[Surnetkids] Thomas Edison

Dear Reader,

This week’s Thomas Edison topic brings to mind a fabulous historical fiction I read a couple of years ago about Edison’s business practices: Last Days of Night by Graham Moore. An excellent read, that challenges some of what we are taught about Edison in grade school.

See ya on the Net,
Barbara J. Feldman
“Surfing the Net with Kids”
https://www.surfnetkids.com

Thomas Edison
https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/thomas-edison/

Thomas Edison Printable(** for Premium Members only)
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables/files/printables-club/thomas-edison.pdf

With a lifetime dedicated to invention, Thomas A. Edison (1847 – 1931) earned 1,093 U.S. patents, more than any other single inventor. His impressive achievements include the invention of electric lighting, the phonograph, and motion pictures. Edison was not only a successful inventor but also an excellent businessman who created companies to manufacture his inventions. As befits a man of his talents, there are many websites devoted to Edison and his inventions. These are my favorites.

PBS American Experience: Edison

“By the time he died in 1931, Thomas Edison was one of the most famous men in the world. The holder of more patents than any other inventor in history, Edison had amassed a fortune and achieved glory as the genius behind such revolutionary inventions as sound recording, motion pictures, and electric light.” Visit to watch the 2-hour PBS special, and to peruse the photo gallery and a timeline of Edison’s life.

PBS American Experience: Edison’s Miracle of Light

Produced as a web companion to the 1995 PBS television special, Edison’s Miracle of Light is a worthwhile stop even if you’ve not seen the film. Best clicks are the photo gallery of eight of his inventions, and the Special Features. “In 1887 direct current (DC) was king. At that time there were 121 Edison power stations scattered across the United States delivering DC electricity to its customers.” Learn all about AC/DC in the first interactive article. The audio snippets are five tunes the Edison company produced on phonograph records between 1919 and 1926.

Library of Congress: Inventing Entertainment

“In addition to being a renowned inventor, Edison became a prominent manufacturer and businessman by selling his inventions. This site features 341 motion pictures, 81 sound recordings, photographs, original articles, and other related materials.” This Library of Congress site is a curated collection of primary resources showcasing Edison’s work in the creation of recorded movies and sound. It includes a biography and a timeline of his entertainment-related inventions. My favorite clicks are the movie clips such as “A Day with Thomas A. Edison” and “The Great Train Robbery.”

… Click to continue to Thomas Edison

Printables Club Members Also Get …

Surfnetkids Printables Club Members also get the following printables to use in the classroom, the computer lab, the school library, or to send home with students:

Thomas Edison Printable
Thomas Edison Wikipedia Printable
Benjamin Franklin Quiz and Worksheet
Alexander Graham Bell Printable
Inventing Printable
Ben Franklin Printable
*** Are you curious? Get your own ten-day trial membership:
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables-club/

Related Games

Thomas Edison Quiz
Thomas Edison Word Search

Quote of the Week

“I didn’t fail 1000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1000 steps.” ~~ Thomas A. Edison ~~ (1847 – 1931) American inventor. Click here to find more Thomas Edison quotes.

Surfing the Calendar