Thomas Intermediate School

Manufacturing Activity

 

During the early 1900s many people moved to the Midwestern States to find work. This period in our country's history is called The Great Migration. People who had previously made their living by farming found jobs in cities such as Detroit, Michigan. These jobs were usually in factories.

Henry Ford manufactured the Model T Ford, or "Tin Lizzie." Answer these questions about Ford and his new invention.

  1. Why was the Model T so special?
  2. How did Henry Ford manage to make the Model T so cheap to produce?
  3. How much did the Model T cost in 1925?
  4. How did the Model T change the way of life of America in the early 1900s?

Click here to check your answers.

The Model T was quite different from today's automobiles. Make a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting these cars. If you need help making a Venn diagram, look at the following notes.

To begin, make a list for the characteristics of a Model T and another one for the characteristics of a modern car. Draw a star beside the characteristics you find in each list.

Next, draw two overlapping circles. In the one on the left, list the characteristics of a modern day car. In the circle on the right, list the characteristics of a Model T. In the space where the two circles overlap, list the characteristics that are the same for both cars.

Assembly lines are common in today's factories. Some manufacturers even use robots! Think of a use for a robot in manufacturing. Could it attach car doors onto the frame? Could it paint designs on a plate? Once you have come up with a job, design your own robot on the Web! (Your teacher must have downloaded ShockWave for this to work, so check first!)

This activity was developed my Mary S. Pitner. pitnerm@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

 

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