A woman inventor? Mechanically inclined woman? Who would have thought it? YES!! Here is the opportunity for young girls to read about how not only was this woman an inventor, but she invented items that were mechanical!
MARVELOUS MATTIE: HOW MARGARET E. KNIGHT BECAME AN INVENTOR by Emily Arnold McCully is an easy biography to read and an inspiration to the girls out there that avoid science. With her inherited toolbox from her father, Mattie creates toys for her brothers and a foot warmer for her mother. The book is full of Mattie's sketches of her inventions and how they work She created a kite that the town boys couldn't believe a girl had made. Mattie created sleds for her brothers that won every race. The other boys started paying her to create sleds for them to race. This money she gave to her widowed mother to help out. The family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, to work in a textile mill. Mattie is enthralled by the machinery, especially the locomotive that is being built in the machine shop.
Mattie witnessed a girl hurt by a textile machine. She knew a machine was just an invention and could be improved. Mattie designed a metal guard and showed it to Mr. Baldwin in the machine shop, who in turn showed it to the mill owners. They installed the new guards.
Later in life, Mattie created a better paper bag and machine to make it. When she went to get a patent on her machine, she discovered that someone had stolen her design. She didn't give up! She took the man to court and won! She created her own paper bag company and when she died at the age of 76, she was referred to as "Lady Edison". The author includes a note telling more details about Mattie's life.
I plan to use this during Women's History Month. What an inspiration it will be to many of those science shy girls!
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