Ben Franklin

LESSON PLANS AND RESOURCES

	From PBS, Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life, An Electric Mind includes biographical and historical information, a tour of “Ben’s Town,” a Virtue Quiz, “Ben A to Z,” a timeline, and an eight-lesson Teacher’s Guide.
	At Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, a cartoon Ben Franklin tells kids all about himself and introduces visitors to the workings of government. Included are games, activities, and puzzles. Categorized by grade level.
	Our national symbol: eagle or turkey? Visit Great Seal to find out what Ben Franklin thought and why.
	Ben Franklin: Man of Many Talents is a multi-part lesson plan targeted at grades 3-5.
	Ben Across the Curriculum is a collection of themed lesson plans, variously appropriate for grades K-5, 6-8, or 9-12.  Lessons are categorized under Character Matters, Franklin, Printer, Civic Visions, Useful Knowledge, and World Stage.  Also included at the website are a Franklin timeline, a list of Franklin trivia, Franklin-related essays and articles, and a bibliography.
	Celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday by setting up a homestyle or classroom postal service. Sounds fun.
	See Benjamin Franklin’s Inventions from the Franklin Institute.
	The Electric Ben Franklin is a wide-ranging site including the multi-episode “Temple’s Diary” (the story of the Revolution through the eyes of Franklin’s teenage grandson), images and descriptions of Franklin’s inventions, an account of the famous kite experiment, issues of the New-England Courant (including letters from Franklin’s alter-ego, Silence Dogood), experiments (make a thermometer, for example), and games. (Play checkers with Benjamin Franklin.) An excellent resource.