Website
Rutgers University

Rutgers: The Thomas Edison Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Links to copies of papers written by Thomas Edison. Also includes biographical information and copies of his patents and companies.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a brief biography of Thomas Edison.
Handout
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: Thomas Edison Biography

For Students 1st - 8th
Interesting biographical information, famous inventions, and quotes of Thomas Edison, one of America's greatest inventors.
Website
Rutgers University

Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: What Edison Teaches Us About Success

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this interactive lesson, learners examine Thomas Edison's character traits and how they contributed to his becoming one of the greatest inventors in history. In this interactive lesson, students watch videos to gather evidence about...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Industrialization and Big Business, 1870 1900: Inventors of the Age

For Students 11th - 12th
In the Industrial Revolution, new products and inventions spurred the growth of big business. Learn about some of these inventions and the people who created them, for example, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Lemelson Center: Tracing the Roots of America's Motion Picture Industry

For Students 9th - 10th
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]
Primary
Rutgers University

Thomas Edison Papers: Latimer's Patents

For Students 9th - 10th
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....
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Thomas Edison, the "confused" young student who ended up being one of the greatest inventors in history. Offers a brief list of his many important inventions.
Handout
Other

Kidcyber: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 3rd - 8th
A biographical overview of the life and many inventions of Thomas Alva Edison.
Handout
Great Idea Finder

The Great Idea Finder: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The Great Idea Finder presents a lengthy biography of Thomas Edison, followed by a wealth of suggested resources including books, movies, and the Internet.
Unit Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Progress: The Meaning of the Machine: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
A photograph of Edison and an interview of Edison by Theodore Dreiser that displays the inventor's convictions about progress in America.
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...
eBook
Other

Edison:life and Inventions/motion Pictures

For Students 9th - 10th
This page is part of an online text of a book published in 1929 by Dyer and Martin on the life and work of inventor Thomas Edison. Discusses Edison's role in the development of motion pictures, but be sure to view the rest of the book...
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
A good description of the inventions and life of this bright and ambitious man. As inventor of the light bulb, phonograph, movie camera and many others, Edison lived a very inspiring life. In Spanish.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Thomas Edison

For Students K - 1st
Brief biographical sketch of Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of the light bulb and phonograph.
Website
Other

Creative Thinking With Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
As a master inventor Thomas Edison used many techniques that helped him with his creative ideas. Learn how you can apply some of his techniques to yourself to aid you in your own creative inventiveness.
eBook
Other

Edison: His Life and Inventions: The Telephone, Motograph, and Microphone

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers the text of a book by Frank Dyer and Thomas Martin published in 1929 on the inventions of Thomas Edison. This particular page discusses Alexander Graham Bell's development of the telephone and the controversy over Thomas...
Website
Other

Brockton Historical Society: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
Site devoted completely to the achievements of Thomas Edison. Includes a detailed biography, inventions, photo gallery, and quotes.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: George Eastman: The Wizard of Photography

For Students 9th - 10th
American Experience offers a comprehensive look at George Eastman and his development of photography. Included are a timeline, biographies of important people in Eastman's personal and professional life, discussions in the history of...
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Invention of the Week: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
As the inventor of the lightbulb, phonograph, and the printing telegraph, Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931), improved the daily lives of everyday people.
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.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
The "Wizard of Menlo Park" brought the world electric light, recorded music, and the movies, among other things, and turned innovation into a science by inventing the research laboratory.
Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Energy Pioneers: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 3rd - 8th
A profile of Thomas Alva Edison, who lived from 1847 to 1931, an American who made many important inventions, such as the electric light bulb. A timeline of his inventions is provided here.