On April 27, 2026, The Wall Street Journal published a section called INNOVATION: THE STORY OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ECONOMY.
Inside the section are several insightful lists and it got me thinking…. do your students agree? And wouldn’t this make for a really cool curriculum within an inventions unit? Here’s a curriculum idea for your classroom as well as the WSJ list below… Have fun! – Lowey
- Assign each student – at random – an invention from this list. Perhaps have the student pull the invention out of a hat?
- Have them research the history of this invention. Who invented it? How did they grow the idea? Discuss the failures along the way. How long did it take for their idea to catch on?
- Hold a debate. Have each student present a 2-minute argument and poster for why their invention was the most important one.
- Vote! Everyone votes for a top 25 invention list (perhaps don’t show them the original list).
- Discuss how your class’s ranking compares to the Wall Street Journal’s ranking.
WALL STREET JOURNAL’S TOP 25 INVENTIONS IN U.S. HISTORY:
- The Internet
- The Lightbulb
- Integrated circuit (semiconductors)
- Personal computer
- Airplane
- AC/ DC power
- Telephone
- Smartphone
- Refrigeration
- Nuclear power
- Polio vaccine
- Model T
- Global Positioning System
- Television
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fiber optics
- Auto assembly line
- Air conditioning
- Interchangeable parts
- Lasers
- Chemotherapy
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Commercial steamboat
- Birth control pills