Printables All About the Industrial Age
Published:
April 1, 2020
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
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The Industrial Revolution has influenced almost every facet of how we live our daily lives in some way or the other. From the beginning of factories that make the products on our shelves today to the telegraph communications that began our journey to the mobile phones we all carry now, the invention boom of this era was a catalyst for innovation across the globe.
These printables all about the Industrial Age will go great alongside your studies on the Industrial Revolution in your homeschool.
By the 1800s, America (the U.S.) became the most industrialized nation in the world. However, the Industrial Age didn’t begin in America. It began in Britain in the late 1700s. From Britain, it spread throughout Europe and to the United States, lasting from about the 1700s – 1900s.
Can you imagine how many lives were changed in the Industrial Age?
The economic significance of the Industrial Age was huge, and the times changed the whole way of life for the people. Most people went from farmers in agriculture to industrial workers in factories and mills. Production in goods was completely overhauled, and people started migrating to urban areas for work and opportunity.
The farmers who stayed in their craft reaped the benefits of mass production and increased the supply of raw materials and food. Companies became more efficient and more profitable. Many people became richer and healthier, the population grew, and more children survived to be adults because of the availability of food.
The downside of the Industrial Age
There were some downfalls to the Industrial Revolution that had to be smoothed out after some time like overwork for little pay. Many families spent more time away from each other as some people were working anywhere between 12 to 18 hours a day!
The Industrial Age also resulted in pollution with more carbon dioxide in the air and nuclear waste in the waterways and soil. Natural resources, once never touched, were now being used up extremely quickly.
The rapid increase in industrialization led to an influx of migrant works, and the industrialized areas became overcrowded. This eventually led to some unsanitary conditions, which led to diseases.
Thankfully labor reforms were adopted in the United States and Britain to help out the workers. Our industrialized nations all began from this time in history, and we are all grateful for where we are now.
Here are some inventions that have paved the way forward from the industrial age:
1712 – The steam engine was invented by Thomas Newcomen.
1719 – The silk factory was the first factory ever built, started by John Lombe in England.
1733 – John Kay invented the weaving machine named the Flying Shuttle.
1764 – The Spinning Jenny was invented for faster cloth-making by James Hargreaves.
1769 – James Watt improved the steam engine, one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution.
1783 – Henry Cort perfected a puddling process for refining iron ore.
1794 – Eli Whitney created the cotton gin that separated cotton from the cotton seeds.
1807 – Robert Fulton developed the first passenger steamboat.
1846 – Elias Howe was awarded the first U.S. patent for a sewing machine.
1866 – Alfred Nobel invented a safer type of dynamite.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone.
1880 – Thomas Edison patented the carbon filament electric lamp.
1902 – Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine.
1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright built and flew the very first airplane successfully.
1908 – Henry Ford manufactured the Model T car from an assembly line; a more affordable option for common people.
Explore these printables all about the Industrial Age to help you teach this innovative time period in your homeschool.
We love incorporating the Time Travelers series in our homeschool. Even non-crafty or hands-on moms will love and appreciate the activities as they are mostly cut-outs that allow you to create the most amazing lapbooks or interactive notebooks.
Time Travelers: The Industrial Revolution through the Great Depression
FREE People of the Industrial Revolution Notebooking
Industrial Revolution Choice Board | Red Stick Teaching Materials
No Prep Industrial Revolution Word Search FUN | Puzzles to Print
Industrial Revolution – Invention Poster Project | Addie Williams
Inventors Notebooking FREE Unit
Inventions of the Industrial Revolution Worksheet | Students of History
Industrial Revolution Interactive Notebook | Students of History
FREE Famous Trains Notebooking Research Journal
FREE Worksheet Industrial Revolution | Education.com
Industrial Revolution Activities | Wise Guys
Facts & Worksheets (FREE ) Industrial Revolution | KidsKonnect
FREE Inventors Notebooking Pages | Homeschoolshare
8 Page Industrial Revolution FREE Sheets and Quiz | Student Handouts
FREE Printable Industrial Revolution Worksheets | Easy Teacher Worksheets
FREE Architects & Engineers Vol. 1 Notebooking Research Journal
Here are a few videos your kids might enjoy about the Industrial Revolution:
Industrial Revolution for Kids by Clarendon Learning
Industrial Revolution Educational Video for Kids by Happy Learning English
Adventure into the Industrial Revolution for Kids by Smile and Learn
Causes of the First Industrial Revolution: Examples & Summary | Study.com
Of course, there are some interesting facts you can share with your kids about the industrial age. Here are just a few I will wrap up with:
- Factories were initially powered by water, so most of them were located by rivers to power the waterwheels.
- There were many riots and rebellions in Britain due to the industrialization of large factories, because they were putting small companies out of business.
- Steam power allowed printers to produce newspapers and books at a small price, which helped improve literacy.
