Local History in the Classroom: Connecting Community & Curriculum

A brief guide to linking local history & community heritage to curriculum topics.,focusing on the Mid-Hudson area of New York State, by S. Gardner 2023

TECH: PATENTS GRANTED TO LOCALS

An easy way to connect your curriculum and your community-- such as "The Industrial Revolution"-- is to research local patents. Most communities have at least a few.

SEARCH GOOGLE PATENTS: patents.google.com

Search strategy: "name of your town" followed by "new york" (in quotation marks for any search term that is a phrase)

RESOURCES

Co-Curricular Innovation: Teaching About Patents as Primary Sources
A model program showing use of patents in the classroom.

Teach Using Patents: A Guide
A web guide for using patents in the classroom across disciplines.

LESSON PLAN EXAMPLE: MILK CAN

Pitts Milk Can Patent
A sample lesson combining document examination. Links technology, impact of industrial revolution, transportation, everyday life. Documents: Patent, U. S. Census, obituary.