Bring history to life with this hands-on, minds-on Project-Based Learning unit that dives into the inventions that shaped the world—and the brilliant minds behind them. Perfect for curious, creative, and gifted students, this resource challenges learners to think like historians, inventors, and problem-solvers as they connect innovation from the past to possibilities for the future.
What’s Inside
A complete PBL guide focused on historical inventions
Student-driven inquiry and research tasks to foster curiosity
Tools for creating timelines, project plans, and presentations
Opportunities to reimagine or improve historical inventions
Rubrics and extension activities designed for advanced learners
Why It’s Perfect for Gifted Learners
Encourages critical and creative thinking by analyzing real-world innovations
Inspires innovation and design thinking across multiple eras
Provides open-ended opportunities for independent research and creation
Connects history, science, and technology for rich cross-curricular learning
Builds presentation, collaboration, and leadership skills through project sharing
How to Use It
Launch the unit with the driving question: How have inventions shaped our world—and how can we improve them?
Assign groups or individuals to research a specific invention and its inventor.
Guide students in creating timelines, models, or prototypes that demonstrate how the invention has evolved.
Use the provided graphic organizers and rubrics to structure research and assess learning.
Extend the project by having gifted learners design their own inventions to solve modern-day challenges.
✨Inspire your students to think like inventors, connect past innovations to today, and imagine a better future with Project-Based Learning: Inventions in History!
