Internet Activities
Instructions to Teachers

Unit 10: Theme: TECHNOLOGY
WEB ACTIVITY: Read about "The Coolest Inventions."

WEBSITE ADDRESS: http://www.time.com/time/2003/inventions/list.html


OBJECTIVES:

  • to learn about new inventions
  • to use the future progressive tense

PROCEDURES

  1. Activate students' knowledge. Ask questions such as:
    • What are some products that were invented during your lifetime? Which are the most important, in your opinion?
    • What product do you wish someone would invent in order to make your life easier ?
    • Are you a technophile (technology lover) or technophobe (afraid of technology)? Explain.

  2. Introduce the task: Tell students they are going to visit a website called "The Coolest Inventions." Each student will read about one invention and write about it or report on it to the class or in a small group. The class (or group) will rank the inventions and then vote on the most useful, most popular, or most important invention for the future.
  3. Preview vocabulary. Vocabulary will vary for each invention.

  4. Distribute copies of the Student Worksheet. Click here for the Student Handout. Go over the instructions with the students.

  5. Remind student that they are going to the website just to get information for the activity. They should not give out any personal or credit card information.

  6. If possible, go to the lab with the students. While students are working, circulate and help with vocabulary and writing.

  7. Remind students to bring their completed worksheets to the next class.

  8. In class speaking task
    • Students take turns sharing the information from Part One with their group or with the class.
    • Listeners take notes.
    • After all the presentations, instruct students to select the three (or five) inventions they will be most popular ten years from now and rank them.
    • Put students into new groups and have them share and discuss their rankings.
    • Conclude with a whole-class survey of the most popular, most useful, or most important invention based on students' predictions.

    In class writing task
    • Instruct students to write a paragraph using the information from their worksheets. If possible they should draw a picture or include a photo of the invention they researched.
    • Correct students' paragraphs and have students revise them. Post them on the wall or bulletin board and allow the class time to read about the various inventions.
    • Instruct students to select three (or five) inventions they think will be most popular ten years from now and rank them.
    • Put students into groups and have them share and discuss their rankings.
    • Conclude with a class-wide survey of the most popular, most useful, or most important invention based on students' predictions.


    SUPPLEMENTAL WEBSITES

     National Inventors Hall of Fame

    Famous Inventions: A to Z (About.com)