Albert Einstein Educational Resources K12 Learning, People and Their Environment, World, Social Studies Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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You might not know what it means, but you have probably heard of E = mc², right?

If you have, then you have probably also heard of Albert Einstein. Or maybe you've just seen images before of a white-haired scientist like the cartoon above or photograph below. That's Albert Einstein!

Albert Einstein, 1947

^{Image by Orren Jack Turner, via Wikimedia Commons and available from the United States Library of Congress (cph.3b46036), is in the public domain.}

Albert Einstein is one of the most influential and renowned figures in our history. Without his discoveries, many advances in physics, science, and technology would not have been possible!

Albert Einstein was a physicist who developed many scientific theories, including the theory of relativity, which completely transformed physics and astronomy.

The clip below, from National Geographic's Genius series, is a re-enactment of Einstein as a young professor. It shows Einstein racing against mathematician David Hilbert to solve his proof of the theory of general relativity. It provides a unique glimpse into how Einstein's mind worked and what this moment in his life might have been like.

One of Einstein's most known equations is E = mc². This means that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared.

But what does that mean?

Check out Einstein's Big Idea: E - mc² Explained for a clear explanation about what this equation actually means.

E=mc2

Albert Einstein was born in Germany on March 14, 1879. He accomplished many things; however, most notably, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his work in Theoretical Physics and for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

Before Einstein became a professor, he studied at the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich, where he received his diploma in Physics in 1900. Later, he went on to complete a PhD in Physics at the University of Zurich. Einstein first worked as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland before he began his academic and scientific career.

Watch the mini biography below to learn more about Albert Einstein and his life.

As you learned, Albert Einstein eventually moved to the United States during World War II. Due to the Nazi rise to power in Germany and Einstein's Jewish heritage, he decided to become a U.S. citizen.

Fuld Hall at Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, NJ

In 1933, Einstein accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study which is located in Princeton, New Jersey. He continued his research at the Institute and also lectured at Princeton University.

Look at more photographs of Einstein while learning about the Mission & History of this institution.

Albert Einstein passed away on April 18, 1955. He was reportedly 76 years old. Without Einstein's discoveries and contributions, our society would likely not have made the significant advances in the fields of science and technology that we enjoy today.

Great job in the Get It! section! Now let's move on to the Got It? section and apply what we've learned about this amazing human being!