
Try this: For a cool science fair project, learn to make a model of a steam power generator. He used and improved on the technology of the time to make the first commercial steamboats. Known for: Fulton got his start as an artist, but it was his interest in steam engines that turned him into one of the most famous inventors. Try this: Assemble a homemade pulley system to mimic Jefferson’s dumbwaiter. Learn more: Thomas Jefferson: Inventions & Accomplishments His swivel chair was an instant hit, and he also created the dumbwaiter system. Known for: When he wasn’t writing the Declaration of Independence or being president, Jefferson loved to tinker. These include the aerial screw, which led to modern helicopters, and an underwater diving suit that was the precursor to today’s scuba gear. He was a gifted artist, but he also invented a wide array of technologies.

Known for: Da Vinci was the original Renaissance Man. Try this: Visit thrift shops to find an old panini press, then turn it into a printing press. Learn more: Biography of Johannes Gutenberg, German Inventor of the Printing Press (ThoughtCo) The movable type he used made mass printing possible and brought books and reading to the masses.

Known for: Gutenberg was the first European to invent the printing press. Perhaps they’ll be inspired to become famous inventors themselves! 1. Some of these are household names, while others deserve more recognition for inventions that have become essential to daily life.įor each one, you’ll find resources for more information and hands-on activities to help kids learn more about their achievements.

And while they definitely belong on this list, they’re just the start of the innovators and inventors that kids ought to know. Ask kids to name famous inventors, and you might get Thomas Edison or Henry Ford.
