San Francisco Symphony
Admirable Armonica Admirers
What do Ben Franklin and Wolfgang Mozart have in common? Find out about the musical invention, the armonica or glassy-chord. Learners will read about how Ben Franklin invented this new instrument and how Wolfgang Mozart came to play it....
Read Works
The United States Constitution
The US Constitution is the beginning of Americans' rights. Use a five-paragraph passage to give a brief history of the US Constitution. A great last minute addition to a lesson on Constitution Day.
Curated OER
The Perfect Man: Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography
Eleventh graders study the characteristics of an autobiography. They read from the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and discuss and write an essay regarding some of his quotes.
Curated OER
Benjamin Franklin: Colonial Printer and Journalist
Fifth graders explore how important print media is to everyone's daily life. Students use present daily newspapers and they are to reproduce weather forecasts.
Curated OER
Autobiographies: A Jigsaw Puzzle
Students read The Autobiography of Ben Franklin. Using construction paper, they cut out five jigsaw puzzle pieces in different shapes using the entire sheet of paper. They write events from their own lives on the puzzle pieces, thus...
Curated OER
Constitutional Convention
Eighth graders investigate Constitutional Convention debates. In this early American history lesson plan, 8th graders analyze speeches delivered by Benjamin Franklin at the convention and then research Franklin's life. Students...
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
Making a Chiminea
A chiminea is an outdoor fireplace usually made from terracotta. Your class will make miniature versions of this useful heating device to practice specific sculpting techniques. This lesson spans four days. It includes vocabulary...
Curated OER
Borrowing and Lending
Fourth graders investigate the advantages and disadvantages of borrowing money. In this financial awareness lesson, 4th graders read the book Ben and Me and create a table displaying the advantages and disadvantages of borrowing money.
Curated OER
Discovering Flight
Students discuss what wind can do such as cause a ball to roll, a book to open, water to move. They observe in the book, "Up, Up and Away!: the Sciene of Flight" things that fly and begin brainstoring things on paper that can fly. They...
Curated OER
Symbolism and Aphorisms
Students describe the characters and the importance of symbolism in "To Kill A Mockingbird". They develop symbols that represent themselves and their school as well. They present these symbols on a poster and show them to their classmates.
Curated OER
American Beginnings
Eleventh graders examine the role of historians. For this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze document based questions. Students write a summary of these documents.
Curated OER
Lending a Helping Hand
Students research the work of North American NGOs and select one to support with a financial contribution as a class. For this philanthropic research lesson, students consider the work of Benjamin Franklin, defining good citizenship and...
Curated OER
Electricity for Kids! It's Shocking!
Students investigate the world of electricity by completing a KWL sheet. In this energy lesson, students view PowerPoint presentations about electricity, who invented it, and how it is used today. Students define several electricity...
Curated OER
Early American Education and Horace Mann
Young scholars analyze the contributions of Horace Mann. For this public education lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the history of American education, Mann.s life, the Morrill Act of 1862, and the Northwest...
Curated OER
The Final Word
Pupils research biographies of Americans who advanced science. They create an obituary for the person to share what information they have gathered. They discuss the importance of the obituary as the "final word" of a person to complete...
Curated OER
Declaration of Independence
Learners analyze a copy of the Declaration of Independence to discover how it was adopted, approved, and signed. The tone and style of the document are analyzed for intention through an exploration its the language and vocabulary.
Curated OER
A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words
Students explore the power of images through political cartoons, particularly in light of the Danish caricatures of Muhammad that have incited violence around the world. They create their own original artwork to submit to an appropriate...
Curated OER
Welcome to 1776
Fifth graders visit each center that is set up in the classroom. They participate in each activity and answer the questions at each center in writing with 90% accuracy. Student centers are colonial food, coloinal closet, colonial...
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Electric Light Tower
Students examine the San Jose Light Tower as an example of the development of urban lighting circa 1900. They view a slideshow, conduct research and write newspapers to chronicle the lighting ceremony from a variety of perspectives.
Curated OER
Electric Circuits
Students model the flow of electrons in a circuit, draw diagrams of an electric circuit and build an electric circuit. Students explain how to tell when the path of an electric circuit is complete, and test the conductivity of a variety...
Curated OER
Political Cartoons: Thinking Broadly, Communicating Succinctly
Students think broadly about the tsunami disaster and its aftermath through studying cartoons. Students critically think about the literary devices the authors/artists use, such as satire, metaphor and personification.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning:american Literature and Comp:rationalism: Benjamin Franklin
This lesson focuses on Benjamin Franklin's life by providing background information about Franklin including his apprentice to his brother, his "Silence Dogood" column, his autobiograpy, "Poor Richard's Almanack," and his political...
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: Music to Our Ears
Part of a larger site on the armonica, an instrument created by Ben Franklin. Introduce yourself to the human ear. This section looks at how sound is collected and transmitted and provides diagrams of the parts of the auditory pathway...