Lesson Plan Title : African American Inventors and Their Inventions

Age Range: Grade 3 through Grade 5 (Elementary)

Overview and Purpose: Many of the items we use today were invented by African Americans. In this activity, students use the internet and race to be the first to match each inventor with his invention.

Objective: The student will be able to match African American inventors with their inventions.

Resources:

Internet access for each group of students

Teacher created worksheet

Activities:

Explain to your students that they're going to go on a scavenger hunt. They will use the Internet to research African American inventors and match them with their inventions. Divide the class into groups and pass out the worksheet. Have the groups race against each other to see who can be the first to match all the inventors with their inventions.

Sample worksheet:

Wrap Up:

If the students have trouble finding the date of the invention, have them list the date the invention was patented. This activity can be extended into art by having the students choose one of the inventions and create an advertisement for it.