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Science History: John Wesley Hyatt

Prepared by Jack Urso, Technology Integrationist for the Virtual Learning Training Center.

Task: Review the information about a local inventor and answer the study questions.

Objective: Students will be able to explain how an individual’s scientific research impacted their community and the world.

Look at the things around the room you’re in. How many are made of plastic? In fact, there may be so many things made of plastic in this room that it would take a long time just to count them. Plastic is one of our most valuable materials and in used in countless everyday items. Were it not for plastic many of our advances as a society, from medical uses and computers to compact disks and the space program, just would not be possible.

In Albany, NY,on Delaware Avenue near Second Avenue, next to a Friendly’s Restaurant, you’ll see the historical marker on the left (click picture for larger image). The city of Albany plays an important part in the invention of plastics. John Wesley Hyatt (1837-1920) lived in Albany and gave the world its first plastic material.

 

 

 

 

Task 1: Read the following articles and then answer the study questions.

Hyatt and his inventions:

Plastics and Hyatt:

 

John Wesley Hyatt

Task 2: Study Questions

1) What caused Hyatt to invent the first useable plastic material?

2) What were the advantages of the material Hyatt invented?

3) What were the disadvantages of the material Hyatt invented?

4) What animal do you think benefited most from Hyatt’s invention?

5) Name the inventor AFTER Hyatt who improved plastic. What is different about the plastic this inventor created and the kind Hyatt invented?

Task 3: Extra Credit Bonus Task!!!

Consult with your science teacher first and get their permission to try the experiment of the month using plastics from the National Plastics Center and Museum at the link below. A new experiment appears every month.

http://npcm.plastics.com/exp_o_the_month.html