Ancient Inventions

 

What do soap, trepanation, eyeliner and a ship shaker have in common?

Visit the Smith College Museum of Ancient Inventions and find out all sorts of interesting things about these and other inventions, including how to recreate them today.

Maybe you'll get some ideas for a new invention by using your brainpower!

  

© 1999-2003 www.barrysclipart.com

Step 1: Choose 2 or 3 inventions, read and make notes in this table (copy it into your notebook).

Name of the invention
and its purpose

Short description
(materials, colours, shape etc)
When invented and where
Still in use in a modified form? (Yes/No)

 

      

 

      

 

      

Step 2: Get in groups of three, take turns telling your group what you read about, using only your notes (DO NOT print out the pages off the Internet). Your listeners should take notes and ask you clarifying questions.
Step 3: Discuss which inventions you think are the most important, innovative, etc.
Step 4: Return to the web page and look at the inventions you heard about from your group.
Step 4: Write an essay on the topic : The invention I could not live without.

http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/hsclist.htm

 

Created by: Joan Greig
Adapted for the Web by: Renata Setmajer-Chylinski
for CALL Program at Monash University ELC