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Invention and Inventor Resources

Share resources related to inventors and inventions of the past on Kid Inventor Day on January 17! Find inspiration for new inventions and ideas your students can try. 

Grades K-12

TeachersFirst's Inventors and Inventions Resources

Start your invention quest with this curated list of resources that encourage students to invent and innovate. Each reviewed resource includes classroom technology implementation suggestions, grade-level recommendations, and more.

Grades 4-10

How Stuff Works

Search this site for topics like how cars work, what makes a refrigerator cold, and how construction and construction materials have changed. Articles provide diagrams, text, videos, images, and other resources for curious students.

Grades 3-9

USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office

The USPTO features "collectible" cards with inventor profiles. The videos cover topics like driverless cars, bionic limbs, biofuels, and electronic tattoos. Most of the activities focus on invention and design, making them perfect for STEM lessons.

Grades 6-12

Inventor of the Week

Learn about many inventors—some famous, some not. If you're doing a unit on creativity or inventions, use this site to help students understand how minor, incremental improvements can lead to major advancements. Use this list to find inspiration!

Grades 4-9

Design Squad Global

This site includes videos, building activities, and educational games. Explore building activities like Watercraft, Hidden Alarm, Dance Pad Mania, and others. This resource also features real-life challenges to share with students.

Grades K-5

Kikki's Workshop

Discover great information about construction equipment (perfect for invention units!), the physics of simple machines, engineering, and more. There’s also a link to learn about anti-mine equipment, which is sure to spark some serious class discussion.

Grades 4-12

Great Inventions, Great Inventors

Find an extensive list of great inventions on this straightforward site. Click each innovation to view information on its story, the inventor, and other related information. Share this list with your students to generate new ideas.

Grades K-6

Do Try This at Home: Invention at Play

Skim a multitude of ideas students can investigate then create, from inventing a toy to redesigning a shopping cart or creating a solar-powered invention. You can also create your own doodles to help develop creative thinking and imagination.

Grades 6-12

Da Vinci - The Genius

Explore an inventor's workshop through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci by clicking The Inventor on the menu in the upper right corner. This site also includes lesson plans where students sketch and build their own inventions.

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