On April 26, 1892 the United States Patent office granted U.S. Patent #473,653 to Sarah Boone of New Haven, Connecticut. Very little is known about about her, except that she was African American. She was one of the first African American women to receive a patent, just 27 years after the Civil War. Her invention came about as means to make her work of ironing much easier by creating a board that could easily fit sleeves. TeacherVision, a teacher's online resource, provides a coloring page with an image of an ironing board, a decorative border and information about the invention.
Have children pretend to iron a long sleeved shirt using a plank of wood stretched across the backs of two chairs and then on an ironing board. Have them describe the difficulty of using the plain board as reasons to why she invented a better version with collapsible legs and a heat resistant cover. Ask the children to come up with ways that they could imagine improving modern ironing boards.
Sarah Morgan married Squire Boone when she was 20 years old in 1720. They had 11 children, including the sixth child Daniel Boone born 14 years later. Use a map and online genealogy information and help the children track the locations where Sarah Morgan Boone lived and discuss key events in her life such as marriage and the birth of children at each location. Explain how at some locations moving meant having to build a house. Have the children draw a one- or two-room log cabin. Have them describe ways the large family would have to cooperate to share the small space.
Have the children create a family tree with Sarah and her husband Squire Boone at the top. Have them draw the branches for each of their 11 children. Discuss with the class the reasons why it was important to have large families to help with the work around the house and farm. Have the children think up ways the children in the family helped with the work including getting food and making clothes for the family. Discuss what kinds of toys the children had and the games they played when their chores were finished.