Lesson Plan - History Makers: Thomas Edison

Watch a Slideshow: 5 Things You Need to Know about Edison

After reviewing the slideshow, ask: Why do many people consider Edison one of the greatest inventors of all time?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• determined 
• laboratory
  

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about the qualities that helped Edison succeed as an inventor.

1. According to the article, what challenge did Edison face when he was a child? A challenge Edison faced as a child is that he started to lose his hearing in both ears when he was around 12. 

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2. What are some ways Edison tried to create a glow inside a light bulb? Edison tried hundreds of ways to create a glow inside a bulb. For example, he tried using a piece of fishing line, the stringy part of a coconut shell, and hairs from a friend’s beard. He finally succeeded when he used cotton thread. 

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3. What did Edison mean when he said that no experiment is a failure? Edison meant that even if an experiment did not work, you could always learn something that would help you. 

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FEATURED SKILL: Synthesize Information

Use the Skill Builder “All About Thomas Edison” to have students use details from the article to complete a profile of Edison.