1.

0 Lesson Plan Details

Author Courtney Knauer
Title Modern History in the Mid-Atlantic States
Grade 4
Day 4
Expected Duration 45 minutes
Concepts Industrial Revolution, Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone,
Thomas Edison and the light bulb, changes in technology and society.
Vocabulary Alexander Graham Bell, telephone, Thomas Edison, light bulb.
Skills apply knowledge to complete activity, form own understanding.
1.1 Integration of Learning Outcomes/Objectives
The students will be able to describe the invention of the telephone by Alexander
Graham Bell.
The students will be able to describe the invention of the light bulb by Thomas
Edison.
The students will be able to apply their new knowledge about the telephone and
the light bulb to changes in technology and society within the Northeast region,
within the United States, and around the world.
1.2 Standards PA Civics, History, Economics, Geography & NCSS Themes I-X
with subthemes
PA Common Core Standard: History
8.3.4.C: explain how continuity and change in United States history have
influenced personal development and identity (technology).
NCSS Theme 2: Time, Continutity, and Change
Subtheme 1.2.b: have learners apply key concepts from the study of
history such as time, chronology, causality, conflict, and complexity to
explain, analyze, and show connections among the patterns of historical
change and continuity.
NCSS Theme 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Subtheme 1.8.b: provide opportunities for learners to make judgments
about how science and technology have transformed the physical world
and human society and our understanding of time, space, place, and
human-environment interactions.
NCSS Theme 9: Global Connections
Subtheme 1.9.c: provide opportunities for learners to analyze and evaluate
the effects of changing technologies on the global community.
1.3 Anticipatory Set
The teacher will say to the students Yesterday, we learned about voting; we
learned about how men were given the right to vote and how women had to fight
for that right. Today we will be learning about two famous inventors and how they
contributed to our world today.

The teacher will recreate a situation which will introduce the telephone and the
light bulb to the students. The teacher will begin the lesson with the lights off and
a quiet classroom. While the students are sitting quietly, the teacher will prompt
the students to imagine learning in a classroom with little technology or without
advanced technology, as though it was the 1800s.
First, the teacher will have another teacher call the classroom telephone; the
teacher will explain that the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in
1876. The invention of the telephone has changed technology, our society, and
societies around the world. The teacher will ask the students How would our
lives be different without the telephone?
Next, the teacher will turn on the lights; the teacher will explain that the light bulb
was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. The invention of the light bulb has
changed technology, our society, and societies around the world. The teacher will
ask the students How would our lives be different without the light bulb?

1.4 Procedures
The teacher will complete the anticipatory set. The teacher will have the students
imagine learning in a classroom as though it was the 1800s. The teacher will
introduce the telephone and the light bulb to the students.
The teacher will sign out a laptop cart for the students to use for the duration of
the lesson. Each student will be given a laptop and will be provided with the
scavenger hunt powerpoint and the scavenger hunt worksheet.
The teacher will explain to the students that they will be exploring more in-depth
about the life of Alexander Graham Bell and his invention of the telephone as well
as the life of Thomas Edison and his invention of the light bulb. The teacher will
explain that together, the telephone and the light bulb have both worked to help
technology advance. They have also worked in changing our society in the
Northeast, our society in the United States, and societies around the world.
The teacher will explain the directions for the scavenger hunt to the students. The
students will following along with the powerpoint to answer the questions on the
worksheet. The students will be provided with enrichment activities after
completing the scavenger hunt; these activities will help the students summarize
their knowledge and will support the students understanding of Bells telephone
and Edisons light bulb.
The students will work individually to complete the scavenger hunt and
enrichment activities.
While the students are working individually, the teacher will be observing the
students and will be available for assistance.
After the students complete the scavenger hunt and enrichment activities, the
teacher will hold a class discussion with the students, reviewing questions and
answers for the scavenger hunt worksheet.
The teacher will ask the students to complete an exit slip naming one thing they
learned about Alexander Graham Bell and one thing they learned about Thomas
Edison.

1.5 Differentiation
Above Level Learners The teacher will provide an alternative enrichment
activity for above level learners. The activity will ask the students to devise a
question about Alexander Graham Bell and/or Thomas Edison. The question
could be about their lives, their education, their other inventions, etc. The students
will search for the answer to their question using the websites provided for the
scavenger hunt. If the answer cannot be found on the websites provided, the
teacher will supply a list of additional websites to use.
Below Level Learners The teacher will provide more specific, focused questions
for below level learners. The questions will be the same for all students, but will
be worded more specifically and will be more comprehensible for the students.
The questions will be more focused in which the answer will be more concise and
on level for the students.
1.6 Closure
After the students complete the scavenger hunt and enrichment activities, the
teacher will hold a class discussion with the students.
The teacher will review the questions on the scavenger hunt worksheet and will
ask the students to volunteer to share their answer with the class.
The teacher will ask the students to complete an exit slip naming one thing they
learned about Alexander Graham Bell and one thing they learned about Thomas
Edison.
The teacher will say to the students Tomorrow, we will be looking at the
different seasons within the Mid-Atlantic states. Be ready to explore different
seasons in different areas.
1.7 Formative/Summative Assessment
Formative Assessment The students will be assessed based on teacher
observation. The teacher will observe if the student is engaged in the activity or
not as well as if the student is participating appropriately or not. The teacher will
also observe whether the student showed understanding of the content and
whether the student asked questions if he or she was unsure.
Summative Assessment The students will be assessed based on their completed
scavenger hunt worksheet and their exit slip. The completed scavenger hunt
worksheet and exit slip will be graded based on completion and correctness. The
students will receive up to fifteen points: the scavenger hunt worksheet will be
worth eight points, completion of the enrichment activity will be worth five
points, and completion of the exit slip will be worth two points.
1.8 Materials/Equipment
Student Materials/Equipment
Laptops
Scavenger hunt powerpoint
Scavenger hunt worksheet

Exit slip
Internet websites
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html
http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_telephone.html
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/land
marks/thomas-edison.html#light-bulb-filaments-and-electricallighting
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/alexander-grahambell/videos/the-telegraph-and-telephone
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/alexander-grahambell/videos/the-rise-of-thomas-edison?
m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz246082d4408.html
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/social_studies_games/inven
tor-games/thomas-edison-jigsaw.html

Teacher Materials/Equipment
Telephone
Light bulbs
Scavenger hunt powerpoint (general)
Scavenger hunt worksheet (general)
Scavenger hunt powerpoint (above level learners)
Scavenger hunt worksheet (above level learners)
Scavenger hunt powerpoint (below level learners)
Scavenger hunt powerpoint (below level learners)
Exit slips
Internet websites
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html
http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_telephone.html
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/land
marks/thomas-edison.html#light-bulb-filaments-and-electricallighting
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/alexander-grahambell/videos/the-telegraph-and-telephone
http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/alexander-grahambell/videos/the-rise-of-thomas-edison?
m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz246082d4408.html
http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/social_studies_games/inven
tor-games/thomas-edison-jigsaw.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/telephone/peopleevents/mabell.ht
ml
http://www.famousscientists.org/alexander-graham-bell/

http://www.nps.gov/edis/forkids/the-electric-light-systemphonograph-motion-pictures.htm
http://www.edisonmuckers.org/thomas-edison-lightbulb/

1.9 Technology
Telephone
Light bulbs
Laptops
Scavenger hunt powerpoint
Internet websites
Enrichment activities
2.1 Reflection on Planning
Creating this lesson was a new experience for me. This was the first Social
Studies lesson I have written and this was also the most detailed and involved lesson I
have written. I quickly found out that I needed to put a lot of effort into preparing this
lesson, more effort than I have needed to exert in past lessons I have written. First, I had
to do background research for the content so that I had the information for both myself
and for my students. After doing my research, I could write the lesson plan and create the
activity materials. I believe that writing this lesson has really helped for when I write
lesson plans or unit plans in the future. In the future, I will be able to write successful
Social Studies lessons which will include an array of topics, ideas, and activities to make
Social Studies interesting for my students. Also, I will be able to create seamless unit
plans which will consist of multiple lessons with varying activities.
I feel that an overall positive attribute within my lesson is that the students will be
able to form their own understanding. The students will use the scavenger hunt as a guide
to research information and use that information to answer questions and apply their
knowledge. However, I am concerned that within my lesson, there may not be the
necessary amount of teacher guidance that some students may need. The teacher will be
circulating throughout the room while the students are completing the scavenger hunt; if
the activity is extremely difficult for one student, he or she may not be able to get as
much attention from the teacher as necessary for him or her to understand the content.

Mid-Atlantic States History Outline

1. Alexander Graham Bell
a. Bells Life
i. Bell was born on March 3, 1847.
1. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2. He was enrolled in the University of London to study
anatomy and physiology until his family moved.
ii. Bell moved throughout his life.
1. He moved to Canada in 1870.
a. His parents lost two children to tuberculosis.
b. His parents thought leaving England was the best
way to keep Bell safe.
2. Bell moved to Michigan in 1872.
a. Here he was a teacher of the deaf at the Boston
School for Deaf Mutes.
b. While teaching, he conceived the idea of electronic
speech while visiting his hearing impaired mother.
iii. Bell died on August 2, 1922.
1. On the day of his funeral, all telephone service was stopped
for one minute in his honor.
b. Bells Telephone
i. Bells experiments with the telephone began.
1. On June 2, 1875, he heard the sound of a plucked spring
along sixty feet of wire.
2. He believed he could send the sound of human voice over a
wire.
ii. Thomas A. Watson, Bells assistant, helped in the invention of the
telephone.
iii. On March 7, 1876, Bell received a patent for sending currents over
a wire.
iv. On March 10, 1876 three days later Bell transmitted human
speech over a wire.
1. Bell said Mr. Watson, come here. I need you.
2. Bell said later in 1878 I believe, in the future, wires will
unite the head offices of telephone companies in different
cities, and a man in one part of the country may
communicate by word of mouth with another in a distant
place.

v. In the summer of 1877, the telephone became a business.

1. Private lines were placed in service first, typically
connecting a businessmans home and office.
2. Later, the telephone became more popular and was
connected in more and more places.
vi. Bell, along with Sanders and Hubbard, created the Bell Telephone
Company.
1. Bell Telephone Company issued the first telephone stock to
seven stockholders.
2. Bell Telephone Company is the direct corporate
predecessor of todays AT&T.
c. Bells Other Accomplishments
i. Bell invented a machine that could clean wheat.
ii. Bell invented a precursor to modern day air conditioning.
iii. Bell invented items which contributed to aviation technology.
iv. Bell invented the fastest hydrofoil yet to be created.
1. This was his last invention at the age of seventy-five.
2. Thomas Edison
a. Edisons Life
i. Edison was born on February 11, 1847.
1. He was born in Milan, Ohio.
2. He moved to Port Huron, Michigan in 1854.
ii. Edisons family.
1. His father, Samuel, was a shingle maker and land
speculator and his mother, Nancy, kept the house and
taught him at home.
2. He was the youngest of seven children. Only four children
lived past childhood.
iii. Edisons work.
1. At thirteen, he was a newsboy and concessionaire for the
Grand Trunk Railroad.
2. From 1863 to 1868, he moved around the country as a
telegraph operator.
3. In 1869, he decided to quit work as a telegraph operator
and focus on his experimental work.
iv. Edison died on October 18, 1931.
b. Edisons Light Bulb
i. Edisons experiments with the light bulb began.
1. In 1878, he began his research after conceiving a system
which could support electrical lighting.
2. He sought to create a method of lighting which could
replace candles, kerosene flames, and gas flames in homes,
businesses, and public places.
ii. Edison faced difficulties in developing an incandescent light bulb.

1. An incandescent light bulb consists of a glass container

with a filament through which an electrical current is
passed. As electricity moves through the filament, the
material produces heat and light.
2. He searched for successful filament material which could
be pulled into a thread and inserted into the glass bulb. The
material required a high melting point, ductility, electrical
conductance, and reliability.
a. He tested platinum.
b. He tested thread fused with carbon.
c. After the light bulb was created, he tested bamboo
fused with carbon.
d. After a decade, rayon fused with carbon was used.
e. In 1906, metals such as tungsten were used.
iii. On October 21, 1879, Edisons experiments concluded.
1. For more than one hundred years, his basic design of the
light bulb was used.
2. In 2014, a more energy-efficient design was introduced.
c. Edisons Other Accomplishments
i. Edison invented the phonograph.
ii. Edison invented the electrical storage battery.
iii. Edison experimented with different creations of rubber.

Mid-Atlantic States History Website Chart

Website

M.I.-Minor
Influence or
S.I.-Significant
Influence

If S.I. include why

credible

How easy is it
for teachers to
access?

How easy is it
for students to
access?

http://www.pbs.org/tr
ansistor/album1/addl
bios/bellag.html

S.I.
(Information about
Bell and telephone)

Used as an
information source,
used for students
scavenger hunt
Used as an
information source,
used for students
scavenger hunt
Used as an
information source,
used for students
scavenger hunt

Easy

Easy

http://transition.fcc.g
ov/cgb/kidszone/histo
ry_telephone.html

S.I.
(Information about
Bell and telephone)

Easy

Easy

http://www.acs.org/co
ntent/acs/en/educatio
n/whatischemistry/la
ndmarks/thomasedison.html#lightbulb-filaments-andelectrical-lighting
http://www.history.co
m/topics/inventions/a
lexander-grahambell/videos/thetelegraph-andtelephone
http://www.history.co
m/topics/inventions/a
lexander-grahambell/videos/the-riseof-thomas-edison?
m=528e394da93ae&s
=undefined&f=1&fre
e=false
http://www.funtrivia.
com/playquiz/quiz24
6082d4408.html

S.I.
(Information about
Edison and light
bulb)

Easy

Easy

M.I.
(Video about Bell
and telephone)

Used as an
enrichment activity
for students
scavenger hunt

Easy

Easy

M.I.
(Video about
Edison and light
bulb)

Used as an
enrichment activity
for students
scavenger hunt

Easy

Easy

M.I.
(Quiz about Bell)

Used as an
enrichment activity
for students
scavenger hunt
Used as an
enrichment activity
for students
scavenger hunt

Easy

Easy

http://www.learningg
amesforkids.com/soci
al_studies_games/inv
entor-games/thomasedison-jigsaw.html
http://www.pbs.org/w
gbh/amex/telephone/
peopleevents/mabell.
html

M.I.
(Puzzle about
Edison)

Easy

Easy

Used as an
additional, optional
information source
for the above level
enrichment activity

Easy

Easy

M.I.
(Optional
information about
Bell and the
telephone)

http://www.famoussci
entists.org/alexandergraham-bell/
http://www.nps.gov/e
dis/forkids/theelectric-light-systemphonograph-motionpictures.htm
http://www.edisonmu
ckers.org/thomasedison-lightbulb/

M.I.
(Optional
information about
Bell and the
telephone)
M.I.
(Optional
information about
Edison and the light
bulb)
M.I.
(Optional
information about
Edison and the light
bulb)

Used as an
additional, optional
information source
for the above level
enrichment activity
Used as an
additional, optional
information source
for the above level
enrichment activity
Used as an
additional, optional
information source
for the above level
enrichment activity

Easy

Easy

Easy

Easy

Easy

Easy

Mid-Atlantic States History Scavenger Hunt Worksheet - General

Name:

Date:
Directions

Use the Mid-Atlantic States History scavenger hunt PowerPoint to complete the activity.
Click the picture on the slides to read and learn about Alexander Graham Bell and
Thomas Edison. Answer questions one through six on the worksheet using the websites.
Answer questions seven and eight on the worksheet using what you learned.
1. Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on what date?
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

2. Why is the date March 7, 1876 significant?

http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_telephone.html

3. Besides the telephone, name one other invention created by Bell.

http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

4. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio on what date?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html
5. On what date did Edison conclude his experiment and announce his invention of the
light bulb?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

6. Name one of the forms of lighting that Edisons light bulb replaced.
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

7. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change technology
in the United States and around the world?

8. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change society in
the United States and around the world?

Mid-Atlantic States History Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Above Level

Name:

Date:
Directions

Use the Mid-Atlantic States History scavenger hunt PowerPoint to complete the activity.
Click the picture on the slides to read and learn about Alexander Graham Bell and
Thomas Edison. Answer questions one through six on the worksheet using the websites.
Answer questions seven and eight on the worksheet using what you learned.
1. Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on what date?
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

2. Why is the date March 7, 1876 significant?

http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_telephone.html

3. Besides the telephone, name one other invention created by Bell.

http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

4. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio on what date?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

5. On what date did Edison conclude his experiment and announce his invention of the
light bulb?
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

6. Name one of the forms of lighting that Edisons light bulb replaced.
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

7. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change technology
in the United States and around the world?

8. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change society in
the United States and around the world?

Mid-Atlantic States History Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Below Level

Name:

Date:
Directions

Use the Mid-Atlantic States History scavenger hunt PowerPoint to complete the activity.
Click the picture on the slides to read and learn about Alexander Graham Bell and
Thomas Edison. Answer questions one through six on the worksheet using the websites.
Answer questions seven and eight on the worksheet using what you learned.
1. When was Bell born?
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

2. What happened on March 7, 1876?

http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/kidszone/history_telephone.html

3. True or False? Besides the telephone, Bell also invented a machine to clean wheat.
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/album1/addlbios/bellag.html

4. When was Edison born?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

5. What happened on October 21, 1879?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

6. Edisons light bulb replaced which of the following.

A. Candles
B. Kerosene flames
C. Gas flames
D. All of the above
http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/thomasedison.html

7. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change
technology? Did this change occur in both the United States and around the world?

8. Based on what you know, how did the telephone and the light bulb change society?
Did this change occur in both the United States and around the world?

Mid-Atlantic States History Exit Slip

Name
Name one thing you learned about Alexander Graham Bell.
Name one thing you learned about Thomas Edison.