Sprinkled with humor and packed with little-known details about thesearch for a working electric light bulb, this story will help you seefor yourself why Edison quipped, “Genius is about one percentinspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
A trueinventor at heart, Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is about 1%inspiration and 99% percent perspiration.”
Main Characters:Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan, Dr. Warwick (the head of the gas company) and Edison’s co-workers: Batchelor, Kreusi and Upton
Overall Theme:Scientific discovery is long and tedious work requiring enormous persistence and dedication. Thomas Edison, already a celebrated inventor, toils long hours to create his dream — the electric light.
Summary:Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847-October 18, 1931) was anAmerican inventor and businessman. Nicknamed “The Wizard of Menlo Park”by a newspaper reporter, Edison is credited with creating both thefirst industrial research lab and the electric light bulb. The researchlab was the first institution set up with the purpose of producingconstant innovation and technological improvement. But he didn’t stopthere! Edison is considered to be one of the most innovative inventorsin history, holding 1,097 US patents in his name.
New Jersey. 1877. Menlo Park. We enter the world of a century ago — a world lit by gaslight. Thomas Edison and his team are completing work on a new invention: the phonograph.
Edison gains renowned as an inventor and is hailed as “The Wizard of Menlo Park.” He declares that he will invent a practical electric light (a light that will be safer and cleaner than gaslight). He receives financial assistance from the financier, J.P. Morgan, for the undertaking.
The Warwick Institute tells the press that the electric light is an impossible dream and calls Thomas Edison a scoundrel.
Finally, success is achieved! On New Year’s Eve, Thomas Edison ushers in the year 1880 with a spectacular display of electric lights. His men and his supporters celebrate!
Background:Thomas Edison was an inventor, not a scientist. He had little formal education but possessed an unquenchable desire to create machines for the good of mankind. Perhaps more importantly, he had the persistence to continue his experiments until he was successful.
Imagine for a moment the world without the electric light. How would it change the way we live, the way we do business? Imagine the world without sound recording. Or motion pictures. Or modern electronics. Each was made possible by Edison’s observations of electron flow from heated filaments.
Thomas Edison patented more than 1,000 inventions before his death. His life and work reflect the power of persistence and determination.
BONUS Resource & Activity Books
Each interactive DVD includes a 48-page Resource & Activity Book full of skill-developing activities, word games, puzzles, coloring pages, and more! Provides hours of fun and learning for the entire family! The special “Certificate of Achievement” located in the back of the book serves as an excellent award your child can display after completing the activities.
Principles and Values Taught in This Video
Persistence, Industry, Inventiveness, Leadership, Hope, Faith, Patience, Enthusiasm, Work, and Optimism.