eBook
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an online version of a 1909 Harvard Classics edition of "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin," including the front matter, illustrations, and an introductory note.
Website
Other

Benjamin Franklin House

For Students 9th - 10th
The only remaining Franklin home, the one in London, has opened as a dynamic museum and educational facility. Although there is not a lot of information on Franklin himself, the conservation effort and subsequent use of the museum is...
Article
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Glass Armonica

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a short essay about Franklin's invention of a musical instrument--the glass armonica. Includes a sound file of a composition by Mozart played on Franklin's instrument.
Activity
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Ben Franklin: Glimpses of the Man

For Students 6th - 8th
Brief glimpse into the life of Benjamin Franklin: scientist, inventor, writer, statesman, philosopher, and economist.
eBook
C-SPAN

C Span American Writers: The Autobiography of Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief summary of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Also includes an on-line sample of the work as well as links to other informational websites.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Albany Plan of Union (1754)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the original text of Benjamin Franklin's early proposal for unification of the colonies in common defense against the French. Proposed in 1754, Franklin's framework is considered one of the founding documents of the American republic.
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Ynhti: My Place in Time, by Michael Conte, Jr.

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This lesson site from the Yale University provides narrative, notes, and teacher and student bibliographies. Investigates the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin."
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Ynhti: The Humor of America, Ruth Schwartz

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site includes a summary of these lesson plans about humor, and a narrative on humor in writing to precede them. Discusses writings by Benjamin Franklin.
Article
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Franklin and the Presbyterians

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed essay describing an incident having to do with the sermons of Samuel Hemphill within the Philadelphia Presbyterian Church in 1734. Benjamin Franklin supported Hemphill.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Colonial Network News: Ben Franklin Flies a Kite

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The students will create a news program about Benjamin Franklin and life in colonial times. The students will work in groups of complete research and prepare a video presentation. Students will utilize books and various web sites to...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Benjamin Franklin Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a timeline of Benjamin Franklin's life. Each flipchart page highlights a high point in Franklin's life.
Unknown Type
My Hero Project

My Hero: Science Hero: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 3rd - 8th
This brief article overviews some of Benjamin Franklin's accomplishments as a scientist and a political diplomat, whose efforts not only made him "one of the most famous scientists of his day," but also a hero to early American Colonists.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, young scholars will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: World of Influence

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a five-part synopsis of Franklin's engagement with the world beyond America's borders, beginning with his celebrity status as a world-renown scientist. Includes write-ups of his time in London and Paris and of his extensive...
eBook
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: First Silence Dogood Letter

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the text of the first letter Franklin wrote to the "New England Courant," in 1772, under the Silence Dogood pseudonym.
eBook
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Thirteen Virtues

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the virtues valued by Franklin, and other eighteenth-century men and women, by perusing this list.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Benjamin Franklin's Rising Sun

For Students 9th - 10th
Franklin, as the oldest delegate to the Constitutional Convention, recognized the arguments against the proposed new government and the strength of the Federalists. The essay gives insight into Franklin's views on the drafted...
Activity
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute Online: Electrified Ben

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Franklin Institute Online provides a somewhat simplistic but interesting tale of Ben's electrical activities. Fine link to "electricity bells", in Franklin's own words. Some other links to projects, maybe not so...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Making Friends With Franklin

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site is an introduction plus a series of three lesson plans that explore Franklin's portraits plus aspects of his work in science and writing.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: History Comes Alive: Developing Fluency and Comprehension

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Let the power of imagination and inference serve as a "time machine" to bring Benjamin Franklin into the classroom! History and science come to life in a dialogue with Franklin the inventor, developed through lesson activities that...
Handout
Florida State University

Florida State University: Magnet Lab: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1750 1774

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The First American

For Teachers 6th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage contains information on Benjamin Franklin and his earning of the title "First American" nickname. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Shocking Truth

For Teachers 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Ben Franklin's discovery of electricity. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.

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