Curated OER
Benjamin Franklin - Master of Electricity The Kite Experiment and the Invention of the Lightning Rod
Learners study Benjamin Franklin including who he was, what he invented and his experiment. In this inventive lesson students follow the steps of Ben Franklin and build a Leyden jar.
Teach Engineering
Weather Alert
Every time a bell rings ... there is lightning in the area. The activity provides directions to build a model of a lightning detection system. Similar to a system designed by Benjamin Franklin, the system uses static...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Science Pen Pals
Students explore the scientific career of Benjamin Franklin. In this science lesson, students discuss Franklin's correspondence with other scientists and write letters describing Benjamin Franklin's experiments.
Curated OER
Lightning
Students study lightening and the history behind how it was used for electricity. In this electricity lesson students complete several experiments on the invention of the lightning rod.
Curated OER
Understanding Thunderstorms
In this thunderstorm worksheet, students read about thunder and lightning and the forces behind both. They also read about the timing difference between thunder and lightning. Students answer three critical thinking questions about...
Curated OER
Lightning It's Shocking, It's Frightening, It's Lightning!
Third graders decide what they want to explore lightning, how to go about finding the answers, and deciding what skills they need to further study some of their questions.
Curated OER
Electricity and Circuits
In this electricity and circuits worksheet, students read a 2 page article, answer 5 questions with multiple choice answers and read 10 statements and determine if they are true or false.
Curated OER
Incandescent Light Bulbs
In this light bulbs worksheet, students read about the creation of incandescent light bulbs and compare them with halogen bulbs. Students complete 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Weather Lessons: Explore the Possibilities
Looking to the sky isn't just for day dreamers.The weather is a fascinating way to explore science and history.
Curated OER
Science Hits Activity
Learners listen to a song that teaches the elements of the periodic table and write their own song to be used as an aid in remembering scientific information.
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.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Electric Ben Franklin
If it has to do with Benjamin Franklin, then you will probably find it here. There is much information about Franklin, his lightning experiment, Philadelphia, the Declaration, and more.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute Online: Electrified Ben
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...
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.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Weather Alert
Students discuss the characteristics of storms, including the relationship of weather fronts and storms. Using simple materials, the students develop a model of a simple lightning detection system and analyze their model to determine its...
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...