Introduction
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF INVENTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED? WHICH INVENTIONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU? THROUGH THIS WEBQUEST, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT INVENTIONS BY USING SOME LINKS ON THE NET. YOU WLL GET TO KNOW WHO INVENTED CERTAIN GADGETS, WHAT ARE SOME INVENTIONS GOOD FOR, OUR NEED FOR THEM AND THE MOMENT WHEN THESE WERE INVENTED.
Task
YOU ARE MEMBERS OF A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS. YOUR JOB IS TO ASSIST IN COMPLILING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INVENTIONS AND THEIR INVENTORS.
YOU WILL COMPILE INFO THAT BASICALLY ANSWERS WHO INVENTED WHAT AND WHEN, AND SEE THAT MANY INVENTIONS WERE DEVELOPED A LONG TIME AGO AND EVOLVED; WHY DO WE NEED THESE INVENTIONS AND TELL HOW THEY AFFECT OUR DAILY LIFE; AND WHAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR, THINKING ABOUT WHY THINGS WERE INVENTED.
AS A RESULT OF YOUR QUEST, YOU WILL CHOOSE THE MOST INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT TO YOU AND SHOW THAT INFO IN A POWERPOINT SLIDESHOW.
Research Links
Here are some links that you will want to use as you investigate your assignment.
A timeline of inventions - including everything from little to big. A timeline of inventions
Twentieth Century Inventions 20th Century Inventions
Timeline inventions from Ancient BC to today. Another timeline of inventions
A site that explains some Chinese inventions Chinese inventions
Another good site with information about Chinese inventions. Another site of Chinese inventions.
Ten best inventions from China 10 Best Chinese Inventions
A list of links to food related inventions Food Inventions
All About Inventions, Inventors and Scientists All about inventions.
The history of communication. Communication Inventions
Check out these modern inventions. Modern Inventions
Process
Step 1
You will use the links to find information about inventions. Remember, when you find one invention you have to think to answer these questions:
1. Who invented it?
2. When was it invented?
3. What is it used for?
4. Why was it invented?
Record the answers in the FOUR SQUARE provided by the teacher as soon as you find each invention.
These are the kind of inventions you have to find:
- 1 thing invented by a woman
- 1 thing invented before the year 5 BC
- 1 Chinese invention
- 1 invention related to food
- 1 everyday item, that you have around your house
- 1 invention related to the world of communication
Step 2
When you have finished finding the information, you will prepare a Power Point Presentation. For this activity you will probably need to go back to the web to look for some pictures of inventions. Think of a nice and logical way to organize the information.
Your first slide should be a title slide, and should include your name, and a title. In total, you will need at least 8 slides. Be sure to include all of the when, who, what and why information that you have. Also include from 2-4 pictures of inventions or inventors that are in your show. Include a conclusion page.
Research Links
Here are some links that you will want to use as you investigate your assignment.
A timeline of inventions - including everything from little to big. A timeline of inventions
Twentieth Century Inventions 20th Century Inventions
Timeline inventions from Ancient BC to today. Another timeline of inventions
A site that explains some Chinese inventions Chinese inventions
Another good site with information about Chinese inventions. Another site of Chinese inventions.
Ten best inventions from China 10 Best Chinese Inventions
A list of links to food related inventions Food Inventions
All About Inventions, Inventors and Scientists All about inventions.
The history of communication. Communication Inventions
Check out these modern inventions. Modern Inventions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_historic_inventions Ancient Inventions
Inventions before 5 BC
http://www.krysstal.com/display_inventions.php?years=1%2C000+BC+to+1+BC
http://asiasociety.org/chinese-inventions
Evaluation
Conclusion
The Invention Convention Steps for Students
Grades 4-6
Step 1..... When deciding what to invent you should......................
 |
Keep an open and curious mind. They are always looking for a better way to do things, and they do not resist change. | ||
|
Gather as much information as they can about an idea before they begin to invent. | ||
|
Keep trying to find a solution to their problem. They go through a lot of trial and error as they seek a solution. They do not give up | ||
|
Step 2: Finding an Idea It can be said that need is the mother of invention. Your idea for an invention will come from something that you or someone you know needs.
There are several ways to find ideas for inventions. One way is to ask people if there is anything they need. Another method is called brainstorming. You can brainstorm alone or with others. Here is an example of how brainstorming works.
In your journal....
1.Name an object , any object, such as a lunch box.
2. Take ten minutes to list everything you can that is wrong with that object.
3. Next, find a way to correct some of the problems.
Your ideas for solving the problems can be a big step toward inventing a new or improved product.
Keep in mind that your invention does not have to be a new product. Instead, it can be a process for doing something. For example, or a new card game.
In your journal.....
a. Make a list of problems in your everyday life.
b. Write possible solutions for all of those problems.
c. Choose one of the probems and design an invention which would solve that problem.
d. Continue to improve your product.
Step 3: Research and Planning Before an invention can be successful, you have to make a plan. Your plan should include all the steps you can think of, from beginning to end. When writing your plan, ask yourself questions such as these:
- Whom can I talk to about solving problems and planning properly?
- What materials will I need?
- How can I test my invention?
Don't be surprised if you have to change your plans along the way. Sometimes a plan will not work as well as you first thought it would. So keep an open mind for change. You may even discover a better way of completing a certain step.
Step 4: Developing, Testing, and Displaying Now the work begins. Follow your plan step by step. If you have difficulty with a certain part of your invention, talk to an expert. Try different things until you overcome the difficulty. Most of all, don't give up! As Henry Ford, one of the inventors of the automobile, once said, "Failure is only an opportunity to start again more intelligently."
*** Create a display board showing the steps it took to complete this invention.