The Useborne Book of Inventors From Da Vinci to Biro written by Struan Reid and Patricia Fara from Scholastic Inc. is an incredible resource for the classroom. From early inventions to communication machines there are articles about every subject you might need. It could be used in a unit on science, history, social studies or even language arts (expository text). Whether your lesson is on transpiration, technology, observations, and or inventors your students would be able to find something in this book. Short exert from text:
Trains and Railway
The age of railways began at the end of the 18th century, with the invention of the steam engine and the introduction of cast iron rails. At the time, many people believed that it was dangerous to travel fast than the speed of a galloping horse, and opposed the development of locomotives.