1. Alexander Graham Bell Photo credit:
Moffett Studios. (Photographer). ( ). Portrait of Alexander Graham Bell [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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Grade 1 Unit 11, Lesson 02

2. The Early Years
Alexander Graham Bell was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Everyone thought he would grow up to be a musician because he was so talented playing the piano.
Photo: © Copyright Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons. (Photographer). (2012). Steinway & sons upright piano [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
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3. He showed an early interest in inventing
He showed an early interest in inventing. When he was twelve, he built a device that would de-husk wheat so it could be ground into flour. His device was used at the mill for many years.
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4. As a teacher of the deaf, his father invented a technique of communicating through gestures. His mother began to lose her hearing when he was twelve. Because of their influence, Bell developed an interest in sound and speech.
Photo credit:
Microsoft. (Designer). (2010). Clip art [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from
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5. After seeing a demonstration of a “mechanical man” Alexander and his brother built their own automated head that could speak a few words. He did many experiments on sound.
Photo credit:
Microsoft. (Designer). (2010). Clip art [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from
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6. The Bell family moved to Canada in 1870
The Bell family moved to Canada in Although Alexander Graham Bell did not do well in school, he did become a teacher for the deaf. There he worked on an instrument that would help his students “speak” well. His most famous pupil was Helen Keller.
Photo credit:
Unattributed. (Photographer). (1876). Alexander graham bell [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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7. Full Time Scientist
In 1873, Bell quit teaching so he could spend his time working on his experiments. He opened a lab and began working on a way to transmit the human voice by telegraph.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress:
Rogers, J. H. (Photographer). (1884). Photographing sound in 1884 [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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8. In 1874, Alexander met Thomas Watson, an electrical designer. Mr
In 1874, Alexander met Thomas Watson, an electrical designer. Mr. Watson was also interested in sound and began helping Alexander design instruments.
Photo credit:
Bell, A. G. (Artist). (1875). Notebook by alexander graham bell [Print Drawing]. Retrieved from
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9. It Works!!!
On June 2, 1875, Bell and Watson sent a twang sound over a wire from one room to another.
On March 10, 1876, while Bell was working in one room, Watson, in another room, heard Bell say, “Watson, come here, I want to see you.”
Photo credit:
AT&T. (Producer). (1926). At&t promotional film [Still Shot]. Retrieved from
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10. Alexander Graham Bell introduced his telephone to the world at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia that year.
Photo credit:
Arnold, C. D. (Photographer). (1893). Bell telephone exhibit [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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11. In 1878, a telephone was installed in the White House by President Hayes.
Photo credit:
Unattributed. (Photographer). (1892). Alexander Graham Bell at the opening of the long-distance line from New York to Chicago [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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12. The Bell Telephone Company was created in 1877
The Bell Telephone Company was created in This company would later become AT&T. By 1886, over 150,000 people in the United States had telephones.
Photo credit:
Popular Science Monthly. (Artist). (1877). Bell telephone in use [Print Drawing]. Retrieved from
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13. His Family
During this very exciting time, Alexander also got married and started his family. He married Mabel Hubbard on July 11, His wife, who was deaf, had been one of his pupils. They had four children, two girls, Elsie and Marian, and two sons who died in infancy.
Photo credit:
Unattributed. (Photographer). (1885). Alexander Graham Bell with his wife Mabel and daughters Elsie (left) and Marian (Daisy) [Print Photo]. Retrieved from
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14. Alexander Graham Bell continued to invent.
He invented the metal detector, a photophone, aerial vehicles, hydroplanes, an audiometer and a metal jacket that would help people breath.
Some of his work would later help other scientist develop tape recorders and fiber optics.
Photo credit:
Thompson, S.P. (1881) Notes on the Construction of the Photophone. Phys. Soc. Proc., Vol. 4, pps Retrieved from
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15. Alexander Graham Bell also established Science magazine and was one of the founding members of the National Geographic Society.
Photo credit:
National Geographic Magazine. (Artist). (1915). Cover of January, 1915 National Geographic Magazine [Print Graphic]. Retrieved from
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16. His Legacy
Alexander Graham Bell died on August 2, His inventions continue to impact our lives everyday. Now people all over the world can communicate instantly with each other because of the telephones.
Photo credit:
Microsoft. (Designer). (2010). Clip art [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from
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