teaching class--which inventors to pick

[Blueeyes101817]

One of my assignments for my teaching class is to do a powerpoint presentation on 10 inventors---4 of which need to be african american....
I can pick any inventors but i was thinking about picking inventors that invented things that younger kids would know about---the whole point of this assignment is to help us answer kid's questions ...
so i wanted to come here to ask if anyone has any suggestions on which inventors/inventions to pick--
thanks!

 

[mickeymo]

Just found this scholastic website as I was trying to remember my son's African American biography from 2nd grade.. It lists their top 10 African American inventors. (My son did Granville T Woods..aka "the Black Edison") The website might help you get started...

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/inventors/

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Thanks so much---im going to start working on this assignment next weekend! its not due til midmarch so i figure this will give me a good jump on it....

ill take any and all ideas

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Gutenberg and the printing press -- the influence that single invention has had on the world is beyond imagination.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Akron is the home of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. I haven't visited their website, but I'm sure it has to have some cool information on it...

Guttenberg? Heck, I'm voting for the person who invented the wheel!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

thanks so much!!

 

[j's m]

Jen,
What age/grade are you teaching? My DS11 is in 6th, I can ask him for some ideas.

 

[georgina]

I hope you'll include some women inventors - just googling women inventors gives some good ideas -

first working automatic dishwasher by Josephine Cochran

disposable diaper by Marion Donovan

Sarah S. Goode obtained the first patent by an African American woman in 1885 for a folding cabinet bed

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper worked on early computers

Liquid paper was invented by Bessie Nesmith (mother of the Monkee)

Ruth Wakefield invented Toll House chocolate chips!!

 

[minkydog]

My favorite inventors are Benjamin Franklin(inventor of bifocals, for which i am ever grateful!) and the Wright brothers. But being from South Alabama, I have to vote for George Washington Carver, the man who single-handedly saved thousands of poor farmers & their families from malnutrition by showing them the wonders of peanuts(among other things.)

 

[clh2]

What about something boring like washers, dryers, dishwashers:
Josephine Cochran - Inventor of the Dishwasher





More of Dishwasher - Josephine Cochran
• Dishwasher - Josephine Cochran
In 1886, Josephine Cochran invented the dishwasher in Shelbyville, Illinois.


In 1850, Joel Houghton patented a wooden machine with a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes, it was hardly a workable machine, but it was the first patent. In 1886, Josephine Cochran proclaims in disgust "If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I'll do it myself." And she did, Josephine Cochran invented the first practical (did the job) dishwasher. Josephine Cochran had expected the public to welcome the new invention, which she unveiled at the 1893, World's Fair, but only the hotels and large restaurants were buying her ideas. It was not until the 1950s, that dishwashers caught on with the general public. Josephine Cochran's machine was a hand-operated mechanical dishwasher. She founded a company to manufacture these dish washers, which eventually became KitchenAid.


I easily found that by googling inventor dishwasher, there is similar info for washers and dryers.

Slinky (google history of slinky) is a good story too!

And...there are a number of inventors, inventions, countries, historical time periods listed on this website too:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/black.shtml

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Jen,
What age/grade are you teaching? My DS11 is in 6th, I can ask him for some ideas.

planning on teaching kindergarten or first grade..i will be certified up to grade 3..
thanks for all your ideas..