A scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, politician, and the founder of a nation—and that's just one person! Learners investigate the many lives of Benjamin Franklin. Using a hands-on interactive online resource, they analyze primary documents and form a final written response on the importance of this influential founding father. 

Concepts

benjamin franklin, the founding fathers

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Create teams of students to investigate Franklin's life and assist one another while analyzing the document
• Extend the activity by debating why Franklin was selected for the $100 bill and not a smaller currency

Classroom Considerations

• Pace the time of the lesson accordingly with the web tools activity
• Final step assumes students have Internet access and addresses to email the response to teachers
  

Pros

• Resource provides a hands-on investigative learning opportunity with online materials 
• Lesson is interactive with use of documents and images from Franklin's era

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.3 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.3 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.3