Thomas Alva Edison: Great InventorThomas Alva Edison: Great Inventor

Objective: students will gain an understanding of how thomas edison’s hard work and various inventions Objective: students will gain an understanding of how thomas edison’s hard work and various inventions (including the telegraph, mimeograph, phonograph, and the light bulb) changed the world.(including the telegraph, mimeograph, phonograph, and the light bulb) changed the world.

Miller, Lyle. Miller, Lyle. Thomas Alva Edison: A Great Thomas Alva Edison: A Great Inventor Inventor . New York, NY: Holiday House, . New York, NY: Holiday House, Inc. 1990.Inc. 1990.

Erica C. RussellErica C. Russell

Book Summary: Book Summary:

This is a story about the life, both personal This is a story about the life, both personal and professional, of the brilliant Mr. Thomas and professional, of the brilliant Mr. Thomas Alva Edison that depicts his life and some of Alva Edison that depicts his life and some of the wonderful inventions he designed during the wonderful inventions he designed during his childhood days into adulthood. This book his childhood days into adulthood. This book discusses several of his inventions which discusses several of his inventions which includes the telegraph, mimeograph, includes the telegraph, mimeograph, phonograph, and the light bulb, and phonograph, and the light bulb, and describes how his inventions changed the describes how his inventions changed the world!world!

HyperlinksHyperlinksEdison's Inventions

The Life of An Inventor

Thomas Alva EdisonThomas Alva Edison

A quiet life: A quiet life: What would life be like without some of Thomas Edison’s What would life be like without some of Thomas Edison’s

Inventions?Inventions?

Simulated Journal:Simulated Journal:

Imagine that you are the brilliant ThomasImagine that you are the brilliant ThomasEdison, HIMSELF! Discuss three of your Edison, HIMSELF! Discuss three of your inventions in great detail. Describe the placeinventions in great detail. Describe the placewhere you designed your invention, discusswhere you designed your invention, discusswhat compelled you to create each invention-what compelled you to create each invention-in great detail (what events were going on around in great detail (what events were going on around you at the time that made you feel as though youryou at the time that made you feel as though yourinvention was crucial to your lifetime), invention was crucial to your lifetime), describe how people used your invention, anddescribe how people used your invention, anddescribe how your invention has changed describe how your invention has changed the world.the world.

(To the right is a (To the right is a photo of Edison’sphoto of Edison’sphonograph).phonograph).

How has life changed as a result of famous inventors and their How has life changed as a result of famous inventors and their contributions to society?contributions to society?

Highlight an Invention:Highlight an Invention:

On a poster board, you are expected to On a poster board, you are expected to highlight one of the following inventors:highlight one of the following inventors:

Thomas EdisonThomas Edison Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell The Wright BrothersThe Wright Brothers Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

You are expected to highlight one of You are expected to highlight one of their major inventions by providing a their major inventions by providing a summary of what the invention was summary of what the invention was used for and how it changed life as it used for and how it changed life as it was known during that time period. was known during that time period.

Make sure you include a picture of the Make sure you include a picture of the inventor and at least one picture of the inventor and at least one picture of the invention itself. invention itself.

(Above, the Wright Brothers are (Above, the Wright Brothers are preparing for first flight in 1905).preparing for first flight in 1905).

Would we be able to survive life as we know it Would we be able to survive life as we know it without a telephone?without a telephone?

““Chat and Chew”Chat and Chew”(Interview)(Interview)

Imagine that you had the Imagine that you had the opportunity to interview Alexander opportunity to interview Alexander Graham Bell and ask him about Graham Bell and ask him about how he designed the first how he designed the first telephone, how it was used, and telephone, how it was used, and how it changed the society in which how it changed the society in which he lived. (You are to prepare at he lived. (You are to prepare at least 5 questions for this least 5 questions for this interview).interview).

Then, share with Alexander how Then, share with Alexander how the phone has evolved into what we the phone has evolved into what we know it to be today. Discuss with know it to be today. Discuss with him some advancements that come him some advancements that come occurred within telephones (i.e. occurred within telephones (i.e. cordless phones, cell phones, smart cordless phones, cell phones, smart phones, etc.) and how these phones, etc.) and how these advancements contribute to our advancements contribute to our daily existence. daily existence.

(Above, the first telephone invented by Alexander (Above, the first telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell).Graham Bell).

South Carolina StandardsSouth Carolina Standards

Standard:Standard:5-35-3

The student will demonstrate an understanding of major domestic and The student will demonstrate an understanding of major domestic and foreign developments that contributed to the United States’ becoming a foreign developments that contributed to the United States’ becoming a world power.world power.

5-3.15-3.1

Explain how the Industrial Revolution was furthered by new inventions and Explain how the Industrial Revolution was furthered by new inventions and technologies,technologies,

including new methods of mass production and transportation and the including new methods of mass production and transportation and the invention of the light bulb, the telegraph, and the telephone.invention of the light bulb, the telegraph, and the telephone.

5-3.25-3.2

Identify prominent inventors and scientists of the period and summarize their Identify prominent inventors and scientists of the period and summarize their inventions or discoveries, including Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham inventions or discoveries, including Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham

Bell, the Wright Brothers, and Albert Einstein.Bell, the Wright Brothers, and Albert Einstein.

ReferencesReferences ““Edison Invents”:Edison Invents”:http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/edison/http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/edison/ ““Edison’s Life”:Edison’s Life”:http://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/ed_c.htmhttp://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/ed_c.htm ““History Wired”:History Wired”:http://historywired.si.edu/detail.cfm?ID=323http://historywired.si.edu/detail.cfm?ID=323 Thomas Edison Photo:Thomas Edison Photo:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96513667/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96513667/ Wright Brother’s PhotoWright Brother’s Photohttp://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/hec2008000742/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/hec2008000742/ Alexander Graham Bell’s TelephoneAlexander Graham Bell’s Telephonehttp://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/det1994022913/PP/http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/det1994022913/PP/