3rd Graders Learn About “A Life Electric”

October 2025

New York City-based Iranian-American writer and illustrator Azadeh Westergaard visited ISB to share her book, A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla with our 3rd Graders. Her visit was the perfect complement to the IB central idea they are currently focusing on: “Machines are designed to solve problems and make work easier.” Our students learned all about Tesla’s life story and how his inventions brought big ideas to life, connecting their problem-solving and invention unit of inquiry to real-world examples. The book also highlighted Tesla’s love of animals — especially pigeons! Our 3rd Grade aspiring writers and inventors were very interested to learn that Nikola Tesla once said “All things from childhood are still dear to me.”