The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: Franklin's Lightning Rod
See a picture of the lightning rod Benjamin Franklin used in 1746 and learn about his discovery of electricity.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Lightning Rod
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about charge, electric field, and electric potential in the context of a lightning strike using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet is also available. Includes video tutorial. [3:49]
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Lightning
In this interactive tutorial students will explore what is the cause and mechanism associated with lightning strikes, They will investiage how lightning rods serve to protect buildings from the devastating effects of a lightning strikes....
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: "The Lightning Rod Man" by Herman Melville
Text of the short story "The Lightning-Rod Man" by Herman Melville. (Free site registration offers some additional features, e.g., the ability to insert annotations.)
Dan Satterfield
Dan's Wild Weather Page: Lightning
Learn facts and statistics about the weather phenomenon of lightning. This illustrated article also includes a lightning experiment and safety tips.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Prokop Divis
Learn about Prokop Divis in this article that discusses his life and discoveries especially with creating the first grounded lightning rod.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Lightning
This activity will demonstrate the attraction of positive and negative charges and what happens when those opposite charges meet each other.
Other
Cathedral Communications: Lightning Protection for Historic Buildings
This site explains how to protect buildings from lighting. It offers information on the different types of lighting, principles of protection, and installation.
Other
Pocantico Hills School: Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents
This student-created project site looks at the life of Benjamin Franklin and his experiments with lightning. Includes a timeline, a glossary, a printable quiz, and many illustrations.
Other
K 3 Learning Pages: Web Resources Thunderstorms
Check out this comprehensive list of web resources on thunderstorms and safety. Students and teachers will benefit from the links found on this site.
Indiana University
The Piazza Tales (Full Text) by Herman Melville
Full-texts of such Melville works as "Bartleby the Scrivner" and "Benito Cerino" can be read as facsimiles of the original editions as well as PDF and plain text documents.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Magnet Lab: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1750 1774
With his famous kite experiment and other forays into science, Benjamin Franklin advances knowledge of electricity, inspiring his English friend Joseph Priestley to do the same.
Read Works
Read Works: Benjamin Franklin: The Ultimate Solution Creator
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Benjamin Franklin and some of his inventions. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Franklin's Electricity
Some research puts Franklin's electrical work in the scientific and political context of his day. An interesting point of view, one not usually found in comments of Franklin and electrostatics. Done by a professor from University of...
PBS
American Experience: Technology Timeline: 1752 1990
Short descriptions of important technological innovations produced in America and the date of their introduction.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in New Hampshire: Mac Pheadris Warner House
Built around 1720, this home is one of the finest Georgian brick houses in New England. Its lightning rod may have been the first installed in the area.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist,...