There’s no better time than Black History Month to teach young minds about the inspiring achievements of incredible people in history. And what better way to start than by introducing them to Garrett Morgan, a prolific inventor whose seminal work in traffic safety had a profound impact on society. In this preschool lesson plan, we’ll delve deep into Garrett Morgan’s life and work, and explore some fun and engaging ways to teach about his contribution to the world we know today. Let’s start with some basic facts about Mr. Morgan. Born in 1877 in Claysville, Kentucky, Garrett Morgan had little more than a grade-school education, but he possessed an insatiable curiosity and a drive to tinker and invent. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1895, where he worked as a handyman and sewing-machine mechanic, while continuing to dabble in inventing on the side. His early inventions included a belt fastener for sewing machines and a curved needle for stitching shoes. But it wasn’t until he turned his focus to traffic safety that he found his true calling. In 1923, he patented what he called the “Morgan Safety Hood”, a rudimentary gas mask that could filter out harmful fumes, smoke, and other air-borne toxins. He went on to sell this device to fire departments, police departments, and factories across the country. But it was his work on traffic safety that really set him apart. At the time, there were few, if any, safety measures in place to regulate automobile traffic. There were no stop signs, no traffic signals, and no safety helmets for pedestrians. Accidents were all too common, and fatalities were on the rise. In 1923, Morgan witnessed a particularly gruesome accident at an intersection in Cleveland, which inspired him to take action. He began to experiment with ways to improve traffic safety. He developed a mechanical arm that could be mounted on a traffic light, which would lower and raise a “stop” sign to regulate traffic. He also invented a system of lights that would flash in sequence, warning drivers to slow down and prepare to stop. Most famously, he developed the first electric traffic signal, which could be controlled remotely, and would cycle through red, yellow, and green lights to regulate traffic flow. Morgan’s traffic signal was a game-changer, but it wasn’t universally embraced at first. Some people were suspicious of the technology, while others were simply confused by the new system. In 1924, Morgan famously staged a demonstration of his traffic signal at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, during which he put himself in harm’s way to prove that the signal was safe and effective. The demonstration was a success, and soon, traffic signals began to pop up all over the country. The traffic light, as we know it today, owes its existence to Garrett Morgan, whose innovation and persistence helped to save countless lives on the road. So, how can we bring this incredible story to life for a classroom full of preschoolers? Here are a few ideas: 1. Traffic light craft activity Get your little ones excited about traffic signals with a fun and simple craft activity! Have each child decorate a cardboard box or paper tube with red, yellow, and green construction paper, and then cut out circles or squares to represent the different lights. Once they’re finished, you can have them practice “stopping” and “going” on command, just like they would at a real traffic light. 2. Scavenger hunt for traffic lights Take your class on a field trip around your local area to discover traffic signals in action. Have them search for red, yellow, and green lights, and talk about what each color means. You could even encourage them to count how many traffic signals they see on the trip! 3. Read-aloud of “The Light of the World” “The Light of the World” by Pamela Duncan Edwards is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that tells the story of Garrett Morgan’s invention of the traffic signal. Gather your class together and read the book aloud, prompting discussion and questions as you go. 4. Dramatic play activity Encourage your little ones to act out the roles of drivers, pedestrians, and traffic officers with a fun dramatic play activity. Provide them with toy cars, cones, and safety vests, and assign roles and responsibilities for each child. You could even create a “road” or “intersection” area in your classroom for them to navigate. 5. Traffic safety song and dance Get your class moving and grooving with a fun and catchy song about traffic safety! There are plenty of options available online, and you could even create your own with your class. Encourage them to act out the different actions, such as “stop” and “go”, as they sing along. No matter how you choose to incorporate Garrett Morgan’s story into your curriculum, one thing is for certain: your preschoolers are sure to be inspired by his ingenuity and perseverance. By teaching them about incredible inventors like Morgan, we can help ignite a sense of curiosity and wonder in their minds, and fuel their passion for creating a better world.
