Thomas Edison
Before You Watch
What do you know about Thomas Edison? Many people think he invented electricity - but this is not correct? Do you know what Edison did invent?
Understanding
1. Did Edison invent the first electric light?
2. Which of these did Edison not invent
a) light bulbs b) light shades c) light sockets d) fuses e) film/movie camera
3. Where were the first homes to receive electricity?
4. Which of these did Edison not build
a) power station b) film studio c) skyscrapers in Manhattan d) concrete houses
5. Name an Edison invention that was not successful? Why do you think this invention failed?
2. Which of these did Edison not invent
a) light bulbs b) light shades c) light sockets d) fuses e) film/movie camera
3. Where were the first homes to receive electricity?
4. Which of these did Edison not build
a) power station b) film studio c) skyscrapers in Manhattan d) concrete houses
5. Name an Edison invention that was not successful? Why do you think this invention failed?
Crossword
Answers
Thomas Edison: Tapescript
Thomas Edison was born in 1847 into a world lit by gas lamps. By the time he died in 1931 electricity powered the world.
Edison invented more than 2,000 new products including: switches, fuses, sockets, meters and most famously long lasting light bulbs.
Though Edison didn’t invent the first light bulb – he was the first to produce one that stayed lit for more than a few seconds.
As well as an inventor, Edison was a businessman. He built the first electricity power station in New York City in 1882. This lead to the first distribution network or grid. 55 Manhattan homes became the first in the world to receive electricity directly.
Edison also built the world’s first film studio and had the patent for the first film camera. But not all his later inventions were successful. His concrete homes for example were not popular
