Thomas Edison By: Lindsay Dietrich, Daniel Mark, and Jess Wise

Thomas Edison was in search of an idea, and then a light went on...

Thomas Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. When he was seven, he was learning in a one-room schoolhouse. Thomas spent 12 weeks in class with 38 other students, at 11 different ages, and one teacher. Thomas was a very eager student and constantly asked his teacher questions. His teacher was often overwhelmed by the amount of students, ages, and different levels.

Thomas’s mother realized this and soon withdrew him from school to begin to “home-teach” Thomas. His parent’s exposed him to many different types of literature and learning. Thomas quickly grew to prefer independent self-instruction. He did this by using resources at a library. An interesting fact about Thomas was he became totally deaf in his left ear and about 80 percent deaf in his right. He was a remarkably intelligent person who contributed some great inventions to society.

Thomas Edison had many great inventions throughout his life. His first greatest invention was the phonograph. Thomas Edison was trying to tweak the telegraph when he accidentally invented the phonograph. Thomas Edison also created the Edison Motion Pictures. Edison thought “the Edison Motion Pictures is to the eye what the phonograph does for the ear.”

Although there are many different inventions, the most famous one he is known for is the light bulb. The light bulb was created in Although the idea was not a new one, Edison found a way to make practical for people in their houses.

Edison’s invention of the light bulb helped many people in different ways. People no longer had to rely on daylight or oil lamps. Light bulbs allowed people to have light in their homes during the night. This also made the work force independent and they could work around the clock if need be. People could be more productive 24 hours a day instead of either when the sun was out, or by burning oil lamps. Light bulbs definitely made life easier for everyone of all ages.

Click or right click on the picture below to watch a video on Thomas Edison.

Resources Beals, G. (1997). The biography of thomas edison. Retrieved from Bellis, M. (2010). The inventions of thomas edison. Retrieved from Discovery Education (2004). (YouTube). Thomas Edison. Retrieved from ABF9-A6CE92C4FAFB&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US The great idea finder: light bulb (1998). Retrieved from Images Edison (all 3 pics): parklight bulb: light bulb: map: phonograph: p