Special Features

Unit Test

Evaluation:

1. Teacher will interview several students at random about their journal entries from the previous day.

Listen for clarity of thought and adherence to the assignment.

2. Teacher will stop and listen to students reading to one another.

3. Teacher will assess the students' use of complete sentences, punctuation, clarity of thought, adherence

to directions, use of materials, and penmanship on the invention research worksheet.

Homework:

1. Students will add the following words to their dictionaries: disastrous and liberty.

2. Students will add 2 more words of their own to their dictionary.

3. Students will finish their journal entry.

4. Students may take their design an invention assignment home to work on.

Adapted from Linda Scott's Ben and Me Cyberguide and the San Diego County Office of Education.

Additional Information:

Although this lesson is completed during one period, the author wishes to give students the opportunity to clearly develop their group inventions, make them appealing, and have time to present their ideas to the class on the following day. On the following day, the teacher will read chapters 9 and 10 at the beginning of class and then allow approximately 12-20 minutes to finish up their designs (the amount of time allocated depends on how much time the students had to today). The remainder of the class will be for presentations.

At the end of class tomorrow or when all the group presentations have been completed, hand out the Individual Invention Activity Sheet. Explain that now that they have had the opportunity to research famous inventions and work with partners to make an invention out of "stuff", that they will now have the opportunity to design their very own invention. Emphasize that this project is theirs and theirs alone and that means that they can use any ideas that they have. Read the directions aloud as they read along. Inform the students that after they answer the questions on the paper that they will have members in their group help them check their work for punctuation, grammar, spelling, and so forth.

Homework for the following day should simply be the Individual Invention Activity sheet. Remind students to write their answers to the question on a separate sheet of paper for editing purposes. When their work has been edited, they are to transfer their final version to the activity sheet. Inform them that after being read chapters 11 and 12, they will have approximately 12 min to edit and finish their work before class presentations begin. The students will be evaluated in the same manner as with the other projects: creativity, proper writing, neatness, adherence to directions, use of materials, use of time, work with others and working alone.

Students should glue their activity sheet and their drawing side by side on long construction paper.

Students will be given the opportunity to get extra-credit by doing a project that they can work on when they have finished their assignments or at home. The project is due on the last day of the unit.

The software mentioned in the materials section of this lesson; James Burke narrates Connections: It's A Mind Game. Discovery Channel Multimedia, 1995, can be used as a filler for those who have finished early or when time permits. Encourage students to work in groups when playing this game as it can be difficult. The game itself is relevant to this unit in that it focuses on how inventions throughout history have paved the way for other inventions. The following is an excerpt from the instruction booklet (page 8):

"The Connections Chain

At the bottom of the screen is the chain of connections that

you need to complete to finish one level of play. These objects

represent innovations that make up history, and if you click on

one, you'll see a video about its significance and how it relates to

other objects in the chain. This can also help you figure out which

objects to look for while playing the game…"

This author recommends acquiring several copies of this game. It is well worth the cost as it allows students to practice critical thinking skills, cooperation, and problem solving skills. The game has been included at the end of this unit for your evaluation of the software.

(Back to Lesson 3)

(Back to the Extra Credit Projects)

(Back to the Invention Research Worksheet)

(Back to the Individual Invention Activity)

(Back to the Group Invention Project)