Benjamin Franklin Activities

Posted by Susan Hyde May 21, 2007

Homeschooling allows me to follow and encourage Aaron and Robby's individual interests, but I especially love it when my boys' activities cross paths with my own interests. Recently I've had the opportunity to explore a favorite historic figure with my elementary age children.

I occasionally teach an American Colonial Literature course for Southern New Hampshire University. I always get a kick out of introducing my adult students to the literature of our American beginnings. Reading the original texts of writers like John Smith, Jonathon Edwards, Phyllis Wheatley, and Thomas Paine provides a unique view of the colonial life from those who were actually there.

There are some truly great American writers from the Enlightenment period; however, none can hold a candle to printer, newspaper satirist, inventor, scientist, philosopher, humanitarian, politician and diplomat, Benjamin Franklin.

It will be awhile before my children will be ready for Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, or his pithy 1773 satire (my own favorite), Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One; however, there are fantastic resources for K-12 students.

DVD

• This is America, Charlie Brown, "The Birth of the Constitution," Paramount Pictures (2006)
• Liberty's Kids: The First Forth of July , Ten-Strike Home Entertainment (2004)
• Benjamin Franklin, PBS (2002)

Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction

• Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta (Henry Holt & Co., Inc., 2006) - ages 4-8
• John, Paul, George, and Ben by Lane Smith (Hyperion Books for Children, 2006) - ages 5-8
• Benjamin Franklin (Time for Kids Series, 2005) - ages 7-9
• Ben and Me: The Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin as Written by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson (Little, Brown & Company, 1988) - ages 8-12
• Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer by Augusta Stevenson (Aladdin Books, 1986 ) - ages 8-12
• Who Was Ben Franklin? by Dennis Brindell Fradin (Penguin Young Readers Group, 2002) - ages 8-10

Websites

• The Franklin Institute: Commemorate Benjamin Franklin's Birthday
• PBS: Benjamin Franklin
• Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

If you liked this article, you might enjoy a persuasive writing lesson based on Benjamin Franklin for grades 6-12.