Curated OER
Parts of a Solar Panel-Part I
Students examine electrical contacts, solar cells, and rechargeable batteries and compare and contrast the characteristics of a solar cell to a rechargeable battery in a hands-on activity. Students complete a worksheet as they...
Curated OER
Electric Circuits
Students explore energy by completing an electricity worksheet. In this conductors lesson, students define the energy related vocabulary terms circuit, electronics, conductor and semi-conductor before examining computer chips in class....
US National Archives
Our Documents: Thomas Edison's Patent Application for the Light Bulb
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...
Climate Literacy
Clean: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Cost Benefit Analysis
This analysis activity allows learners 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.
Read Works
Read Works: Electricity & Energy the Light Bulb
[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.
![U.s. Dept. Of Energy: Comparing Light Bulbs [Pdf] Article](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "U.s. Dept. Of Energy: Comparing Light Bulbs [Pdf] Article")
US Department of Energy
U.s. Dept. Of Energy: Comparing Light Bulbs [Pdf]
A guided activity for students to compare incandescent and CFL light bulbs observing the production of heat and light.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Light Bulb
Learn about the early developments of the invention of the incandescent light bulb and Thomas Edison's development of the first practical light bulb.
Next.cc
Next: Artificial Light
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.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Thomas Edison National Historical Park: Edison Biography
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...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Lighting a Revolution
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.
Great Idea Finder
Great Idea Finder: Lewis Howard Latimer
An extensive biography of the life of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Find out about his primary claim to fame in the development of an incandescent light bulb, but be sure to read about his many patents, and his importance to...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 158: Lewis Latimer
A brief biography of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Read about his association with both Hiram Maxim and Thomas Edison in developing the incandescent light bulb. This is a transcript of an accompanying radio broadcast.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1870 1879
The telephone and first practical incandescent light bulb are invented while the word "electron" enters the scientific lexicon.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Measuring Light Intensity Using the Inverse Square Law
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...
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute: Edison's Lightbulb: History of Science and Technology
The Franklin Institute features a biography of Thomas Edison and a complete description of the light bulb as well as an experiment.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Artificial Light
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What artificial light is and five different types, and how each type produces visible light.
Other
Black Inventor Online Museum: Lewis Latimer
The biography of the fascinating African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. In addition to finding out about his development of the carbon filament for the incandescent lamp, you can read about his expertise in patent law, his association...
Library of Congress
Loc: Learning Page: Thomas Edison
This resource provides lesson plans and information about Thomas Edison and his inventions.
Rutgers University
Thomas Edison Papers: Latimer's Patents
Find a list of patents issued to African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer, to him individually or with another inventor. Clicking on the invention takes you a diagram of the invention as well as its description submitted to the U.S....
Rutgers University
Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer
An extensive look at the inventor, Lewis Latimer, from the Thomas Edison Papers at Rutgers University. Read essays about his life and inventions, the culture in Boston which encouraged his work, and his life outside his inventions. A...
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Tracing the Roots of America's Motion Picture Industry
In the late 1800's, Thomas Edison and his fellow inventors were key in the American film industry's boom.This web site provides a podcast and accompanying transcript tracing the roots of the film industry in America. Podcast [21:27]
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Thomas Edison's Places of Invention
An article by Paul Israel from the Prototype newsletter discusses the various laboratories used by Thomas Edison as he was developing his inventions.
Curated OER
National Park Service: The Invention Factory:thomas Edison's Laboratories
This Teaching With Historic Places lesson plan about Thomas Edison's laboratories is filled with maps, readings, critical thinking questions, and photographs related to Edison's labs and inventions. This site explains and details the...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Lewis H. Latimer
Use this site to learn about the inventor of the carbon-filament light bulb, Lewis H. Latimer (1848-1928 CE).