He Saved Lives with an Invention YOU Can Build!

Fun STEM Activities for Kids: Celebrating Black History Month! Granville T. Woods – "Build Your Own Telegraph"

This February, we’re spotlighting amazing Black inventors and their groundbreaking achievements, paired with fun, easy STEM activities your kids can do at home! Let’s honor their legacy while learning and creating together.

Granville T. Woods – The “Black Edison”
Granville T. Woods was an incredible inventor who helped make trains safer. He invented a special way for trains to talk to each other while they were moving, which helped them avoid crashing. This invention, called the railway telegraph, saved countless lives. Over his lifetime, Granville created more than 60 inventions that changed the way we communicate and travel, earning him the nickname "Black Edison."

STEM Activity: Build a Simple Telegraph

Recreate Granville T. Woods’ railway telegraph with this fun and easy activity!

• Materials: Wire, battery, small light bulb, paper clips, and a switch.
• Instructions:
1. Connect the wire, battery, and bulb to make a simple circuit.
2. Use the switch to turn the light bulb on and off, sending “messages” like a telegraph.
3. Try spelling out words in Morse code!

How This Uses STEM:

• Science: Learn about electricity and how circuits work.
• Engineering: Design and build a working telegraph system.
• Technology: Explore how Granville’s invention evolved into modern communication.
• Math: Measure the length of wires and calculate how resistance affects the flow of electricity.

Granville T. Woods’ story teaches us that solving problems with creativity and hard work can save lives. How will you inspire the next generation of inventors?