Student and Teachers Guided Reading Center

Pre-Reading Activities:

• Show pictures of different inventions.  Have these inventions changed or have they stayed the same?

• Talk about different inventors.  What were their inventions and how did they help us?

• Fill out a KLW chart.  This will allow you to think about what you already know and what you want to learn about Thomas Edison and his inventions.  

            KLW Chart in Microsoft Word

During Reading Activities:

• Page 3:  Thomas was very curious when he was little.  How did he find things out?

• Page 4:  Did Thomas' experiments ever get him into trouble?  How?

• Page 6:  What do you think is going to happen to Thomas since he can't hear very well?

• Page 8:  It says here that Thomas loved science.  How do you know that?

• Page 16:  Everyone has things that they are good at and things that they struggle with.  What were some of Thomas' strengths and weaknesses?

Post Reading Activities:

• Main Idea and Supporting Details in Microsoft Word

• Main Idea and Supporting Details in Publisher

• At this time you will also want to finish the KLW chart. 

  Student Writing Activities Center

• Sample Writing Paper in Microsoft Word

• Sample Writing Paper in Publisher

• Write a story.  Here are some topics that you could write on:

            Compare the Thomas Edison's telephone to the telephones we have today.

            What if you were an inventor?  What would you invent?

            Summarize what we have just read about Thomas Edison. 

• Write a poem about Thomas Edison.  Think of his different inventions and the story we read.  Use the light bulb writing paper to write your poem.   

• TEACHER:  After the students have written their poems or stories on the light bulb paper, put them on a bulletin board.  The caption can say "Our BRIGHT Inventions" or "Our BRIGHT Ideas".  This will be a place where the students' work can be displayed. 

  Student Selected Reading Center

If you like the book we just read.  Try reading one of these books. 

So, You Want to Be an Inventor?

By Judith St. George

(Ages 9-12)

Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor (Childhood of Famous Americans Series)

By Sue Guthridge

(Ages 8-12)

The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor : The Wizard of Menlo Park
By: Margaret Davidson

Hey Kids, Want to Buy a Bridge?

By: Jon Scieszka  

(Ages 8-10)

Thomas Alva Edison: Young Inventor
Louis Sabin

(Ages 9-12)

The Wizard of Sound: A Story about Thomas Edison
By: Barbara Mitchell

(Ages 8-11)

Inventors From DaVinci to Biro

By:  Patricia Fara and Struan Reid 

(Grades 4-6)

Inventors

By:  Martin W. Sandler and James H. Billington

(Age 8)

Great Inventors and Inventions 

By:  Bruce LaFontaine

(Ages 9-12)

Eyewitness: Electricity

By Steve Parker

(Ages 8-12)

  Student Word Study/ Vocabulary Center

• Sample Word Search from www.teach-nology.com

• What are some important words from the story that should go on the word wall?  Look up the definitions of those words.  

• Click here to play the Thomas Edison word game.   Now type up as many words as you can think of that you can make out of Thomas Edison's name.  

        ~  For example:  Tom, Madison, and so on!  See how many you can think    of !  Good Luck and have fun!  When you are finished print off the page and hand it in to the teacher.  

~ "Big Word Scramble"

Directions:  Using the word "electricity" see if you can do the big word scramble.  

Electricity

I can think of nine 3 letter words.  Can you?

I can think of six 4 letter words.  Can you?

I can think of five 5 letter words.  Can you? 

I can think of three 6 letter words.  Can you?

I can think of one 8 letter words.  Can you?

Using the word "electricity".  Fill in the Chart.  See how many words you can think of.  Can you think of more than I can?

  Teacher Resources

• Thomas Edison's Home Page ~ Quotes, biography, inventions, and photo gallery

• Edison's Birthplace Museum ~  This page offers a time line of Edison's inventions.  It also has additional resources. 

• Edison's Maze ~  This is a maze for kids to do. 

• Edi Fun - This is a site for kids to learn more about Edison.

• Edison National Historic Site ~  Virtual tours, biography, photos, and more

• Thomas Edison Web Quest

• Inventors / Inventions Teaching Theme ~  This is a great site.  It has sample lesson plans, worksheets, and on-line games for the students to play. 

• Answers to Big Word Scramble

• Here are some possible solutions to the Thomas Edison Word Game.