Thomas Alva Edison
1847-1931
Read the article:
http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html
Title a word processing document:
“Thomas Alva Edison” and save to your flash drive.
Then respond to EACH question that follows, thoroughly, in complete
sentences.
1. What do you think that Edison’s young life was like?
2. According to the article, what were three academic activities that
Thomas Edison enjoyed? Which of these topics interest you the most
and why?
3. How did Thomas Edison’s father encourage him to read the classics
in literature?
4. Name two people who had a tremendous influence on Thomas in
his younger life. Thoroughly describe what the influence was using
examples and details from the article.
Answer the following questions thoroughly in complete sentences.
1. What do you believe were three defining reasons for Thomas’ lack of
progress in the elementary school setting? Use examples and details from
the text to support your response.
2. Why do you think the magazine cited below wrote this quote about
Edison? Use examples and details from the text to support your response.
Quotation:
"... Thomas Edison was more responsible than any one else for creating the
modern world .... No one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup
of present day civilization.... Accordingly, he was the most influential
figure of the millennium...."
The Heroes Of The Age: Electricity And Man
What did Thomas Edison Actually Invent?
• How many patents did Edison have credited to him before he died?
• How old was he when he died?
• What was the reason that Edison was labeled as “addled” by teachers
and what does the word “addled” mean?
Read the following article:
• http://www.softschools.com/timelines/thoma
s_edison_timeline/24/
• Select two different inventions of Thomas
Edison to research, and write a minimum of
one paragraph detailing the invention (who
what where when why how), what benefits
this invention brought and to whom, for each.
• Do not go over one page for each invention!
View this slideshow and respond to one or
more of Edison’s wise quotes.
• http://www.slideshare.net/sunilgm/thomas-alva-edison8904510?next_slideshow=1
• Which one resonates with you if any? Make a connection to the
quote and discuss why it stands out to you.
Credits:
• http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html
• http://www.firstladies.org/curriculum/curriculum.aspx?Curriculum=1419
• http://edison.rutgers.edu/patenti1.htm