Bright Ideas Emerging from the Dark
Thomas Edison
By: Sarah Lessard
“HOW CAN A COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
INFORM YOUNGER STUDENTS ABOUT THE
FAMOUS SCIENTIST THOMAS EDISON AND HOW HE HAS GREATLY CHANGED OUR SOCIETY THROUGH HIS MANY INVENTIONS?”
Core Question
Reason for Core Question
Interested in what Thomas Edison invented and how inventions impacted world
I wanted to learn more about the famous scientist, Thomas Edison, and why he was so important in society
Wanted to teach other students and further their knowledge also about how this one scientist left such a great impact on society.
Plan to Complete Capstone Project and Product
Stay on taskTake class time very seriouslyAlways try and get ahead of schedule
Set personal time dates to keep myself on task
Work very hard!!!
Proposal
Research Thomas EdisonMake documentary about Thomas
EdisonIntroduce my topic and core question to
classShow documentary to the class of
studentsAfter film, give students quizGo over answers and ask questions
Why I Choose Proposal
Expand upon my National History Day project
Prove to students importance of what Thomas Edison contributed to society
Learning Stretch
1. Learn how to make a documentary
2. Overcome my fear of speaking in front of large groups
3. Learning about Thomas Edison’s inventions
4. Staying on task/falling behind5. Learn how to teach a class
Intro about Edison Only scientist in the world to
invent 1,093 inventionsHis inventions drastically
changed AmericaHis inventions are still around
today, however in different forms
Hoar, William P. "The man who lit up the world." New American, The. 30 Jun 2003. 33. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 06 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
Thomas Edison as a Child
Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan Ohio
His parents were Samuel Ogden Edison Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliott
Edison only attended school from the ages of 7-12He dropped out because he was deaf and found it
difficult to concentrate Was a self taught person
Thomas Edison. American Business Leaders. ABC-CLIO Interactive. 2001. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 18 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
Edison’s Working Career as a Child
Edison began working at 15 years oldHe roamed the country as a “tramp telegrapher” He worked for the telegraph company Western
UnionHe sent and received messages over the
telegraph Edison also improved the telegraph when he got
older
Thomas Edison. American Business Leaders. ABC-CLIO Interactive. 2001. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 18 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
Edison’s First Invention
The electric vote recorder in 1869
Unsuccessful because it took too long to tally votes.
It was unsuccessful, but Edison wasn’t discouraged
Thomas Edison. American Business Leaders. ABC-CLIO Interactive. 2001. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 18 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
Menlo Park
Edison moved to Menlo Park New Jersey in 1876He built his first most famous laboratory, Menlo
ParkHired “muckers” to help him outAt the height of Edison’s career, he invented a new
invention every five days
Adair, Gene. "West Orange." Thomas Alva Edison: Inventing the Electric Age. n.p., Oxford University Press. 1996. n.pag. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 20 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
The Carbon Transmitter
Edison’s first successful inventionInvented in March of 1878Sound to sound electrical signal transducerAllowed people to speak over intercom
systems, through phones, and on radiosLed to the development of the telephone by
Alexander Graham Bell Thomas Edison. American Business Leaders. ABC-CLIO Interactive. 2001.
eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 18 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
The Phonograph
Invented the phonograph in 1877 Used the concept “phonography”
to produce soundThe indentations produced on par
affined paper produced sound“Mary Had a Little Lamb” were
the first words that Thomas Edison muttered in the phonograph
Most commonly used device for playing music from 1870s to the 1940s
Fantel, Hans. "The first hundred years are the hardest." Opera News. 01 Dec 1999. 10. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 11 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
The improved Light bulb
Edison did not invent the light bulbImproved it allowing it to burn for
up to 1200 hoursJoseph Swan invented first light
bulb that burned for 150 hoursEdison improved light bulb by
using, lower current electricity and an improved vacuum inside of the globe
New light bulb led to electrical lighting
"Light Bulb History - Invention of the Light Bulb." The Great Idea Finder - Celebrating the Spirit of Innovation. 18 Mar. 2009 <http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/lightbulb.htm>.
Electric Lighting
Improvement of light bulb led to electric lighting system
Powered factories and homesChanged economic and
social growth of AmericaLed to many different social
changes in AmericaStill around today
"Light Bulb History - Invention of the Light Bulb." The Great Idea Finder - Celebrating the Spirit of Innovation. 18 Mar. 2009 <http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/lightbulb.htm>.
West Orange
Built in New Jersey in 1887One of the largest
laboratories in the worldHalf of Thomas Edison’s
inventions were built hereEdison worked on storage
batteries, the first talking doll and motion pictures
Adair, Gene. "West Orange." Thomas Alva Edison: Inventing the Electric Age. n.p., Oxford University Press. 1996. n.pag. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. COVENTRY HIGH SCHOOL. 20 Mar 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
Motion Pictures
Edison started working on motion pictures in 1888
The Kinetograph was a motion picture camera
The Kinetoscope was a peephole motion picture viewer
First ever moving picture was a sneeze
Known as the 10th most important person in the film history.
"Who Made America? | Innovators | Thomas Edison." PBS. 27 Mar. 2009 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/edison_hi.html>.
Fred Ott’s Sneeze
The First Motion Picture
Came out in 1901 Was a boxing act performed by the Gordon
Sisters Bessie and MinnieThomas Edison’s company even filmed cats
fighting in a ringThomas Edison’s Company invented a
Projectoscope to show films to large audiences
"Thomas edison's inventions -." Google Image Search. 25 Mar. 2009 <http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=thomas%20edison's%20inventions&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi>.
The Gordon Sisters
Death and Influence on America
Americans dimmed their lights for one minute to see that Edison had truly lite up America
Invention of phonograph led to better inventions such as iPod, CD player
Led to improved motion pictures special effects
Mentioned at the OscarsInvention of phonograph led to the Grammy’s
and OscarsElectrical lighting we use everyday"Who Made America? | Innovators | Thomas Edison." PBS. 27 Mar. 2009
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/edison_hi.html>.
Times of Presentation
I presented to Mr. Knutton’s ninth grade class
Went on April 9, 2009 during period two
Presented from 9:15-9:40
Pictures of Event
Pictures of Event
Pictures of Event
Pictures of Event
Overview of Product
Students really enjoyed learning about Thomas Edison
They were interested in what he invented and asked many questions
They were very polite and were not rudeMost of them did really well on the quiz so
that means they learned something new and my core question could be answered
Mr. Knutton said that it was very educational to his class
Obstacles
Hard to find new research that didn’t repeat itself
Had to change my proposal and present to a ninth grade class instead of a third grade class
Had to constantly change presentation date
When I made documentary for N.H.D, documentary was hard to make
How to improve Product
Make the quizzes clearer
Not talk as fast in documentary
Have a longer introduction speech about Edison
Learning Stretch Revisited
Catalina Snape showed me how to make a documentary
Taught a classLearned a lot about Thomas Edison’s inventions
Learned how to stay on task
Final Reflection
I learned many different valuable lessons I will have for the rest of my life
Stay focused during classBe organizedHow to cope with stressLearned about Thomas Edison’s
inventions
Answer to Core Question
Yes, a Coventry High School Student can inform younger students about the famous scientist Thomas Edison and prove that he has greatly changed our society through his many inventions.
Thank You
Mr. BrissetteMrs. JohansenMr. MarsellaMs. AvedisianMr. KnuttonMr. Rosenfield
Questions