SEL Read Aloud: Whoosh! by Chris Barton
Summary
“Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions” by Chris Barton tells the inspiring story of Lonnie Johnson, a passionate inventor from a crowded household in Mobile, Alabama. Despite facing space constraints and skepticism about his future as an engineer, Lonnie’s creativity knew no bounds. From childhood, he was captivated by building and inventing, creating rockets that impressed his peers and even a robot named Linex that won a science fair. Despite an exam predicting otherwise, Lonnie pursued his dream, becoming an engineer and making significant contributions at NASA, including designing a power package for the Galileo orbiter to Jupiter.
Comprehension Questions
Six questions aligned to Bloom’s taxonomy for teacher’s to evaluate students’ comprehension
- Remembering: What invention made Lonnie Johnson famous?
- Understanding: Explain the process Lonnie went through to invent the Super Soaker.
- Applying: If Lonnie Johnson were to invent a new toy today, what steps would he likely take based on his invention of the Super Soaker?
- Analyzing: Compare and contrast the challenges Lonnie faced with the Super Soaker invention with those he encountered working for NASA.
- Evaluating: Judge the impact of Lonnie Johnson’s inventions on the toy industry and space exploration.
- Creating: Create a plan for a science project that applies Lonnie Johnson’s principles of engineering and inventing.
CASEL Discussion Questions
Five questions aligned to the CASEL competencies for teachers to foster an engaging discussion and foster social-emotional learning
- Self-Awareness: How might Lonnie Johnson have identified his strengths and interests to pursue a career in engineering and invention?
- Self-Management: What strategies can you infer Lonnie used to stay focused and motivated throughout the development of his inventions?
- Social Awareness: Discuss how Lonnie navigated the impact of cultural and societal barriers as an African American inventor.
- Relationship Skills: How did Lonnie demonstrate effective conflict resolution, especially in professional settings where his ideas were initially doubted?
- Responsible Decision Making: Analyze how Lonnie Johnson’s decision to pursue his passion for inventing contributed to his personal fulfillment and societal benefit.
Design Thinking Challenge
Take students’ learning even further by incorporating the Imagineerz design thinking framework
Create an Inventor’s Workshop
Understand
- Begin by exploring “Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super Soaking Stream of Inventions” by Chris Barton. Delve into Lonnie Johnson’s life, focusing on his persistent creativity and resilience in the face of challenges. Discuss what it means to be an inventor like Lonnie and how innovation can stem from curiosity, experimentation, and overcoming setbacks.
Ideate
- Prompt students to imagine they are inventors like Lonnie Johnson, tasked with solving everyday problems through innovative gadgets. What kind of invention could make daily life easier or more enjoyable? How could they combine simple principles of physics and engineering to create something new? Encourage them to think about how Lonnie used his knowledge of air pressure to invent the Super Soaker and brainstorm ideas for their inventions.
Prototype
- Students will use materials such as plastic tubing, balloons, rubber bands, water bottles, and recyclables to build prototypes of their inventions. Emphasize the importance of iteration, encouraging them to refine their ideas through trial and error, just as Lonnie Johnson did with his prototypes. They should focus on creating a working model that addresses a specific problem or need.
Test
- Have students present their inventions to the class, explaining the problem their invention solves, how they came up with the idea, and how it works, drawing parallels to Lonnie Johnson’s invention process. Encourage constructive feedback, focusing on potential improvements and how the invention could be further developed. Discuss the qualities of perseverance, curiosity, and creativity demonstrated through their projects, linking back to Lonnie Johnson’s journey as an inventor.
Read Aloud
If you appreciated getting to read this book with your class, you might also want to share this book with them!
Additional Resources
Copyright Notice
The image on this page comes from the book Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions. Copyright © 2016 by Chris Barton.
