February 07, 2024

From Traffic Lights to Super Soakers: Explore the Genius of Black Inventors

February 07, 2024/ Nicole

You've probably heard of famous inventors like Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Graham Bell. But did you know that many Black inventors changed the way we live through their many innovations? Famous inventions like the ice cream scoop, mailbox, and automatic elevator doors were created by Black inventors!

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Picture Books about Black Inventors

Explore these picture books highlighting Black inventors like Sarah Goode and Lonnie Johnson. These stories showcase their incredible inventions and groundbreaking contributions to the world.

Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?

Sweet Dreams, Sarah

Charles Drew

George Washington Carver

Madam C.J. Walker

Lewis Latimer

Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super Soaker

Patricia's Vision

Their inventions:

Sarah Goode - cabinet bed
Charles Drew - blood bank
George Washington Carver - peanut products
Madam C.J. Walker - hair care products
Lewis Latimer - carbon filament
Garrett Morgan - traffic light and gas mask
Lonnie Johnson - Super Soaker
Dr. Patricia Bath - Laserphaco Probe

Learn about more inventions in Craig Thompson’s, ABCs of Black Inventors!

Black Inventors Bingo

I learned soooo much and was incredibly inspired while making this Black Inventors Bingo Game! It includes 24 inventions by famous Black inventors like George Washington Carver's peanut products and Garrett Morgan's traffic light. With 30 unique bingo mats, this game is perfect for classrooms and family fun. You can find the Black Inventors Bingo Game in my TPT Store or BP Shop.

Teaching Tip: I’m a Teacher-Librarian and I put together a Black Inventors Kit for my school that includes the bingo game and the book, “Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?”

A picture of a Black Inventors Bingo mat, calling cards, and the book, "Have you Thanked an Inventor Today?"

Dr. Patricia Bath Freebie!

Dr. Patricia Bath - The Doctor With an Eye for Eyes

Here’s another picture book about Dr. Patricia Bath written in rhyme. Dr. Patricia Bath was a remarkable inventor and ophthalmologist who created the "Laserphaco Probe." With her invention, people who had trouble seeing due to cataracts could have their vision restored. The Laserphaco Probe made eye surgery quicker and safer.

You can grab the Doctor With an Eye for Eyes freebie that I created from my TPT store. It includes a one-page biography, a comprehension check, a graphic organizer, and posters.

Happy reading! Which picture book would you add to my list?

March 23, 2014

4 Activities to Make Materials, Objects, and Structures Fun for Elementary Students

March 23, 2014/ Nicole

This is my third year teaching the first grade and I love the curriculum! However, there are two units that I was very apprehensive about during my first year - Energy and Materials, Objects, and Structures. Part of my apprehension was the fact that at least 80% of our students are English language learners (ELLs). Some units they can relate to, like healthy food, rules, responsibilities, and relationships, and community helpers. They get a lot of exposure to the vocabulary from television if not from discussion at home or in Kindergarten. These two units, not as much.

Mr. Collins website with science resources for the Ontario science curriculum was a great help in addition to resources from colleagues. What was missing for me was visuals. Concrete materials were also essential. Children are familiar with describing the properties of objects, those descriptions are often just limited to colour or size. This unit is great in expanding their vocabulary and view of everyday objects.

All About Materials

To begin our discussion of materials, we let them know where materials come from (e.g., glass comes from sand, metal comes from rocks and minerals, paper from wood, etc.) They are always amazed by this! I would recommend finding books and videos that demonstrate the manufacturing process.

A colleague scoured her house for materials that her students could sort. We used the objects and my kids loved the activity. We also found objects that could be sorted in a sorting tray.

Large Objects - Sort by Material

Small Objects - Sort by Material

A simple sewing kit contains a great variety of fasteners!

A few years ago, I got another idea from a friend about the suitability of materials in making objects. We gave the kids some "What if?" scenarios which they thought were funny and really got them thinking.

All About Structures

For a group project, we asked kids to act as the third little pig and build a house that the big bad wolf couldn't blow down. We used two desk fans to act as the wolf. Some houses stood fast while others blew off the table. Little did we know that the fallen houses would lead to tears!! Oops!

To support our unit, we asked the kids to bring in "junk" or recyclable material from home. You can get a copy of that letter {here}. (Border by Graphics from the Pond and fonts by Khrys Bosland.) The kids had a lot of fun building structures using those materials.

Building Structures

I created a resource to support this unit which is available in my TPT Store store and BN Shop.

What fun activities do you do to support this unit?

October 30, 2013

Fall Fun: Teaching Kids About Changing Seasons with an Apple Tree Craft

October 30, 2013/ Nicole

I found this fabulous craft idea on Pinterest from Lakeshore Learning that I just had to try. It seemed simple enough for our ability level so early in the school year.