+
Activity
Cynthia J. O'Hora

Mrs. O's House: Benjamin Franklin Extraordinary

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Research Benjamin Franklin's life. With this project, students will decide which of his discoveries holds the longest lasting effect.
+
Primary
History Tools

History Tools: Benjamin Franklin on Religion [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Excerpt from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 1771, 1774, 1788 in which Franklin discusses his thoughts and beliefs on nature and religion. Paragraph numbers have been added.
+
Primary
University of Florida

Baldwin Library:young Benjamin Franklin or the Right Road Through Life by Mayhew

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is an online photocopy of the original text of the children's book Young Benjamin Franklin or The Right Road Through Life by Henry Mayhew (1861). This story shows how young Benjamin Franklin learned the principles he lived by.
+
Primary
University of Florida

Baldwin Library: Benjamin Franklin, the Printer Boy by William P. Nimmo Co.

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is an online photocopy of the original of the children's book Benjamin Franklin, the Printer Boy by William P. Nimmo & Co., (1880?) a historical fiction children's novel.
+
Primary
University of Florida

Baldwin Library: The Life of Dr. Benjamin Franklin

For Students 4th - 6th
A scanned copy of the 1853 publication of The Life of Dr. Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin, an autobiography for children.
+
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life (Teacher's Guide)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Go directly to the teaching resource that accompanies the PBS series "Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life, An Electric Mind" to find eight lesson plans that support the study of Benjamin Franklin and his place in history. Lessons...
+
Graphic
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Worldly Ways

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the roles Benjamin Franklin played before, during, and after the American Revolution in furthering America's diplomatic interests.
+
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Wit and Wisdom

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Franklin's career as a writer and about his particular brand of humor in this five-part essay. Includes examples from his letters and from "Poor Richard's Almanack."
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Inquiring Mind

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a five-part essay that captures the essence of Franklin as a man of science.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Citizen Ben

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a five-part essay on Franklin's sense of civic duty and learn why he is still, to this day, considered a role model of good citizenship.
+
Unit Plan
Franklin and Marshall College

Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary: Anatomy of an Autobiography [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
PDF file of a transcript of a lecture delivered by Michael Zuckerman, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania on the topic of personal writing and autobiography using the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" as an example.
+
Activity
Other

University of Delware: Franklin and Friends

For Students 9th - 10th
Using historically significant documents and photos from its collection, this exhibit probes the various interests of Franklin and the influential friends that shared his interests.
+
Handout
Other

Colonial Hall: Benjamin Franklin, 1706 1790

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive biography of founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, transcribed from an 1829 publication, Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich.
+
Article
Other

Msu: Famous British Historian Claims Benjamin Franklin Was a British Spy

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses allegations that Benjamin Franklin was a British spy and a member of the Hell-Fire club.
+
Interactive
Other

Constitution facts.com: Which Founding Father Are You?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Answer five questions to learn which of six Founding Fathers you are most like.
+
Handout
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Ben Franklin's Armonica

For Students 9th - 10th
Ever rub your wet finger along the top of a glass and listen to it sing? So did Benjamin Franklin. He then invented the glass armonica to recreate the sound. Read about the armonica, the music composed for it, and Franklin's scientific...
+
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
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Colonial Newspapers and Magazines: The New England Courant

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how "The New England Courant" came about, and how it was different than other papers.
+
Activity
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Poor Richard's Almanack

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
As part of a unit on Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.
+
Activity
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Benjamin Franklin's Birthday

For Teachers 1st - 6th
As part of a unit on Benjamin Franklin and his works, this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.
+
Lesson Plan
Other

Eng 223: American Literature Before 1865

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Online syllabus for a college Pre-Civil War American Literature class with links to information about each class lesson. These lessons contain some good teaching ideas and background information about a number of famous authors, much of...
+
Handout
US National Archives

Nara: Founding Fathers: Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives biographical details on the eight delegates from Pennsylvania to the Constitutional Convention: George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Mifflin, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and James Wilson.
+
Handout
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Inventors & Inventions From the 1700s

For Students 3rd - 6th
Use this site to learn more about early inventors and inventions from the 18th century. This web page offers text and images on various inventors and their inventions. You can also access information about inventors and inventions from...
+
Unknown Type
Daily Teaching Tools

Daily Teaching Tools: Test 9: Ben's Harmonica

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides a reading assessment passage. This passage contains a brief biography about Ben Franklin and a few of his inventions.