Social Studies 8.0:  Relationship among science, technology, and society. 

The students will use the Big 6 Method to research how inventions have changed the United States. 

Grade Three:  Social Studies

Main Standard:  SS 8.0

Supporting Standards:

Math: 

M4b, M6g

Science: 

S4a, S4b, S4d

Language Arts: 

E1c; E3b, E3c; Third Grade Reading Standard 2 (Getting the Meaning); Third Grade Writing Standard 2 (Writing Purposes and Resulting Genres); Third Grade Writing Standard 3 (Language Use and Conventions)

Social Studies: 

3.0; 8.0

Technology: 

Chariho Technology Standard 3.1, 3.2, 3.7

Other: 

A2a; A3a, A3b

What are some inventions that have changed our lives?  What would your life be like if they hadn't been invented? 

Task 1:   Assess prior knowledge:  Each student will be given a ball point pen.  The class will be divided into groups.  Each group will be given five minutes to use their pens to brainstorm a list of inventions that have changed lives in the United states.  The class will meet again as a group and develop a class list.  Inter; V/L
Standard Addressed:  E3b; SS 8.0

Task 2:  Introduction of Big 6 Method:  The Media Specialist will model each step involved in this method with the class.  Together, the class will "research" the invention of ball point pen and how it changed people's lives.  Each classroom will have posted the Big 6 Steps to Research.
Standard Addressed:  E1c; Third Grade Reading Standard 2 (Getting the Meaning); SS 8.0

Predecessor to our modern day 
helicopter.

Task 3:  Each student will select an invention to research using the Big6 Method.  The Extended Piece project will be discussed with the class and a rubric will be developed by the class. 
Standard Addressed:  E1c; E3b; S4a; SS 8.0

Task 4:  The students will utilize a graphic organizer to organize their research information.  They will then use this organizer to develop a rough draft of the text for their big book page.  The students will revise and edit.  Their final copy will be typed on the AlphaSmarts and printed out for placing onto their page.  L/M; V/L
Standard Addressed:  Third Grade Writing Standard 2 (Writing Purposes and Resulting Genres) and 3 (Language Use and Conventions); A3a, A3b; Chariho Technology Standard 3.1 and 3.2 ; E1c; S4a, S4b, S4d; SS 8.0

Task 5:  "Create a timeline" activities.  First the students will label an index card with the name of their invention, the inventor, and the year it was invented.  The students will be asked to line up in chronological order based on the year of invention.  Next the use of scale in a timeline will be discussed and applied to their human timeline.  The students will then type this information into Timeliner, create the timeline, and post a printed copy.  B/K; L/M
Standard Addressed:  SS 8.0, 3.0;  M4b, M6g; Chariho Technology Standard 3.7; S4a
 

Task 6:  Each student will create a detailed diagram/illustration of their invention.  This will also be included on their page. V/S
Standard Addressed:  S4a; A3b; SS 8.0

Task 7:  Each student will write one paragraph about the inventor.  This will also be typed and included on their page.  V/L
Standard Addressed:  Third Grade Writing Standard 2 (Writing Purposes and Resulting Genres) and 3 (Language Use and Conventions); Chariho Technology Standard 3.1; E1c; SS 8.0

Task 8:  The students will create a visually appealing page for the big book.  The students may draw illustrations of interesting facts.  V/S
Standard Addressed:  A3a, A3b; SS 8.0

Task 9:  Each student will contribute a page to a class big book.  To meet the standard, each student will research an invention that has changed the United States using the Big 6 Method.  The class big book will be shared with another class, Book Buddies, etc.  The completed book will be donated to the school's Media Center to be placed on display for all students to view.  Standard Addressed:  A2a; E3c

Task 10:  We've looked at various inventions.  Now it's time for the students to create their own inventions (Extended Piece).  They will view a PowerPoint about How to Be an Inventor.  This will take them through the steps that an inventor goes through.  The students will be shown a "Pik Stik," a tool used by people to aid them in picking up objects that they cannot reach due to medical reasons.  Discussion will be held to aid the students in understanding that inventions can make daily life easier and do not have to be complicated in order to work.  The students will then work with a partner to create a model of their invention and a detailed drawing.  The students will also be responsible for writing about their invention and creating an illustration. 

Optional Task 11:  Exceeding the standard options may include 1 or more of the following:

Create a song about their invention/inventor
Dress up as their invention/inventor
Make a 3D model of their invention in use
Create a cartoon pertaining to their invention (Example)
Standard Addressed: A1a

 Design and write about a new invention that may change the future of the United States

Rubric for big book page 
Rubric for original invention

Any Strength Intelligences - Individual or small Group M.I. Project Contract:  Students will formulate a research question with regard to this unit topic.  He/She will work alone or in a small group to develop a class presentation of what they have learned about their topic.  Their research must be presented through three or more methods. (i.e. charts; graphs; oral reports; multi-media; dramatic role play, etc.).
     PDFVersion of Project Contract

The students will share their inventions with other students.  If several classes are studying inventions at the same time, they may put on an Invention Fair.

Inventor, scientist, mechanics, architect, engineer, mathematician, electrician, artist, graphic designer, computer technician, software designer, teacher

Many activities within this unit meet the SCANS 2000 Workforce Skills as described in the Workplace Competencies for the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) as chartered by former Secretary Lynn Martin of the United States Department of Labor.  The SCANS standards for each lesson are listed next to each activity. 
http://www.scans.jhu.edu/NS/HTML/About.htm

Their key is as follows:   Workplace Competencies
    Resources C1-C4
    Information C5-C8
    Interpersonal C9-C14
    Systems C15-C17
    Technology C18-C19
    Foundation Skills
    Basic Skills F1-F6
    Thinking Skills F7-F12
    Personal Qualities F13-F17

Books

The following books are available in the Richmond School Media Center:

Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh (920 THI)
Great Discoveries and Inventions that Advanced Industry and Technology by Antonio Casanellas (609 Cas)
Great Discoveries and Inventions that Improved Our Daily Lives by Antonio Casanellas (609 Cas)
Inventing, Inventions, and Inventors: A Teaching Resource Book by Jerry D. Flack (607 FLA)
Invention by Lionel Bender (609 Ben)
Samuel Todd's Book of Great Inventions by E.L. Konigsburg (608 Kon)
Toilets, Toasters, & Telephones by Susan Goldman Rubin (683 Rub)
53 1/2 Things that Changed the World and Some that Didn't by Steve Parker (609 Par)
1970-90: Computers and Chips by Steve Parker (509 Par)
1990-2000:  The Electronic Age by Steve Parker (509 Par)
How Things Work by Michael Pollard (600 Pol)
How to Be an Inventor by Harvey Weiss (609 WIS)
 

CD ROMS

The Way Things Work
Encarta Encyclopedia
TimeLiner 5.0 by Tom Snyder Productions (http://www.tomsnyder.com)

Music
Videos

Big6 Method: 

Big6  http://www.big6.com

Inventions:

www.ideafinder.com:  list of inventions in chronological order

History of Inventions:  a timeline of inventions.  http://www.cbc.ca/kids/general/the-lab/history-of-invention/default.html

National Inventor's Hall of Fame:  Learn more about various inventions and the people who invented them.  http://www.invent.org

Inventor's Workshop:  Designed just for kids.  http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsWorkshop.html

Leonardo visits a third grade class - http://www.cal-mum.org/elem/ARTchive/Mr.%20Johnson/leonardo.htm

Inventions at Play: http://www.inventionatplay.org/

Museum of Ancient Inventions:  http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/hsclist.htm

Inventors' Hall of Shame:  Those inventions that went awry.  http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/inventions/bio/bio.html

Invention Dimension:  Browse by inventor or invention.  http://web.mit.edu/invent/invent-main.html

National Geographics Inventions Machine:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/96/inventions/images/games/main.html