Thomas Edison was a famous American scientist and inventor. He spent his whole life on inventions. He once said, " Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration."
  Childhood
Edison was born in the United States in 1847. When he was small, his school work was not very good and his teachers thought that he was not attentive in lessons. His mum decided to teach him at home. Later, he worked on trains to sell fruit and newspapers. At night, he did experiments and printed his own newspapers on the trains. However, he became partially deaf at the age of twelve because of scarlet fever.
  Inventions
At the age of sixteen, Edison worked as a telegraph operator and invented an automatic repeater, which sent telegraph signals between unmanned stations. In 1868, he worked twelve hours a day on different experiments and inventions. He invented an electric vote recorder which made the voting process faster.
In 1876, he started his own laboratory and invented many things. For example, he invented the phonograph, which is the first machine that could record and play sound. He also invented the carbon microphone, which made the sound of the new telephone louder. He then made a 'domestic' light bulb that lasted longer. In 1884, he invented the electric power distribution network so that more people could use light bulbs at home.
  Achievements
Edison passed away at the age of 84. Throughout his life, he developed and patented more than 1,000 inventions, which helped improve the modern lives of people around the world.
     Other information
In comparison, both the ordinary light bulbs and LED light bulbs can light up, use electricity and are good for use at home and in the office. The ordinary light bulbs are cheaper but of shorter lifespan. They are made of glass and fragile. The energy efficiency is low and they cannot be recycled. When the ordinary light bulb gets hot, there is a risk of burning your fingers. As for the LED bulbs, although they are more expensive, they are more durable, with 25,000 hours of lifespan. They are sturdy and made with epoxy lens, energy saving and recyclable. The LED bulb remains cool even though they are switched on.

Suggested answers

Suggested answers

Job:

an inventor / a scientist

Place and date of birth:

in the United States / USA in 1847

Family and education:
  • His school work was not good / very good / outstanding.
  • His mum taught him at home.
Early life:
  • He worked on trains.
  • He did experiments on trains.
  • He printed his own newspapers.
  • He became partially deaf because of scarlet fever.
Edison’s achievements / inventions:
Edison
  • invented an electric vote recorder in 1868.
  • invented the phonograph that could record and play sound in 1876.
  • invented the carbon microphone, which made the sound of the new telephone louder.
  • improved the design of domestic light bulbs.
  • invented the electric power distribution network.
  • patented more than 1,000/one thousand inventions that helped improve the lives of people.
Famous quote(s)

Suggested answers

Who was Edison’s teacher when he was small?
his mother
What problem did Edison face in his childhood?
He did not learn well at school.
How long did Edison spend on doing experiments each day?
12 hours
What is a phonograph?
It can record and play sound.
Which of the following is Edison’s invention?
the electric vote recorder

Part A

Complete the graphic organiser which summarises the life and achievements of Thomas Edison.

Name: Thomas Edison

Job:

an / a scientist  

Place and date of birth:

in the    in   

Family and education:
  • His school work was not .  
  • His mum taught him at .  
Early life:
  • He worked on trains.
  • He did on trains.  
  • He printed his own .  
  • He became partially    because of scarlet .   

Edison’s achievements / inventions:

Edison
  • invented an recorder in 1868.  
  • invented the that could record and play sound in 1876.   
  • invented the carbon , which made the sound of the new telephone louder.  
  • improved the design of domestic .  
  • invented the electric power distribution network.
  • patented more than that helped improve the lives of people.  
Famous quote(s)