INVENTIONS - America's Best

By Karen Cole & Dorene Johnson
modified by Kathy Snyder

Introduction
 

    What is your favorite invention?  Do you admire an American inventor?  Is there an invention that you think has made a major impact on America?

    What are those inventions?  Who invented them?  How have these inventions impacted our world?  Where did the ideas for these inventions come from?  This web quest will help you answer these questions and more.

?  The Question  ? 

    The main question you are to answer is:

Group Process

In this web quest, you will use the power of teamwork, the abundant resources on the Internet, and the print resources in the library to learn about American inventions. You will be asked to think about the importance and impact these inventions have had on American society.

1. Select your desired individual responsibilities (see individual roles below).
2. Research and chose the three inventions you believe have had the greatest impact on American society. (You will approach this from your assigned perspective as a historian, economist, reporter, or scientist.)
   
3. Prepare your research (as explained below) to convince your teammates that your three inventions are the most important American inventions.
4. Share findings within your assigned group (these groups will be created by your teacher).
   
5. Discuss and come to a consensus as a group on the three most important American inventions.
6. Create a multimedia presentation to outline the three most important American inventions.

Your presentations must include:

• The name of each invention
• The name of the inventor of each invention
  
• The city and state each inventor was from (this might include where he or she was born, worked, or lived).
  
• The year of invention; you may also find out about patenting (for extra credit)
  
• The impact each invention had upon American life.
  

Assessment

• Research and Work Time - 20 points
• Project - 100 points
  
• Group Project - 30 points
• Power Point Presentation - 50 points
  

Background Information

    An invention is something produced for the first time through the use of imagination or ingenious thinking and experimentation.  A famous quote is "Necessity is the mother of invention" it means that the reason anything gets invented or improved is because of a need.

The processes that inventors follow to invent are to:
 

• Define the problem
• Find solutions and ideas
• Document their ideas
• Test and refine the ideas
  
• Produce or manufacture the idea
  

Individual Roles

Historian

As the historian, your role is to explore the historical impact that American inventions have had on our society. What was the historical importance of each invention?  What was the need for the invention and how has the invention changed the way we live?

Economist

As an economist, your role is to explore the economic impact that American inventions have had on our society.  How did each invention save time or make life easier? Saving time translates into saved money for Americans.

Visit the following links to find the three American inventions you think have made the greatest impact on the American society, then create a report that outlines each invention and the economic impact it had/has on Americans.

About.com famous inventions  Hall of Fame - search by invention  KidsKonnect.com  CyberSleuth Kids 
 

Reporter

As a reporter, your role is to explore the positive impact that American inventions have had on our society.  How did each invention improve society at the time it was invented?

Visit the following links to find the three American inventions you think have most improved American society. Once you find them, write an article that outlines each invention and the improvement it had on Americans.
 

CyberSleuth Kids  About.com  KidsKonnect  By Kids for Kids

Scientist

As a scientist, your role is to explore the scientific impact that American inventions have had on our society.  How did each invention expand American's knowledge at the time it was invented?

Visit the following links to find the three American inventions you think have most expanded knowledge, then write a thesis that outlines each invention and the improvement it had on Americans.

Teacher Tips

• BEFORE entering the computer lab to begin this quest, brainstorm with students to find out what point of view they would be most interested in exploring. 
  
• Give a brief general description of the roles students will take, and have students write down which role they are interested in. 
  
• Use the students' lists to place students in-groups, try to place students in the role they chose.
  
• Be sure students chose American inventors; many of these web sites present information about inventors around the world, not just American inventors.
  
• The following books are useful to augment web resources The United States in the 20^th Century, and The United States in the 19^th Century.
• NJ Core Curriculum Standards: This multidisciplinary webquest meets the following grade 4 standards in New Jersey. Technology: 8.1 (4)B.2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8, Reading: 3.1 (4).G.7, 8  Writing: 3.2 (4) A.7, 8, B.2, 3.3 (4) D,2; Science: 5.2.(4)B.1; 9.1.(4)A1-3
  

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the authors of this web quest.  It is a wonderful idea and a great approach to cooperative learning about the ingenious ideas American inventors have devised.  It has been modified to suit the students at Norwood Public School.  Broken links have been eliminated and replaced with other resources.  All credit for the original idea goes to Karen Cole & Dorene Johnson.  (Click here to go to the authors' original web quest).