American Inventors

An inventor is someone who makes something for the first time.  Three American inventors of the nineteenth-century were Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Graham Bell.  Their inventions helped change our way of life. 

Thomas Edison came up with over 1,000 new inventions.  Some of his inventions were the phonograph (record player), the mimeograph (a type of copy machine), and wax paper.  However, Edison's most famous invention was the light bulb.  Thomas Edison also worked on improving the inventions of others.  Edison helped make the telephone, the typewriter, and the movie camera work better.  Thomas Edison is known as one of the greatest inventors in history.

Benjamin Franklin was another important American inventor.  Franklin wore eyeglasses, but he wasn't able to see near and far with them.  This problem led him to invent bifocal glasses.  Many people today wear bifocal glasses to see both distances, near and far.  Some people recall Ben Franklin flying a kite and think that he discovered electricity.  Franklin did not discover electricity, however, he did invent the lightning rod which helped protect buildings from lightning strikes.

In the 1800s, when people heard about an idea to put a telephone in every home, people often laughed and didn't believe it could happen.  Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, proved them wrong.  Today, most people do have a telephone in their home and have Alexander Graham Bell to thank for it.

These three inventors have made important contributions to the American way of life.  What will you invent to change the lives of others?

Use the above information to complete the following statements.

1.  An is someone who makes something for the first time.

2.  Three famous American inventors were Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Graham Bell.  Their inventions helped our way of life.

3.  Thomas Edison came up with over new inventions.

4.  Benjamin Franklin invented the eyeglasses.

5.  Alexander Graham Bell invented the .

True or False?

6.  Thomas Edison helped improve the inventions of other people.

True

False

7.  Thomas Edison invented the typewriter.

True

False

8.  Benjamin Franklin invented electricity.

True

False

9.  The lightning rod was invented by

Edison

Franklin

Bell

10. Thomas Edison invented which of the following?

Phonograph

Mimeograph

Wax paper

All of the above.