Benjamin Franklin Lesson Plans

First graders explore the inventions of Benjamin Franklin. In this lesson on Benjamin Franklin's many inventions, 1st graders view images of Mr. Franklin's work and discuss which of his accomplishments were his most important. This lesson includes a slide-show, invention document, differentiated instruction and multiple web resources.

Students explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin activity, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Students complete an events worksheet activity about Franklin's life.

Students examine the role of money in the colonial economy by participating in a trading activity. In this colonial economy lesson, students complete an activity to learn about colonial trade and what happens when there is a lack of money. Students research the difficulties associated with barter and read a booklet "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy" to learn about Franklin's role for money in the economy. Students study land banks and inflation.

Students study Benjamin Franklin including who he was, what he invented and his experiment.  For this inventive lesson students follow the steps of Ben Franklin and build a Leyden jar.

Students examine Benjamin Franklin's community service in Philadelphia. For this American history famous heroes lesson, students make text-to-self-and-world connections between the Philadelphia community service Benjamin Franklin performed and the resources and public buildings their community has to offer. Students decorate a quilt square with ideas they have about working as a classroom for the "common good."

Examine stories with a moral in a character development lesson. The class reads a short story written by Benjamin Franklin in which he pays too much for a toy whistle. Individuals then make text-to-self connections and write a narrative describing a time when they misjudged the price of something.

Students explore the life of Benjamin Franklin. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students research Internet sites for information regarding Benjamin Franklin and create a PowerPoint based on their findings.

Learners explore inventors. For this inventors lesson, students investigate the reasons behind many inventions and attempt to determine how life would be different without inventions. Learners research Benjamin Franklin and Leonardo da Vinci.

Conduct research and write a paragraph about an accomplishment of Benjamin Franklin. Young historians include an illustration or collage that depicts the events described in their paragraph then work together as a class to create a giant Benjamin Franklin time line. Adaptations are suggested for working with younger or older grades, including extending into a poetry activity.

Students investigate the role of money in the colonial economy. In this colonial economy instructional activity, students participate in a trading activity, read the booklet "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy," participate in an activity about land banks, and explore how too much money can lead to inflation in a 22 page packet.