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.

• attempted
• patents

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 materials did Edison try using for the filament inside a light bulb? What eventually worked best?
Edison tried many materials for the filament, including fishing line, the stringy part of a coconut shell, and hair from a friend’s beard. Cotton thread worked well, but a bamboo filament ended up working best.
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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. 
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