Nikola Tesla Lesson Plan: Individuals’ Contributions and Identities

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Nikola Tesla, and supports an understanding of his contributions to scientific progress and their impact on society. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Ask students:

• What scientists or inventors do you know of? 
• How have these scientists impacted the way we live today?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

• Read the description on the Nikola Tesla topic page.
• Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
• Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the following articles: “In Depth,” “Did You Know?” or “Way Back When.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign Nikola Tesla Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about Nikola Tesla while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

• • Make-a-Movie: Produce a talk show-style interview with Nikola Tesla. Ask and answer these questions: How do you hope to change how society uses electricity? What systems and inventions will make this possible?  
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying and explaining Tesla’s scientific developments.
  • Creative Coding: Code a digital museum exhibit featuring figures and artifacts to represent Tesla’s scientific contributions.
  • Primary Source Activity: Analyze a newspaper interview with Tesla, then cite details to answer accompanying questions.

More to Explore 

Time Zone X: Nikola Tesla: Place historical events in chronological order in this interactive timeline game.

Circuit Construction Kit: DC: ​​Design and build your own circuits in this simulation game.

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of  Nikola Tesla’s work and innovations with these topics: Current Electricity, Static Electricity, and Electromagnetic Induction.

Teacher Support Resources:

• Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
• Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.