Fourth grade students in Menands are shining a light on the work of African American inventors during the school’s Black History Month.
Students in Christina Rowland’s class are learning about the work of 19th century inventor Lewis Howard Latimer. Latimer is famous for inventions such as an evaporative air conditioner, an improved toilet system for railroad cars and an improved process for manufacturing carbon filaments for electric light bulbs.
Throughout the month, students have been learning about Latimer and working on the creation of a circuit that lights a bulb. During a recent class, students shared their findings.
“I learned that he put a carbon fiber element in the light bulb,” said Bhargava Kukkala.
Classmate Preeda Mucheli said the research and work was “a lot of fun.”
For her, she said creating the circuit was a lesson in perseverance.
“It took a lot of trying, but I got it,” Preeda said.
Their research and projects are part of the Menands School’s #BlackHistoryMonth celebration and will be presented to the public Thursday during the school’s Black History Month celebration. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.
