Who made the things we use every day, and how do we know?
This bundle brings together all six Somebody Before Me teacher packets. Each packet pairs a short inventor song from Teach Between the Lines TV with a real primary source, two reading levels, a hands-on engineering challenge and an invention design project. Teach them in any order, or use them as a six-week Black inventors unit.
What's inside (146 pages)
Garrett Morgan & the Traffic Signal: 1923 patent, "Be the Signal" movement challenge
Lonnie Johnson & the Super Soaker: 1986 patent, "Squirt Test" outdoor challenge
Marie Van Brittan Brown & the Home Security System: 1969 patent, "Peephole Heights" measuring challenge
Jerry Lawson & the Video Game Cartridge: 1976 museum artifact, "Cartridge Slide Test" challenge
Frederick McKinley Jones & the Refrigerated Truck: 1942 patent, "Keep It Cool Test" challenge
Lyda Newman & the Hairbrush: 1898 patent, "Easy-Clean Brush Test" challenge
Every packet includes
3 sessions, 30–40 minutes each
12 student pages, including two reading levels, a primary-source page, a timeline, "Then and Now" and a "MY INVENTION!" design page
A family page, an answer key and full sources
A link to the free music video, with lyrics on screen
Standards
Common Core RI.2.1, RI.2.3, RI.2.7, W.2.2 and SL.2.1; NGSS K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2 and K-2-ETS1-3; C3 Framework D2.His.2.K-2 and D2.His.11.K-2. Some packets add 2.MD.A.1 or 2-PS1-4.
Format: One printable PDF (8.5 × 11 in), with bookmarks for each packet.
Super Soaker is a registered trademark of its owner. This is an educational resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the brand.
License: Single classroom. Print as many copies as your students need. Please don't share or post the file. Contact Teach Between the Lines for school or district licenses.