Science+and+Technology-Inventions

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 * __ Inventions __**

__ Unit Summary: __
Students will research inventors and inventions. Then they will use the design process and complex thinking to create their own invention.

Science and Technology:

 * Investigate why people make new products or invent new ways to meet their individual wants and needs.

Scientific Inquiry:

 * Design and conduct a simple investigation to explore a question.
 * Gather and communicate information from careful observations and simple investigations through a variety of methods.

Social Studies: History:

 * Describe examples of how science and technology have changed the daily lives of people by comparing forms for communication and transportation from the past and present.
 * Recognize the importance of individual action and character by explaining how they have made a difference in the lives of others with a focus on explorers, inventors, and scientists.

Language Arts:

 * Utilize appropriate searching techniques to gather information from a variety of locations.
 * Report important findings to others.
 * Deliver informal presentations.

__Materials:__

 * Collected recyclables and materials from students' homes.
 * Literature books
 * Invention research page
 * Invention planning page

__Key Vocabulary:__
Complex Thinker:
 * Identifies and defines authentic problems and essential questions.
 * Gathers, assesses and analyzes relevant information.
 * Proposes, explores and develops alternate solutions.
 * Makes judgements and decisions.
 * Uses systems thinking to understand complex inter-relationships.
 * Reflects critically on learning experiences, processes and solutions.

__Unit Plan__
Day 1
 * Read literature books to establish background knowledge on inventors and inventions (see content connections—literacy).
 * Watch BrainPop Jr. video about inventors and inventions.
 * Do book frenzy for all important inventors i.e. Marie Curie,Wright Brothers, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford etc.

Day 2
 * Let students choose an inventor to study and put students in groups by inventor.
 *  Students research inventor using books and Internet and fill out research page as a group.

Day 3
 * Students take research information and put it into presentation format (slideshow, painting, oral presentation, poster etc).

Day 4
 * Students present information on their inventor.
 * Class reflects on how inventor and invention have affected their environment today and the environment of the inventor’s times.

Day 5
 * Introduce invention convention by reading The Kids’ Invention Book by, Arlene Erlbach
 * Discuss everyday problems that need solutions.
 * Introduce the design process.

Day 6
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Introduce the assessment rubric to determine expectations for inventions.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each student determines a problem and follows the ask portion of the design process.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students brainstorm solutions to this problem and follow the imagine portion of the design process.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Each student uses the planning page to help plan his or her invention idea. He or she creates a drawing and writes down all materials needed.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Day 7 – Invention Convention Day
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students bring in materials needed for the creation of their invention (teacher should also have a variety of materials such as paper towel rolls, foil, boxes, yarn, duct tape etc. It’s also recommended to have volunteers to help the class on this day).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Follow the create portion of the design process by allowing students to make his or her invention, following the plan.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students have time to share inventions with the class.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Day 8: Reflection and Improvement <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Day 9:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students reflect upon the inventions and are given time to make improvements and change.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students share how their improvements made their invention work better.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discuss patents: the reason for them, and the application process.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students fill out own patent application and turn them into the teacher for approval.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Assessment
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Discussion, reflection
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Invention rubric