The Electric Ben Franklin: Benjamin Franklin!
(www.ushistory.org/franklin/index.htm)
Grades 4-12, with parental supervision
This ad-supported website offers a wealth of information and fun trivia on the subject of Benjamin Franklin!
When you get to the website, use the menu on the left side of the screen to explore:
- A Timeline of Franklin’s Life with notable historic events and achievement
- Franklin’s Inventions – including bifocal glasses, electricity, the lightning rod, a Franklin stove, a map of the Gulf Stream, swim fins, odometer – and find out what he didn’t invent too!
- Franklin’s Entire Autobiography including an account of his famous kite experiment
- You can also read an original work of historical fiction called Temple’s Diary in which a 15-year-old boy discovers that he is the grandson of Benjamin Franklin!
Explore Philadelphia and Franklin’s old haunts. Read his wise and wonderful sayings. You’ll even find experiments to do at home along with interactive games that help to explain the concepts of Franklin’s many discoveries.
This is a wonderful unit study online that will appeal to the whole family — don’t miss it!
Note: This website is part of the larger USHistory.org site. Be sure to visit the home page to see all that this site has to offer.
