1. Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931

2. 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.

3. 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.

5. 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

6. 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?

7. Read the following article: http://www.softschools.com/timelines/thoma s_edison_timeline/24/ 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!

8. View this slideshow and respond to one or more of Edison’s wise quotes. http://www.slideshare.net/sunilgm/thomas-alva-edison- 8904510?next_slideshow=1 http://www.slideshare.net/sunilgm/thomas-alva-edison- 8904510?next_slideshow=1 Which one resonates with you if any? Make a connection to the quote and discuss why it stands out to you.

9. Credits: http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html http://www.firstladies.org/curriculum/curriculum.aspx?Curriculum=1419 http://edison.rutgers.edu/patenti1.htm