise from simple inventions.

The Nobel E-Museum Grade 6 to 12 - - 1094
From the folks who award the Nobel prizes somes a redesigned e-museum site that highlights Alfred Nobel's interest in both peace and science. While the site includes a number of scholarly essays on peace (thoughtful high school students may find them interesting) the science simulations will probably be more attractive to teachers. This site is well worth a look as both a teaching tool and a discussion starter.

In the Classroom:
Click on the link entitled "Dead Cells," and open the display on the interactive whiteboard or projector during a unit on the cell cycle. The site provides an interesting graphic that shows the lifespan of the cell, and provides a game afterward. Allow students to explore the site on their own as a fun supplement to any biology class.

K-W-L - A Strategy for Learning Grade 4 to 12 - - 188
While this exercise is from a site on science and optics, the KWL strategy - a structured form of questioning and answering - is applicable to the study of many topics other than science. Teachers will like this one because it outlines multiple strategies for both inquiry and presentation, giving examples from science, literature, and art.

In the Classroom:
If you're not familiar KWL, this is a great starting point.