Instructify

Science! Industry! Technology! When I was a kid, these exclamations, often uttered by cartoon geniuses intent on time travel or world domination, spoke to the budding mad scientist within me. My inner-Dr. Frankenstein has long since been buried alive under the dusty tomes of an English major. But he uttered a grunt when I stumbled upon The Franklin Institute’s Scientist Case Files.

Reading about genius inventors like Edison and Tesla can inspire young students who have a scientific bent. Each case file tells the story of people who made great scientific impacts on the world, like Henry Ford or the Wright brothers. If students have a particular subject interest, the Case Files are organized by field, so your aspiring video game designer can read up on the people who made modern computing possible. Each file comes with suggest reading if students want to find more information.

The Case Files can remind us of the exciting possibilities of science and invention. Remember, creativity isn’t just for artists. Applying scientific principles of inquiry and exploration to problems can lead to amazing results. That said, I won’t be held responsible if your students decides to take over the world with her homemade laser death ray. -BILL FERRIS

The Franklin Institute’s Scientist Case Files