Wheels in Motion: The Story of John Boyd Dunlop and His Amazing Invention

• History
• Primary Education

Wheels in Motion: The Story of John Boyd Dunlop and His Amazing Invention.

Learning Intention.

We are learning about the story of John Boyd Dunlop, his invention of the tire, and why it's important.

I know who John Boyd Dunlop is.

I know why John Boyd Dunlop invented the tyre.

I know how life changed after the invention.

What do you already know about the invention of the tire?

Who Was John Boyd Dunlop?

John Boyd Dunlop was a Scottish inventor best known for inventing the pneumatic tyre in 1888.

He was a veterinary surgeon who lived in Belfast (do you know where that is?) and was used to working with rubber which is what tyres are made from.

Invention of the Tire

Dunlop invented the tyre to help his son who was having a bumpy ride on his tricycle.

Can you imagine riding a bike with tyres that had no air?

The Importance of the Invention

The invention of the tire made rides smoother and easier, and it changed the way people traveled.

How do you think it changed the way that people travelled?

Why It's Important to Know

Learning about inventors and their inventions helps us understand how things we use every day came to be and why they are the way that they are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFtUN0yvZ14 

Quiz Time!

1. John Boyd Dunlop was born...

a. In a hospital in Spain in 2002.

b. On a farm in Edinburgh 1840.

c. On a farm in Belfast 1940.

d. On the moon (date unknown).

Quiz Time

2. at 19 years old, John graduated from University and became a...

a) Doctor

b) Pilot

C) Clown

d) Veterinary doctor

Quiz Time

3. Where did John Dunlop move to to set up his veterniary practice?

a. Cardiff

b. London

c. Kintore

d. Belfast

Quiz Time

4. What did John Dunlop's son find it difficult to do on the cobble roads?

a. Cycle

b. Cartwheel

c. Run

d. Bake muffins

Quiz Time

4. What year did John Dunlop fill tyres with air to make cycling easier for his son?

a. 2024

b. 1999

c. 1888

d. 2030

Quiz Time

5. To suit John Dunlop's invention, bike wheels were made...

a. Bigger

b. Smaller

c. Yellow

d. Thicker

Let's Recap

John Boyd Dunlop invented the tire to make rides smoother, and it changed the way people traveled. Learning about inventors and their inventions helps us understand how things we use every day came to be.

Conclusion

Now you know the amazing story of John Boyd Dunlop and his important invention!

Our task is now to create a story map of his life, using the information we learned in the video.

Timeline

1) John Boyd Dunlop was born on a farm in Ayrshire, in 1840.

2) At 19 years old, he graduated from Veterinary College in Edinburgh.

3) He moved to Belfast to set up his Veterinary practice.

4) His son found it hard to cycle on cobble roads.

5) In 1888 John Boyd Dunlop filled a tyre with air.

6) His invention made cycling easier and wheels were made smaller to suit the pneumatic tyre.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.