This lesson is designed as a cooperative jigsaw learning experience. Whether used in social studies or ELA, it gets students thinking and talking as they ponder the question:  Which invention had the bigger impact – the cell phone or the cotton gin?

A dynamic opener in which students consider their cell phones initiates thinking about how inventions change our worlds.  Now, they tackle the cotton gin.  Students take on career roles as mechanical engineers, economists, mathematicians, or biographers.  First, they head to an expert station to master their task.  Now, they return to their home base to teach.

It includes a thought-provoking opener, critical thinking tasks for every job -including all of the online reading links, a note-taking device for teaching, and a formative assessment in which learners take a stand on the two inventions.  A differentiated lesson, the text varies in difficulty and length, videos are incorporated, and students can have some choice as to which career task they select.  I jokingly tell people that, “This is one of those lessons you do when you’re getting observed!” 

This lesson incorporates many literacy standards, including speaking and listening, citing evidence, and using primary and secondary sources.  Also, strong on technology integration – all links are included, including videos.