Learning Resources

Categories

History, Social Sciences, Civics, Government and Other

Some People I Know Lesson at a Glance: Thomas Edison
Grade Level 2, Houghton Mifflin Social Studies

Alexander Graham Bell's Patent for the Telephone and Thomas Edison's Patent for the Electric Lamp
U.S. National Archives and Records Service, Digital Classroom
This lesson correlates to the National Standards for Civics and Government.Standard V.B.3 -Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues regarding economic rights . . . including the right to establish and operate a business, copyright, and patent. (See also, The Edison Papers - Edison's Patents or Edison's Patents by PBS

Petition Signed by Thomas A. Edison for Sunday Openings at the World's Columbian Exposition
U.S. National Archives and Records Service
This lesson correlates to the National History Standards Era 6 -The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900) Standard 2B -Demonstrate understanding of the struggle for equal rights; Standard 2C -Demonstrate understanding of how new cultural movements at different social levels affected American life. This lesson correlates to the National Standards for Civics and Government Standard I.B.4 -Explain and evaluate competing ideas regarding the relationship between political and economic freedoms. Standard II.A.2 -Explain the extent to which Americans have internalized the values and principles of the Constitution and attempted to make its ideals realities.

Economic Spotter: Inventors and Entrepreneurs in the Industrial Age
Grade Level 3-5, National Council on Economics Education

The Invention Factory: Thomas Edison's Laboratories In West Orange, New Jersey/Teaching with Historic Places
Grade Level 5-12 National Park Service, Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison and the Process of Invention
Grade Level 6-12, College Electronic New Jersey

Lewis Latimer (1848-1928): Renaissance Man
Grade Level 4-9 (with Teaching Guide)
The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History

The American Experience, Edison's Miracle of Light
Grade Level 9-12, PBS, Teacher/Student Guide

Thank You Mr. Edison: Electricity, Innovation, and Social Change
Grade Level 7-12, The Library of Congress, American Memory

Thomas Edison and Modern America: A Brief History with Documents
Grade Level 12, College, Bedford St. Martins

Edison Cylinder Recordings
Grade Level 5-12, CyberBee

Thomas Edison's Inventions in the 1900s and Today: From "New" to You!
Grade Level 3-5 Edsitement

Virtual Exhibits and Explorations

The Edison Classroom.
Schenectady Museum

Edison After Forty
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History
On-line version of the exhibit, "Edison After the Electric Light: The Challenge of Success."

Edison After Forty/Lessons Learned from Edison's Life
School for Champions

Historic Photographs at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park
National Park Service, Thomas Edison National Historical Park

The Invention Factory
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Interactive exploration of Edison's laboratory in West Orange, motion pictures and electric lighting.

Edison's Laboratory, part of Nineteenth-Century Technology with Lesson Plans
History Now: American History Online

Edison Invents! All about Thomas Edison and his inventions
The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History

Lighting A Revolution
Smithsonian, National Museum of American History

Inventing Entertainment: The Motion Pictures and Sound Recordings of the Edison Companies
The Library of Congress, American Memory
This site features 341 motion pictures, 81 disc sound recordings, and other related materials, such as photographs and original magazine articles.

Progressive Era: Mass Entertainment
New Jersey History Partnership
This site has a section on mass entertainment in the Progressive Era that includes much information about Edison and the early history of sound recording and motion pictures.

Thomas Edison and His Wonderful Phonograph
National History Education Clearinghouse

Recording Technology History
Steve Schoenherr, University of San Diego
A set of timelines detailing the history of recorded sound, including records, tape, motion pictures, microphones, loudspeakers, and more.

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Lessons

Static Electricity - A Hair Raising Phenomenon (Energy), Grade Level: K - 3
The Franklin Institute On-Line

The Incredible Lever (Mechanics), Grade Level: K - 3
The Franklin Institute On-Line

Make A Lightbulb, Grade Level 4-9
The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center at the National Museum of American History

Edison and the Light Bulb, Grade Level K - 2
Science NetLinks

Build A Pinhole Camera, Grade Level 4-9
Charles Edison Fund

Build a Switch, Grade Level 4-9
Charles Edison Fund

Build A Series Circuit, Grade Level 4-9
Charles Edison Fund

Build a Parallel Circuit, Grade Level 5-10
Charles Edison Fund

Static Electricity: It's a Snap, Grade Level 4-8
Charles Edison Fund

The Inventive Thinking Curriculum Project, All Grades
U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office Also available at Google Books

OpticsForKids, All Grades, (Teachers/Parents Guide)
Optical Society of America

Understanding Electricity, Grade Level 9-12
Discovery School

Java Applets on Physics, Grade Level 9-12

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