Curated OER
Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men
Students list a variety of interests and achievements of Franklin and Jefferson. They take a position that one or the other's interests and achievements were more wide-ranging or that they were equivalent. They write out their findings.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Albany Plan of Union (1754)
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.
PBS
Pbs Character Above All: Richard M. Nixon
An excerpt from Tom Wicker's essay on Richard M. Nixon. The writing delves deep into Nixon's psyche, possibly giving reasons for his actions before and during the Watergate crisis. Analyzes Nixon's political philosophy and his actions.
Franklin and Marshall College
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary: Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World
This attractive, well-designed site, developed to mark the three-hundredth anniversary of Franklin's 1706 birth, tells the story of Franklin's life and accomplishments. Learn how his roots as an ambitious, outspoken teen helped him to...
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
An Ill Fated Journey
A fascinating look at the Franklin Expedition of the Northwest Passage.
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War: Animated Map: Franklin
Animated map shows the troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies prior to and during the Civil War battle at Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Benjamin Franklin
Information on the life of Benjamin Franklin, as a printer, librarian, inventor, and statesman. Includes a timeline.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Learn about the life and contributions of Benjamin Franklin by examining his letters, books, cartoons, speeches, and manuscripts. An excellent resource for teaching and learning about the history of the United States using primary source...
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Benjamin Franklin Extraordinary
Research Benjamin Franklin's life. With this project, students will decide which of his discoveries holds the longest lasting effect.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Rosalind Franklin
This is a fantastic biography of Rosalind Franklin. It has links to both additional information and images to help illustrate the biography.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life (Teacher's Guide)
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...
PBS
Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Worldly Ways
Learn about the roles Benjamin Franklin played before, during, and after the American Revolution in furthering America's diplomatic interests.
PBS
Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Wit and Wisdom
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."
PBS
Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Franklin's Inquiring Mind
Read a five-part essay that captures the essence of Franklin as a man of science.
PBS
Pbs: Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life: Citizen Ben
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.
PBS
Pbs People and Discoveries: Rosalind Franklin
PBS People and Discoveries offers an excellent, if brief, sketch of Rosalind Franklin's character and life.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: History Comes Alive: Developing Fluency and Comprehension
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...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Poor Richard's Almanack
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.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Benjamin Franklin's Birthday
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.
Other
Book Review: Becoming America:the Revolution Before 1776
A detailed review by James T. Kloppenberg, constructively criticizing the author's (Jon Butler) thesis that ties between colonial religion and politics are exaggerated.
National Health Museum
Access Excellence: Rosalind Franklin (1920 1958)
Access Excellence provides a biography of Rosalind Franklin and her role in explaining DNA's structure.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Chen Ning Yang
Learn about the Nobel Prize winning physicist who works on statistical mechanics and particle physics.
Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company: Dr. John Rae
John Rae was one of the last explorers sent out by the Hudson's Bay Company to chart the unknown north. This is a brief account of his accomplishments that included determining the facts about the ill-fated Franklin expedition.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Track the accomplishments of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945 CE) through his four terms in office. He is considered to be one of our greatest presidents. This president "Guided America through its greatest foreign crisis, and, with...