An Era of Innovation
Discovery provides a great lesson that allows students to research significant transportation milestones during the past century; determine the impact of these milestones on society, the economy, communication, travel, and their lives; and design and present "decade in transportation" exhibits.

The Model T Road Trip
In this lesson, students conduct oral history interviews to collect, interpret and present reminiscences about the impact of the automobile on American life. 

The Invention Factory: Thomas Edison's Laboratories
Tour Edison's West Orange complex where his creative combination of research, production, and marketing revolutionized the business of invention.

The Life of George Westinghouse
In this mini-lesson students learn about one of our nation's business pioneers.  Specifically, students learn when in his life achievements were made, What were his special characteristics, and what lessons can we learn from his life and achievements? This site also provides additional links and a quiz.

The four (4) lessons below are from the Library of Congress lesson plan collection. The unit is entitled Thank You, Mr. Edison: Electricity, Innovation, and Social Change. All or some of the lessons below may be incorporated into this standard:

Lesson 1: The Impact of Electricity On People's Lives
In this mini-lesson, students assess the impact of electricity on the lives of people.

Lesson 2: Edison's Role in the Electrification of America
In this mini-lesson, students analyze the role of Thomas Edison in the electrification of America and demonstrate an understanding of electrification as both a technological and social process.

Lesson 3: Merchandising and Advertising
In this mini-lesson, students analyze advertising and assess its significance as it relates to electrification and consumption. They also develop an understanding of the emergence of the mass-consumer economy.

Lesson 4: Women and the Mass Consumer Society
In this mini-lesson, students assess the impact of electricity on the lives of people, considering such factors as class and gender.

A list of Invention and Inventor Resources
These links were developed to provide upper elementary and middle school teachers with a set of resources for exploring inventors and inventions.

A-Z  Inventions and Inventors
This is an informative, "find it at your fingertips" webpage on inventions.

Inside an American Factory
Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904.

American Memory
A gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

Digital History
This site provides links to American history web sites by period and provide historical overviews, readings, primary source documents, maps, cartoons, teaching resources, and audio-visual resources.

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