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Benjamin Franklin, A True Star in American History
Randi Dorman
United States Constitution_Dorman
The students will create a 5-pointed star bulletin board and/or concept web on the accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was eighty-one years old at the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kidspiration2 software is recommended for students to develop the concept web about Franklin's life. The students will examine several websites including the primary document of the Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Franklin.
Internet access/computer printer
5-Pointed Star pattern
Attachment #1 Lesson 4 Vocabulary for Groups
http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/cdisp6b.htm Kidspiration2 website
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/index.html Website for life as printer, librarian, statesman, and inventor
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/franklin/franklin.htm website done by children
http://www.fi.edu/qa99/attic4/index.html
Primary document of money printed by Franklin
http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/Science/Scientists/Franklin,_Benjamin/
Complete websites of many websites on Franklin
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,1076243,00.html
Time Magazine for Kids on Ben Franklin website has an expert on Franklin
http://www.fi.edu/franklin/family/lastwill.html
Primary document of last will and testament
http://www.libertyskids.com/arch_who_bfranklin.html
Interactive website about Liberty days
Two fifty minute periods
4
How did the the many talents and accomplishments of Ben Franklin impact American society?
Teacher preparation before class:
The large 5-pointed star should be drawn on the bulletin board or white-board. In the center, the title Benjamin Franklin, Man of Many Talentsshould be printed with different talents on each pointed-end of the star. Ben Franklin was a writer, printer, musician, philosopher, scientist, inventor, librarian, and statesman. Teacher may select any of the areas or combine them (writer/printer/librarian, scientist/inventor, statesman, philosopher, and musician). If the activity is to be done with computers, the teacher could draw a 5-pointed star on the white-board and label appropriately. Cut-out stars could be on individual desks with one of the different occupations (writer, printer, librarian, musician, philosopher, statesman, scientist, and inventor) printed on each. Ahead of time, the teacher might assign the members to the group such as Writer/Printer/librarian, Scientist/Inventor, Statesman, Philosopher, or Musician by using the appropriate cut-out stars placed on the desks of individual students.
To lead into this lesson, have students share any information that they know about Benjamin Franklin. The teacher may choose to list the student responses on the board. Then direct students' attention to the 5-pointed star and impress upon them the many varied roles and talents of Benjamin Franklin in addition to the ones that they may have mentioned.
Class discussion lead by the teacher should develop definitions of each occupation. The website: http://www.libertyskids.com/arch_who_bfranklin.html is a delightful way to introduce Benjamin Franklin. The website involves the entire "Liberty Era". If class computers are not available, perhaps the class could view the website by a television connection to the computer. The site does portray several different roles of Benjamin Franklin.
1. If the students are using computers, partnerships or small computer groups will develop the concept web using the software Kidspiration2. For more information and purchase of Kidspiration2 by Inspiration Software, go to the website: http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/cdisp6b.htm . In the software, Kidspiration2, the student(s) should click into the Social Studies area and use the concept web format under the title "A Time in the Past". The computer groups' may print their concept maps to overlap on a 5-pointed star bulletin board or display them somewhere in the classroom. A 5-pointed star pattern could be outlined by using an overhead projector aimed at a bulletin board. The teacher may decide to display the concept webs that were created on the bulletin board or in the hallway. Any background material may be used such as wrapping paper with stars on it. Attachment#1 for Lesson 4 provides a list of vocabulary for each group/partnership/individual on the computers that could maintain direction about the talents of Frankliln.
2. Classes without the recommended software will create a bulletin board by researching various reference materials, and resource materials. The 5-Pointed star pattern will be produced by an overhead on the bulletin board. Each pointed part of the star will display students' drawings as well as printed information about Ben Franklin's talents in the different areas. For instance, a drawing of the printing press could be displayed in the pointed area of the writer/printer/librarian with sayings from Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac and a picture of the Philadelphia Library. The following day, each group will present the accomplishments of Ben Franklin in a particular area of talent. Attachment #1 for Lesson 4 provides a list of vocabulary for each group that could maintain direction about the talents of Franklin.
On the website: http://www.fi.edu/franklin/family/lastwill.html, students will find the Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Franklin. As part of the final presentation, each group needs to note what Benjamin Franklin left in his will to the particular areas and what items that he treasured. For example, Ben Franklin set free his slave Bob.
The Philosopher's group should be able to discuss Franklin's ideas about slavery.
Summarizing Activity:
Each group will present their knowledge of Ben Franklin as a writer/printer/librarian, statesman, scientist/inventor, philosopher, or musician. The bulletin board is used by each group as a visual prop.
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