Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman, who is best known for his contributions to the development of the electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera. He held over a thousand patents for his inventions and is often credited with creating the first industrial research laboratory.

Early Life

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. He had little formal education and was primarily homeschooled by his mother. His early experiences with experimentation and invention set the stage for his future as an inventor.

Inventions

Some of Thomas Edison's most notable inventions include the phonograph, which was the first device capable of recording and reproducing sound, and the electric light bulb, which revolutionized the way we illuminate our homes and streets. He also developed the motion picture camera, the carbon microphone, and the alkaline storage battery.

Impact

Thomas Edison's inventions had a profound impact on modern society, shaping the way we communicate, entertain, and illuminate our world. His work laid the foundation for many of the technological advancements that followed and continue to influence our lives today.

Study Guide

What is Thomas Edison best known for?
Where and when was Thomas Edison born?
How did Thomas Edison's early experiences influence his future as an inventor?
Name three of Thomas Edison's most notable inventions.
What impact did Thomas Edison's inventions have on modern society?

◂Social Studies Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Inventors

The resources above cover the following skills:

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)

TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF THE PAST AND ITS LEGACY.

KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:

The contributions of key persons, groups, and events from the past and their influence on the present.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY.

KNOWLEDGE - Learners will understand:

Values, beliefs, and attitudes that have been influenced by new scientific and technological knowledge (e.g., invention of the printing press, conceptions of the universe, applications of atomic energy, and genetic discoveries).

National Center for History in Schools (NCHS)

Historical Thinking Standards

Historical Comprehension

Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

World History Content Standards

Era 7: An Age of Revolutions, 1750-1914

Patterns of global change in the era of Western military and economic domination, 1800-1914.

The student understands connections between major developments in science and technology and the growth of industrial economy and society.

Era 8: A Half-Century of Crisis and Achievement, 1900-1945

The search for peace and stability in the 1920s and 1930s.

The student understands the interplay between scientific or technological innovations and new patterns of social and cultural life between 1900 and 1940.