Inventors and Inventions Webquest

 

Ms. Bartholomew’s 3rd Grade Class

 

Introduction      Task         Process        Resources        Evaluation         Conclusion

 

 

 

Introduction:

 

Did you know that the Popsicle® was invented by accident? An 11 year old boy named, Frank Epperson left his soda with a stirring stick in it on his porch overnight. That night was really cold and his soda froze with the stirring stick in it. Eighteen years later in 1923, Frank started his own business with his new invention. Have you ever wondered who invented the telephone, the teddy bear, or even the pencil you use everyday? During the webquest you will get the chance to research famous inventors and their inventions.  Throughout the webquest you might just become a famous inventor yourself! Good luck on your journey!

 

 

Task:

 

In this webquest you will complete the following tasks.

 

 

Ø      Choose inventors to research.

Ø      Write a mini biography on an inventor.

Ø      Read a book on an inventor or invention.

Ø      Watch a United Streaming® video on Inventors and Inventions©.

Ø      Create an invention of your own.

 

 

Process:

 

1.      First you must choose 3 inventors that you would like to study. Your choices are:

     

¨     Alexander Graham Bell

¨     Thomas Alva Edison

¨     Douglas Engelbart

¨     Benjamin Franklin

¨     Johannes Gutenberg

¨     Edwin Land

¨     Tim Berners-Lee

¨     Blaise Pascal

¨     Earl Tupper

¨     Louis Braille

¨     Chester Carlson

¨     Philo Farnsworth

¨     Ruth Handler

¨     Charles Schulz

¨     Steve Jobs

¨     William and Keith Kellog  

 

*** To find information use this inventor research site:

 

                                                http://www.ideafinder.com/history/of_inventors.htm

 

 

2.      Fill out an Inventor’s History Sheet for each inventor.

 

3.      Out of those 3 inventors, choose the one that you find is most interesting.

 

4.      Write a mini biography on the inventor that you chose. Your biography must be at least two paragraphs long. You will present this biography to the class.

 

5.      Choose a book to read from the Invention Book List. If you choose you may do a Story Map on this book.

 

6.      After all the class biographies are finished, your teacher will show you a United Streaming® video on Inventors and Inventions©.

 

7.      It is now your turn to become an inventor yourself! You may create any kind of invention that you can think of. Some ideas might be inventing a new toy, a product that will solve a problem, or an invention that might make life a little easier.

 

                                                        I.      The first step will be to BRAINSTORM for ideas.

 

                                                     II.      For the second step you will need to PLAN out your invention. You will create a breadboard and then answer questions about your invention on the model page in your “Invention Book”.

 

                                                   III.      The next part you will create a PROTOTYPE of your invention. You can do this by anyway you choose. You may choose create your prototype by drawing it on a poster, making it out of paper, or make a model. Your prototype must have an explanation of what it is and step by step directions on how to use it or how it works.

 

                                                  IV.      Then you will fill out the PATENT page in your “Invention Book” and turn it in.

 

                                                     V.      Next, you will create an advertisement for your invention. These materials will be given to you in class.

 

                                                  VI.      The final step will be to present your invention to the class. A creative way to demonstrate your invention might be to come up with a commercial type theme about your product. During the presentation present your prototype and advertisement idea. Presentation preparation time will be given in class.

 

 

Resources:

 

  1. Inventor research site:

 

                        http://www.ideafinder.com/history/of_inventors.htm

 

  1. Click on the link for the Inventor’s History Sheet.

 

  1. Click on the link for the Invention Book List.

 

  1. “Invention Book” will be given in class.

 

 

Evaluation:

 

At the completion of your webquest, you will turn in or have completed the following.

 

  1. 3 Inventor’s History Sheets
  2. One mini biography, see Mini Biography Rubric for grading details.
  3. Presentation of biography.
  4. Read one book listed on the Invention Book List
  5. Viewed United Streaming® video on Inventors and Inventions©.
  6. Created your own invention, see Invention Checklist and Rubric for grading details.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

Students have learned about the lives and inventions of famous inventors and used that knowledge to write a mini biography. Students have shared their biographies with the class and taught others about an inventor. Students have shared their newly created inventions with the class. Throughout this webquest process students used their creativity, thinking skills, and presentation expertise to present their new ideas. Who knows maybe one of these new inventions might be the new product you see on your local department store shelf!