Social studies in grade 4 is about diving into the people and ideas shaping our world. One fascinating figure we recently studied is Jan Ernst Matzeliger, an inventor who transformed the shoe industry during the Industrial Revolution. Born in 1852 in Suriname, then a Dutch colony, Jan Ernst Matzeliger was the son of a Dutch engineer and a local Black woman. His mixed-race heritage and upbringing in a modest household shaped his resourcefulness and determination. After moving to the U.S.A., he created the lasting machine, a groundbreaking invention that revolutionized how shoes were made. Before his invention, making shoes was a slow, manual process, with skilled workers taking hours to craft a single pair. Matzeliger’s machine dramatically cut production time, making shoes more affordable. Learning about Matzeliger helps us understand the bigger picture of the Industrial Revolution when new inventions changed how goods were made, transported, and sold. After learning about this remarkable innovator, we crafted a timeline of his life, practicing our chronological skills.