OUP00_CABECERO_BLANCO
OUP00_CABECERO_BLANCO
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History
Follow these steps to complete the task.
❚
Discover Leonardo da Vinci
– What do you know about him? Find out about his life and his works.
– Take notes on the most interesting aspects. For example, did you know that he invented
the bicycle, the parachute, the catapult and the aqualung? What other things did he
invent? Some of his inventions are listed on the right.
❚
Analyse the inventions
After each group has selected an invention, look for images and information about it. Try to
answer questions like the following:
– Which materials was it made from?
– What was it used for?
– How did it work?
– Do you think it would have been useful at that time?
– Did Da Vinci himself manage to make it and try it out?
– Has anyone tried to make it and try it out since then?
– Who could have bought it at that time?
– Would it make sense to make it today? Why?
– Which sources did you use to find the information?
Procedure
Become an inventor
9
Humanist philosophy instigated an explosionof creativity. One of themost revolutionary
figures of the Renaissance era was Leonardo da Vinci. Do you know what he invented?
Are you a natural inventor? To find out, use your imagination to complete the following
task.
It is not easy to copy Leonardo. You will need to find out about his inventions first. Get into
groups and select a different invention each. Then you are going to create your own inventions
in the spirit of the Renaissance.
Research
MATERIALS
❚
Notebook
❚
Computer with internet
connection
❚
Encyclopedias,
historical atlases, books,
documentaries
Top: Da Vinci’s drawing of
a propeller, predecessor
of the helicopter,
and a contemporary
reconstruction
Left: Sketches for
construction of a car and
a model of the car
aqualung
propeller
parachute
glider
flying machine
swing bridge
paddle boat
scythed chariot
catapult
irrigation system
anemometer
revolving crane
double-hulled boat
self-propelled vehicle
