Albert Einstein: "We cannot
solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created
them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science."
Isaac Asimov: "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'"
primary source set
This Primary Source Set includes images, diary entries, personal letters and analysis tools to help teach about the Wright brothers' lives and experiments.
online resources
Especially for Teachers...
Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words - (Exhibition) Learn about Benjamin Franklin's public, professional, and scientific accomplishments through important documents, letters, books, broadsides, and cartoons. The Science and Inventor section features his designs, experiments and inventions.
Earth As Art: A Landsat Perspective - (Exhibition) This exhibit showcases Landsat 7 images of the earth, selected primarily for their aesthetic value.
Ecology and the American Environment - (Special Presentation)
The sections in this presentation describe some of the important steps taken by ecologists in studying the natural environment.
Emile Berliner: Inventor of the Gramophone - (Special Presentation) Learn about Emile Berliner who was responsible for the development of the microphone and the flat recording disc and gramophone player.
Finding Franklin: A Resource Guide - (Library of Congress Bibliography) This online bibliography links to Benjamin Franklin resources across the Library of Congress Web site and beyond.
From Fantasy to Flight - (Community Center) Access a wide variety of Library of Congress resources related to the topic of flight.
History of Household Technology With Constance Carter, The - (Cybercast) Constance Carter, Head of the Science Reference Section at the Library of Congress, describes the evolution in the technology of washing machines, irons, and stoves and its effect on the work of women in the home.
Household Appliances - (Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting advertisements for household appliances from the online version of Pictorial Americana.
Industry - (Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting industry and mills from the online version of Pictorial Americana.
John Bull and Uncle Sam: Inventions and Discoveries - (Exhibition) Learn how many of America’s inventions were modeled after British technologies in this joint exhibit of the Library of Congress and the British Library.
Leonardo's Workshop - (Library of Congress Live) Use this guide to learn more about Leonardo da Vinci.
Mapping the National Parks - (Special Presentation) View the special presentations on Acadia, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains and Yellowstone National Parks.
Medicine - (Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting medicine and patent medicines from the online version of Pictorial Americana.
Notes on the Origin of American Animation, 1900-1921 - (Special Presentation) This presentation features notes and links to 21 animated films (and 2 fragments) that represent the development of early American animation.
Science and Technology in 18th Century America - (Science Reference Services) This guide lists sources that chronicle the history of science, invention, medicine and technology in colonial America.
Science Safari - (Cybercast) Watch the cybercast of the March 18, 2003 Library of Congress event hosting top science and mathematics teachers from across the country performing experiments and demonstrations in celebration of ESTME Week.
Science Tracer Bullets Online - (Science Reference Services) These research guides are helpful in locating information on a variety of science and technology subjects.
Sources for Quotations in the Sciences - (Science Reference Services) Click here for an extensive bibliography of online and print sources for quotations in the sciences.
Telegraph - (Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting the telegraph from the online version of Pictorial Americana.
Thomas Alva Edison - (Special Presentation) A brief biography of Edison is featured here, along with articles from journals of his day in which he offered his views on music, films, inventions, and other topics.
What's New in Business and Science - (Science Reference Services) This site links to new Library of Congress resources in the field of science.
With Wings As Eagles: From Fantasy to Flight - (Learning Page Activity) View a powerpoint presentation highlighting resources from the Library of Congress that document the history of flight.
American Treasures: Fulton's Submarine - (Exhibition) Napoleon commissioned the first practical submarine, designed by the American inventor, Robert Fulton.
San Jose Tech Museum - (Local Legacies) This new museum shows visitors how technology affects the way they live, work, play and learn. Make sure to visit the museum online.
Today in History (December 17, 1903) First Flight - (Today in History) On this day in 1903, the Wright brothers became the first people to demonstrate sustained flight of a heavier-than-air machine under the complete control of the pilot.
Today in History (June 27, 1989) James Smithson - (Today in History) On this date English scientist James Smithson died, leaving the United States an endowment to found the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Today in History (May 5, 1925) John Scopes - (Today in History) High school science teacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in one of Tennessee's public schools.
What in the World Is That? - (Learning Page Activity)Learn about amazing innovations and inventions from the past through primary sources. Play the challenging game and explore additional resources on the learn more page.
Use these lesson plans (created
by educators for educators) to explore topics about science and
invention with your students in your classroom:
Around the World in 1896 - (Grades 6-9) Students role-play the experiences of members of the World's Transportation Commission on their travels in 1896. The teacher resource section - Brief History of Photography - outlines photo development from the 1600’s through the 1900’s.
Artifact Road Show - (Grades 3-5) Students act as historians, analyzing different artifacts. The fourth grade student activity - Linking Rare Finds - focuses on the Nashua River from an environmental perspective.
Conservation at a Crossroads - (Grades 9-12) Two separate lessons for students to investigate and debate the controversies inherent in conservation programs. The Hetch Hetchy dam project serves as an example for students to debate the controversies inherent in conservation programs.
Explorations - (Grades 8-12) Students are introduced to historical perspectives of nature and the environment.
Nature's Fury - (Grades 6-8) Students examine accounts by Americans from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries of their life changing experiences with nature.
Thank you, Mr. Edison - (Grades 7-12) Students investigate electrification as both a technological and social process.
Is there
a title (or two) that you always read to (or with) your students
when teaching about this theme? Are there
invaluable reference books that you use?
Staff from The Library of Congress have begun a collection of
titles for the "Science and Invention" theme. We hope you will contribute
your favorites to our growing bibliography!
Create your own collaborative lesson
plans using material related to this month's theme assembled from
The Learning Page Collection
Connections:
Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers at the Library of Congress, 1862-1939 - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Five online presentations (Alexander Graham Bell as Inventor and Scientist, The Bell Family Trees, Collection Highlights, The Telephone and Multiple Telegraph and Time Line of Alexander Graham Bell) are of special interest.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement: 1850-1920, The - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Make sure to view the special presentation - Chronology of Selected Events in the Development of the American Conservation Movement.
Map Collections - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Make sure to visit the Conservation and Environment Maps page.
Origins of American Animation - (Summary and Teaching Resources) The collection shows the development of animation and reflects the attitudes of early twentieth-century America.
Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934 - (Summary Only) This collection documents the development of the modern conservation movement, the establishment of the Everglades National Park and the role of state and federal governments in the development of a national park.
Samuel F. B. Morse Papers at the Library of Congress - (Summary Only) This collection documents the life and work of Samuel Morse, inventor of the electromagnetic telegraph, and his participation in the development of telegraph systems throughout the world.
