Two Facts and a Phony The Boy Who Invented TV Directions: Two of the statements below are true and one is false. Can you guess which one is the phony statement? Listen to the story The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth and see if your guess was correct. After hearing the story of how Philo Farnsworth invented the television, write down two other interesting facts about his life on the lines below. 1. Philo Farnsworth had an article published in Reader s Digest when he was in fifth grade. 2. When Philo Farnsworth s family moved to Idaho, he discovered an attic full of Popular Science magazines. 3. When he was thirteen, Philo Farnsworth won a contest in Science and Invention magazine and bought a pair of long pants with the prize money. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 1
Two Facts and a Phony The Day-Glo Brothers Directions: Two of the statements below are true and one is false. Can you guess which one is the phony statement? Listen to the story The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors and see if your guess was correct. After hearing the story of how Bob and Joe Switzer invented Day-Glo paint, write down two other interesting facts about their lives on the lines below. 1. Joe Switzer read about ultraviolet lamps in Popular Mechanics magazine. 2. Fred Switzer wrote a biography about his famous brothers. 3. Bob and Joe Switzer brought home lots of books from the library to help them learn how to use chemicals to make paint. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 2
Two Facts and a Phony The Boy Who Invented TV Directions: Think of two interesting facts you learned from The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth. Then, make up a statement that sounds true, but is not. Write the two facts and the one fictional statement below in random order. Share your work with your classmates to see if they can identify the phony statement. 1. 2. 3. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 3
Two Facts and a Phony The Day-Glo Brothers Directions: Think of two interesting facts you learned from The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors. Then, make up a statement that sounds true, but is not. Write the two facts and the one fictional statement below in random order. Share your work with your classmates to see if they can identify the phony statement. 1. 2. 3. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 4
Creating Small Invention Definitions Sample Directions: Roll the die three times. Each time you roll, choose one word part from each column and circle it. Combine these parts to make a new word. Pretend this new word is the name of a small machine or device that you have just invented. In the space provided below, write down the invention name and its definition. Then use it in a sentence, and find a place for it in a dictionary. Prefix Root Suffix 1 demi [half] areo [air] cycle [circle] 2 micro [millionth] dyna [power] globe [ball] 3 mini [small] hydro [water] graph [write] 4 mono [one] palm [hand] meter [measure] 5 nano [billionth] photo [light] droid [resembling] 6 uni [one] thermo [heat] taxi [movement] New Invention Name: Definition: Sentence: Pretend this new invention was in your dictionary. On what page would you find this entry? What are the guide words on this page? What is the name of the dictionary? Extra Credit Choices: (Use the back of this paper) Draw and label a picture of the new invention. Write a newspaper story describing how this new invention saved the day. Create a magazine advertisement featuring this new invention. Write a story explaining who invented this new invention and how it was invented. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 5
Creating Small Invention Definitions Activity Directions: Roll the die three times. Each time you roll, choose one word part from each column and circle it. Combine these parts to make a new word. Pretend this new word is the name of a small machine or device that you have just invented. In the space provided below, write down the invention name and its definition. Then use it in a sentence, and find a place for it in a dictionary. Prefix Root Suffix 1 demi [half] areo [air] cycle [circle] 2 micro [millionth] dyna [power] globe [ball] 3 mini [small] hydro [water] graph [write] 4 mono [one] palm [hand] meter [measure] 5 nano [billionth] photo [light] droid [resembling] 6 uni [one] thermo [heat] taxi [movement] New Invention Name: Definition: Sentence: Pretend this new invention was in your dictionary. On what page would you find this entry? What are the guide words on this page? What is the name of the dictionary? Extra Credit Choices: (Use the back of this paper) Draw and label a picture of the new invention. Write a newspaper story describing how this new invention saved the day. Create a magazine advertisement featuring this new invention. Write a story explaining who invented this new invention and how it was invented. October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 6
Interesting Inventor Information Sample Directions: Now that you have selected an inventor, use an encyclopedia for your inventor research. Fill out as much of the information below as you can. Inventor s Name: Birth Date: Birth Place: Five Interesting Facts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Source Citation: Name of Encyclopedia: Copyright Date: Volume Number: Page Number(s): October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 7
Interesting Inventor Information Activity Directions: Now that you have selected an inventor, use an encyclopedia for your inventor research. Fill out as much of the information below as you can. Inventor s Name: Birth Date: Birth Place: Five Interesting Facts: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Source Citation: Name of Encyclopedia: Copyright Date: Volume Number: Page Number(s): October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 8
The A-B-C List of Inventors and Inventions A. Robert Adler [remote control] B. Alexander Graham Bell [telephone] C. George Washington Carver [uses for peanuts] D. Leonardo DaVinci [hang glider] E. Thomas Edison [light bulb] F. Benjamin Franklin [bifocal glasses] G. Johannes Gutenberg [printing press]; Bette Nesmith Graham [liquid paper]; Temple Grandin [livestock handling methods] H. John Harington [flush toilet] I. Inventor of your choice J. Thomas Jefferson [polygraph] K. John Harvey Kellogg [corn flakes] L. E. H. Land [Polaroid camera] M. Guglielmo Marconi [radio] N. Alfred Nobel [dynamite] O. Robert Oppenheimer [atomic bomb] P. Louis Pasteur [pasteurization] R. Hyman George Rickover [nuclear submarine] S. Levi Strauss [blue jeans] T. Edward Teller [hydrogen bomb] U. Lewis Urry [alkaline battery] V. John Venn [Venn diagram] W. Orville and Wilbur Wright [airplane]; Madam C.J. Walker [hair care products] Y. Linus Yale, Jr. [cylinder pin-tumble lock] Z. Ferdinand Zeppelin [dirigible airship] October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 9
Interviewer s Script Background: You are a reporter who has been assigned to interview a famous inventor. This inventor will be played by a fellow student who has done the necessary research to answer your questions. You may use the script below or make up your own questions. Hello. My name is and I m here to interview the famous inventor, _. (inventor s name) Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Please tell the audience what you are known for inventing. (Pause for inventor s response.) Can you tell us how your invention helped people? (Pause for inventor s response.) That is very interesting. Please share a few other interesting facts about yourself. (Pause for inventor s response.) [Optional: Insert your own question here.] Thank you for spending your valuable time with us. It has been a pleasure interviewing you. (Shake hands with the inventor.) October 2011 Web Resources LibrarySparks 10