Lesson 2:“Finding Out” about Human Innovation

Extension Ideas from Unit

See examples of inventors and inventions.

• WGBH Educational Foundation. (2000). Kid inventor: The collapsible lacrosse
  stick. Retrieved from http://www.teachersdomain.org
• Macguire, E. (2011, December 7). World's longest recycled bridge spans Scottish river. Retrieved http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/06/world/recyclablebridge/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7
• Meacham, J. (2011). Milk jug igloo. Retrieved from http://www.jmeacham.com/igloo.htm
• MyShelter Foundation (2011). Liter of light. Retrieved from http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/
• Pepsico. (2010). Performance with a purpose. Retrieved from:
  http://www.pepsico.com/annual10/performance/performance.html?nav=environmental
• Recycling Revolution. (2011). Reuse trash ideas for. Retrieved from: http://www.recycling-revolution.com/reuse-trash-ideas.html
• A TED talk from an inventor who plans to use kites as a means of sustainable energy. NOTE: This is predominantly for adults but may have some application to elementary students.
  http://www.ted.com/talks/saul_griffith_on_kites_as_the_future_of_renewable_energy.html
  

Additional Technology Tools and Resources

Additional Multimedia Content

• View a wealth of video content on the creation, history, and science of plastic from NBC Learn at:
  http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/chemistry-now/chemistry-of-plastics

Web 2.0: Internet-Based tools (free but requires sign up with email).

• Create digital timelines using one of the following tools: Capzles [http://www.capzles.com/], Dipity [http://www.dipity.com/], Timerime [http://timerime.com/], Timetoast [http://www.timetoast.com/]. See examples at: http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/plastic-bags-in-society and http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Plastic-Bags/
• Using alternatives to PowerPoint, children can created presentations in Glogster [http://edu.glogster.com/], an interactive poster, or Prezi [http://prezi.com/], which organizes information in linear and non-linear ways. See examples at: http://diggerdynamo.edu.glogster.com/sustainability/ and http://prezi.com/fnmojjx_kwgz/reusable-bags/
• Students can create concept maps with Mindmeister [http://www.mindmeister.com/], Popplet [http://popplet.com/], or Mindomo [http://www.mindomo.com/] showing the many dimensions of a particular invention. View this concept map on recycling: http://www.mindmeister.com/60847503/recycling