Let There Be Light

In the news: The story

Read a 118-word news story: The invention that made the evening longer

Long ago, night was very dark. People used candles and oil lamps. The light was small and yellow. When the sun went down, most people stopped work and went to bed early. Many people worked on a better light. In 1879, Thomas Edison showed an electric bulb that worked for many hours. Other inventors in other countries worked on the same idea at the same time. Edison and his team tested hundreds of materials to find the best one. Slowly, cities put electricity in the streets and in the houses. Now people could read, cook, talk and play in the evening. The day became longer. Today we switch on a light and we do not think about it.

Vocabulary: Words to know

6 items

Discussion: Look at the picture

2 discussion questions

• What can you see in the picture? What is dark, and what is light?
• Is this a happy picture or a sad picture for you? Why?

Discussion: Your evening

3 discussion questions

• What do you do in the evening after dark?
• How many lamps are in your home? Which one do you like best?
• Do you like candles? When do you use them?

Discussion: Big questions, simple words

3 discussion questions

• What happens in your city when the electricity stops? How do people feel?
• Electric light gave people more hours. Is that good or bad? Say one reason.
• What is the most useful thing in your home? Why?