Week 9: The Steamboat and the Cotton Gin
Homeschooling moms must fill up their knowledge bank in order to give the best to their kids. The more mom knows, the better she can teach. Research these topics and share the general idea with younger kids. For older kids, you might invite them to pick a topic to research.
![]() |
Robert Fulton |
Topics for Week 9
Eli Whitney
The Cotton Gin
Robert Fulton
The Steamboat
American Colonial Life
Discussion Questions
Eli Whitney's The Cotton Gin
How did Eli Whitney lose the legal battle to secure a patent on his invention?
What did Eli Whitney do after he invented the Cotton Gin?
How did the Cotton Gin change the economy of the Southern plantation owners and Slaves?
The Steamboat
1. If you could take a voyage anywhere in the world, where would you go? (I would go on a voyage to _____)
2. What kind of transportation would you use for your voyage? (I would use a _____ to go on my voyage.)
3. Would you rather take a voyage in a covered wagon or on a steamboat? (I would rather take a voyage in a _____ .)
4. What kinds of things should you take with you when you go on a voyage? (I would take _____ with me on my voyage.)
5. Who would you take with you when going on a voyage? (I would take _____ with me on my voyage.)
Resources:
Books (all links go to Goodreads)
Robert Fulton: Boy Craftsman
Diary of an Early American Boy
Farmer Boy
Caddie Woodlawn
Videos
Activities
Begin an Invention Project. This could be anything from working with broken appliances and fixing them or making something new to designing a hypothetical object on paper. We like the book
My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook: 50 Awesome Drawing Activities for Young Inventors because it makes this easy.
Make a list of the inventions Fulton came up with
Examine artifacts and make inferences about the people and the historical periods that they represent.
Make a homesteading craft like soap or candles or butter
Take a virtual ride on a Steamboat
Check out this Edsitement lesson plan
Image Credit: Evert A Duyckinick / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain