Inventions
This resource provides information on various inventions and inventors. Learn about scientific and just for fun inventions. Play games and answer trivia questions about inventions and patents. Included is an eThemes resource on space spin-offs.
Grades
- 3,
- 4,
- 5,
- 6,
- 7,
- 8
Links
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National Inventors Hall of Fame Index of Inventions
Search by invention, inventor, or decade. Each listing shows a picture and text description of the inventor. Search for information on inventors such as George Eastman or Charles Goodyear.
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Enchanted Learning: Inventors
Click on one of the categories under "Zoom Inventors and Inventions." Many of the entries have photographs of the inventors.
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How Stuff Works: How Patents Work
This article covers many topics such as "Can You Patent That?" to "Suzy and the Teleporter." There are many diagrams from the US Patent Office. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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How Stuff Works: Why Do Most Zippers Say YKK on the Pull-Tab?
Learn about zippers and the largest zipper factory in the world. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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How Stuff Works: Segway Human Transporter
Find out about this machine invented by Dean Kamen. NOTE: The site includes ads.
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PBS: Forgotten Inventors
Click on a photo or scroll down to read about these sometimes forgotten inventions.
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PBS: Technology Timeline
View this interactive timeline or see the text-only version. Choose a year and then click on an invention to get a brief description of it.
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Scholastic: The Top Ten African American Inventors
Click on "Start" to learn about African Americans and their inventions. Click on "Find out more" to read a longer biography on each of the inventors.
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American Inventors and Inventions
Look at these photographs of inventors and inventions at the Smithsonian.
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Roller Coaster History
Read about the first American roller coasters and John Miller who invented the first underfriction roller coaster.
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Games and Trivia
"Do you know who invented the dishwasher, or which came first- radar or sonar?" Play "Monthly Trivia," "Which Came First?" or "Brain Drain" to find out.
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Lemelson Center: Jerome Lemelson's Patents
Toys were one of the many inventions of Jerome Lemelson. The diagram shows Lemelson's first patent, a toy cap. Click on "Audio and Video" for some podcasts.
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FactMonster: Inventions
Students can explore everything from adrenaline to the zipper in the directory "A Guide to Inventions and Discoveries." There is also a directory of "Inventions by Women" and "Accidental Food Inventions." NOTE: The site includes ads.
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NPR: Functional Designs that Change Lives
Students can read or listen to this article about inventions meant to improve the lives of the world's poor. Photographs of the inventions are included.
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Smithsonian: Invention Stories
Students can use this subject guide to find inventors and inventions. The guide contains audio and video files as well as articles.
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The Great Idea Finder
This site has information on inventors and inventions. Find the "Invention Trivia Quiz" by clicking on "First Time Visitors" and then "Innovation Games." NOTE: The site includes ads.
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Lemelson-MIT Program
This is the home page for this site which celebrates invention and innovation. Check out the "Inventor's Handbook" and the "Inventor of the Week."
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What in the World is That?
Explore this site to learn about some ingenious inventions throughout history. Play an interactive matching game to test what you know. NOTE: Requires the Shockwave player.
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eThemes Resource: Space Spin-offs: Technology Derived from the Space Program
These sites describe materials, technology, and products that were invented as a result of the space program. Items range from body imaging scans to satellite television to the Nerf glider toy. Learn how NASA technology has benefited our everyday lives. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on space exploration.
Education Standards
- AR
- MO
- IL
