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Interactive
Curated OER

American Inventors

For Teachers 4th - 7th
In this online interactive American inventors worksheet, students read a brief selection and respond to 10 fill in the blank and multiple choice questions.
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Interactive
Curated OER

American Inventors

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
In this online interactive American inventors worksheet, students read a brief selection and respond to 10 fill in the blank and multiple choice questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Go Fly a Kite!

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students study kites. In this social studies lesson, students discover the history of kites and what kites are made of. Students create their own kites to fly.
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Handout
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute: Franklin's Lightning Rod

For Students 9th - 10th
See a picture of the lightning rod Benjamin Franklin used in 1746 and learn about his discovery of electricity.
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Unit Plan
Other

Pocantico Hills School: Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents

For Students Pre-K - 1st
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.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Benjamin Franklin: The Ultimate Solution Creator

For Teachers 8th
[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.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Electric Ben Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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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...
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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.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Weather Alert

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: Franklin's Electricity

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...