# Lesson 273: Talk about inventions that make life easier

💡 TECHNOLOGY & FUTURE SKILLS (40 Lessons) • 🟠 E. Future and Innovation

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## Objective

I can talk about simple inventions that make life easier, like light bulbs, fridges, or wheelchairs. I can say how these tools help people and remember that humans invented and control them.

## Materials

- Plain paper or a notebook page
- Pencils, crayons, or markers
- Optional: pictures of everyday inventions (toothbrush, tap, fridge, washing machine, glasses, wheelchair)
- Trusted adult helper (parent, carer, or teacher)

## Mini-lesson — What is an invention?

An invention is a new idea, tool, or machine that people create to solve a problem or make life easier.

Everyday inventions

- A toothbrush helps us keep our teeth clean.
- A light bulb helps us see when it is dark.
- A washing machine helps clean clothes faster.
- Glasses help people see clearly.
- A wheelchair helps some people move around more easily.

People invent and choose tools

- Long ago, people had jobs that were slow or hard.
- They used their ideas to invent tools that could help.
- Today, people still decide which inventions to use and how to use them.

Inventions should be used kindly and safely

- We use inventions to help, not to hurt or tease others.
- We follow safety rules (for example, adults plug in machines).
- We share fairly when others need the tool too.

People are still in charge

- Inventions do not choose the rules by themselves.
- Humans decide when to use them, when to turn them off, and how to improve them.
- We can say: "This invention helps us, but people are the ones who decide."

Adults can say: "Let us look around our home or school and notice inventions that make life easier for us and for other people."

Picture strip: "Inventions that help"

## Guided Practice — Spot inventions that help

Use this talk-and-draw activity to help your child notice inventions that make life easier.

1. Look around one room together (kitchen, bathroom, or classroom). Point to objects like taps, lights, fridge, or bins.
2. For each object, ask: "How does this help us?" (It gives us clean water, light, cold food, etc.).
3. On paper, draw two columns: "Helps my body" and "Helps our home or school".
4. Work together to sort inventions: toothbrush, tap, glasses in the first column; washing machine, lift, bin in the second.
5. Circle one invention in each column and finish a sentence like: "The ______ helps by ______."
6. Remind your child: people invented these tools and people decide to fix or improve them.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — My favourite helpful invention

Use this page to help your child think about one invention that makes life easier for them or for someone they know.

1. On a new page, write the title: "My favourite helpful invention".
2. Ask your child to draw the invention they choose (for example: fridge, glasses, lift, bus, wheel).
3. Under the picture, help them write: "This is a ______."
4. On the next line, write: "It helps by ______." (keeps food cold, helps people see, moves people upstairs, etc.).
5. Add a kindness line: "I can use this invention ______." (safely, fairly, to help others).
6. Talk together: "Who invented tools like this?" Help your child answer: "People did, using ideas and hard work."
7. Read the page aloud and say thank you for the many inventions that help people around the world.

## Quick Check — Inventions that make life easier

Answer each question about what inventions are, how they help, and who is in charge of them.

1) What is an invention?

A rule that never changes. A new idea or tool that people create to solve a problem. A game you play only once.
Inventions are new ideas or tools people make to help with jobs or problems.

2) Which one is an invention that helps people?

A wheelchair that helps someone move. A pile of random rocks. A cloud in the sky.
A wheelchair was invented to help people move more easily.

3) How does a light bulb make life easier?

It makes rooms noisy. It makes food spicy. It helps people see when it is dark.
Light bulbs give light so we can see after sunset or in dark rooms.

4) Who invented helpful tools and machines?

The tools invented themselves. People who used their ideas and hard work. Only computers did.
People use creativity and effort to design new inventions.

5) Who decides how and when inventions are used?

People, like families, workers, and communities. The machines all by themselves. No one at all.
Humans stay in charge of how inventions are used.

6) Which sentence shows safe and kind use of inventions?

"I push someone’s wheelchair without asking." "I swing the vacuum around for fun." "I use tools the way adults taught me and keep others safe."
We use inventions gently and follow safety rules.

7) Why do people keep inventing new tools?

To make life harder. To solve problems and make life easier or safer. Just to use more electricity.
Inventions are made to help people and solve real problems.

8) Which is a good question to ask about an invention?

"How does this help people?" "Can I use this to be unkind?" "Can this break all the rules?"
We think about how inventions help and who they support.

9) What should you do if you are not sure how to use a tool or machine?

Try it alone in a dangerous way. Hit the buttons until something happens. Ask a trusted adult for help.
Adults can show you safe ways to use inventions.

10) What is the big idea of this lesson?

Inventions are the boss of people. Inventions can make life easier, and people stay in charge of how we use them. We should never use inventions at all.
We are learning to notice helpful inventions and remember that people control them.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can explain in simple words what an invention is. Student can name at least one invention and how it helps people. Student understands that people invented and control tools and machines. Student can give one example of using an invention kindly and safely. Student knows to ask a trusted adult before using new tools or machines.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can talk about inventions that help people and remember that people are in charge. 🙂 I know some helpful inventions but still need practice explaining how they help. 😅 Talking about inventions still feels a bit tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Noticing inventions around my home or school Explaining how one invention helps people Remembering that people, not machines, make the rules
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