Teacher Materials
All lesson materials download in PDF format. 
LESSON TITLE |
OBJECTIVES |
ACTIVITY |
DISCIPLINES |
|
Introduction to Semiconductors |
To help students begin to understand the complex subject of semiconductors and related technology, in order to provide a foundation for further study. | Students will be asked to take notes and do research on a number of suggested key words and phrases, to gain a basic understanding of semiconductors. They will investigate these terms (and others they may find along the way), in order to come to a better understanding of how they relate to each other, and how they describe the basic functioning and uses of semiconductors.
(Estimated time: 2 class periods or more) |
History Language Arts Research Science |
1,3,4,5,6 |
| Technological Innovation, Invention and Problem Solving |
To help students think about the creative process of invention, and the individuals who used problem-solving skills to become inventors. | Students will learn about the process and evolution of a series of significant semiconductor-related inventions. They will be led to realize that innovations and inventions are created when problems or challenges are encountered and solutions have to be found. Students will be asked to try and figure out the connections, creative problem-solving steps and inter-related innovations, inventions and developments that occurred from one historical stage to the next, in the development of semiconductors. In other words, how did one person’s ‘invention’ become the stepping stone for the next creative innovation or development?
(Estimated time: 2 class periods or more) |
History Language Arts Research Science |
1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Computer Revolution Biographies |
To help students learn about the important individuals who shaped the technological computer revolution, in general, and the semiconductor industry, in particular. | Students will research one of the people mentioned in the timeline, in order to define his/her unique contribution to the development of semi-conductor technology. Students will be required to perform further research with other sources in order to gather more information about each inventor. They must be able to properly document and cite their sources in their individual biographical reports.
(Estimated time: 2 class periods or more) |
History Language Arts Research Science |
1,3,4,5,6 |
| Perceptions of Technology: Its Hidden Art and Beauty |
To understand that technological objects can be visually perceived as artistic objects. Students will view a technological object from the online exhibit as an object of art. They will share their perceptions of the piece, with an understanding that colors, forms, shapes, and other visual elements are additional characteristics that should be appreciated and perceived. Students will learn that the artists and inventors of the past (and future) were able to see things differently. | Students will be led to understand that there is a relationship between technology and art. They will be shown that technology artifacts and computer components may also be viewed as artistic creations by their inventors. Students will be asked to react with a new artistic appreciation to understand the ‘hidden beauty’ behind technological objects, and then (optionally) work individually with a variety of materials to create their own abstract piece of technological art.
|
Art Art History Computer History Science |
1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Moore’s Law: Its Significance |
To understand the meaning and significance of Moore’s Law, use various graphs to make an analysis using comparable data, and to encourage thinking about the amazing speed of technological advances. | Students will specifically investigate Moore’s Law, analyze various graphs that illustrate Moore’s Law, and discuss its significance in computer history.
|
Math Science Computer History |
1,2,3,4,5,6 |
LESSON TITLE |
OBJECTIVES |
ACTIVITY |
DISCIPLINES |
|
| 1956: Silicon Comes to Silicon Valley |
To understand the impact of the silicon in transforming the area from an agricultural region into the capital of technology. | Students will learn about the history of the region through the study of the early Bay Area electronics companies.
|
History Regional Studies Research Geography |
1,2,3,4,6 |
| To Be or Not To Be: Choosing and Planning a Career |
To introduce students to a real life example of career development. | Through research and analysis of the biography of silicon luminary Gordon Moore, students will investigate the process of making career choices.
|
Career Dev. Life Skills Research Text Analysis |
1,2,3,6 |
| Japan Beyond Manga |
To investigate the contribution of Japan in the progress and advancement of semiconductor technology. | Students will learn about the absorption of technological advancements by Japan and the major companies that engaged in the process.
|
Global Economy Innovation Geography History Physics Cultural context |
1,3,4,5,6 |
| Back To The Future: In His Own Words |
To enable students to work with primary source documents and to comprehend their importance as tools for learning history. | Students will read and discuss an original document and research the online exhibition The Silicon Engine: a Timeline of Semiconductors in Computers for technological developments between 1965 and 1975.
|
Prim. Srcs. Analysis Research Life Skills Physics |
1,2,3,4,6 |
| Video Games – First Generation |
To help students learn about the role that microchips play in everyday life through videogames. | Students will learn about the first generation of video games.
|
Physics History Popular Culture |
1,2,3,6 |