Thomas Edison

Currently we are studying in Science about Thomas Edison and solar energy. Today Grace picked four of Thomas Edison's inventions to include in her science journal. I find that keeping a science journal keeps Grace interested more than just answering questions from a textbook. So far her journal is filled with illustrations, pictures, and journal entries from the summer study of hermit crabs and our new study of Thomas Edison.

• Telephone - He improved the telephone by adding carbon particles which allowed people to talk longer distances.


• Incandescent Lamp - He did not invent the first light bulb but did develop a carbon-thread filament that could burn steadily for more than 40 hours and was safer.


• Phonograph - First machine that recorded sound and played it back. This was his favorite invention.


• Stock Ticker - An instrument that transmitted the constantly changing stock prices.