Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Thomas Edison's Patent Application for the Light Bulb

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource includes a copy of the original diagram and application that Thomas Edison submitted for the electric light bulb. Along with the interactive pictures you can access a typed transcript, larger images, a downloadable .PDF...
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Spark!lab: Make a Light Bulb

For Students 9th - 10th
This lab shows students how to make a light bulb using 6V battery, wire, cork, and a nail. Print a form where you can record your results.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Cost Benefit Analysis

For Teachers 5th - 9th
This analysis activity allows students to calculate electrical usage in home lighting, and create a cost-benefit analysis for cost and energy savings by replacement of incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Electricity & Energy the Light Bulb

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the invention and use of the light bulb. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Article
US Department of Energy

U.s. Dept. Of Energy: Comparing Light Bulbs [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
A guided activity for students to compare incandescent and CFL light bulbs observing the production of heat and light.
Interactive
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Power of a Light Bulb

For Students 9th - 10th
This lab is will allow students to vary the resistance of a light bulb and the voltage difference across a light bulb. They will be able to see how these two factors affect the current through the light bulb and the power used by the...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Why Placing Wires Correctly on a Light Bulb Is Important

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners will learn about simple electric circuits as they investigate the structure of a light bulb and how electricity flows through it.
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Can a Lemon Power a Light Bulb

For Teachers 9th - 10th
You will learn about a voltaic battery and to see if it's powerful enough to light up a light bulb
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: How Do Light Bulbs Work?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A guided inquiry that involves observation of the parts of a light bulb in a lab.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light vs. Heat Bulbs

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students measure the light output and temperature (as a measure of heat output) for three types of light bulbs to identify why some light bulbs are more efficient (more light with less energy) than others.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light It Up

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Through an introduction to the design of lighting systems and the electromagnetic spectrum, students learn about the concept of daylighting as well as two types of light bulbs (lamps) often used in energy-efficient lighting design....
Unit Plan
Next.cc

Next: Artificial Light

For Students 3rd - 8th
Multiple activities help students gain a better understanding of light bulbs and the many uses of artificial light. Click on the links provided for further exploration.
eBook
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Light Bulbs

For Students 9th - 10th
The General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, or Chem 1, is broken into several sections covering various aspects of topics related to chemistry. This section deals with light bulbs and their relation to information on movement of gases and...
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Light Bulb

For Students K - 1st
Learn about the early developments of the invention of the incandescent light bulb and Thomas Edison's development of the first practical light bulb.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Measuring Light Intensity Using the Inverse Square Law

For Students 9th - 10th
You've probably heard that compact fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs. More of the electricity they use goes into producing light, and less into producing heat than with incandescent bulbs. How much more...
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Lighting a Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
This website is part of a bigger exhibit exploring the history of invention. This looks at Edison's invention of the light bulb and many other electrical inventions from the following century.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Thomas Edison: Inventor of the Light Bulb and Much More

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about Thomas Edison's biography. Invented many things including the light bulb and phonograph.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Up Your Life

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students are introduced to the correct technical vocabulary for lighting, which is different than layperson's terms. They learn about lamp (light bulb) technology and how to identify the various types of lighting in their spaces. They...
Interactive
Other

Energy Star: Choose a Light Guide

For Students 3rd - 8th
This government-sponsored resource helps individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The interactive resource consists of an activity about choosing a light bulb.
Article
Creative Science Centre

Creative Science Centre: Simple High Temperature Light Bulb Thermometer

For Students 9th - 10th
A very simple electrical resistance thermometer is described that can be built, calibrated and tested in a school laboratory at virtually no cost. With it, flames, focused sunlight and other high temperature sources can be probed. The...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Flashing Neon Light

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about how capacitors are used in circuits to create transient events such as the flash of a light bulb using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available....
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Thomas Edison's Inventive Life

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a complete resource for learning about Edison's life, his inventions, and electricity. If you like experimenting, there are instructions included for how to make your own light bulb. Good photos.
Interactive
Curated OER

National Park Service: Dison National Historical Site: The Invention Factory

For Students 6th - 9th
This terrific interactive site from the National Park Service describes the different buildings on Thomas Edison's West Orange, New Jersey's laboratory facility. After exploring the buildings, follow Edison's invention and application of...
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: Thomas Edison National Historical Park: Edison Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a very detailed biography of Thomas Edison ranging from his boyhood and his work as a telegrapher, moving on to his invention of the phonograph and incandescent light bulb, and finally, a description of his laboratories where he...

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