Benjamin Franklin: A Life of Invention and Impact
Benjamin Franklin, born into poverty, pursued self-education through reading and writing. He strove to better both himself and society, embodying virtues like industry and justice. Franklin initiated the Junto discussion group, published America's first newspaper, and made significant inventions such as bifocals and the lightning rod. His experiments with electricity, including flying a kite in a storm, led to groundbreaking discoveries. Franklin's legacy includes societal improvements, public services, and contributions to science and innovation.
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WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 3- Benjamin Franklin
Early Life What was Benjamin Franklin s early life like? Benjamin Franklin was born in a very poor family, so he could not go to school for very long. He left school early in order to work, but he still got an education. He learned from reading books. Franklin loved reading and writing.
Making the World Better Franklin was determined to improve the world around him, even his own life style. He wanted to be seen as a good example to society. He made a list of thirteen good habits (or virtues) that helped to improve his way of life. He focused on one of them each week until he was good at them all. How did Franklin always try to do things better? Some of the virtues from his list of 13 good habits: The 6th Virtue: Industry The 10th Virtue: Cleanliness The 8th Virtue: Justice
The Junto 1. Franklin started a discussion group called the Junto that met weekly. The group talked about their ideas and discuss ways of improving the society they lived in. How did Franklin share his ideas with others? 2. Franklin also wrote many of his new ideas in a magazine he called Poor Richard s Almanack which became very popular. Some quotes from Poor Richard s Almanack
Americas First Newspaper What were some of the things Franklin started in the US? 1. Published America s first national newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette Started America s first public library Organized the first trained fire department in Philadelphia and helped start a police patrol around the city Helped raise money to build the first hospital in America Began a school, now known as the University of Pennsylvania 2. 3. 4. 5.
Franklins Inventions What did Franklin invent? 1. As a young boy, Franklin made swim fins from wood. He combined two types of eyeglasses to make one pair to see both near and far. Today they are known as bifocals. He invented the Franklin stove, which improved the heating systems in houses by producing more heat and less smoke. He made improvements to street lamps. He even invented a musical instrument he called the glass armonica. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Electricity Did Franklin really fly a kite during a lightning storm? Yes, he did! Franklin enjoyed experimenting with electricity. One day he attached some metal to a kite and flew it into a lightning storm. The kite attracted the lightning and proved that lightning was an electrical charge. This gave Franklin the idea for his favorite invention the lightning rod. What do lightning rods do? Lightning rods are metal poles placed on the top of buildings to protect them from lightning.
The First American Why do people call Franklin the First American ? Because Franklin was the only leading American who signed all four of the major documents that created America: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaties of Alliance, the Peace Treaty between Great Britain and the United States, and the Constitution of the United States.
The $100 bill Isn t Franklin s picture used on money in the US? Yes, it is. Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 dollar bill.
Vocabulary candle n. wax with a piece of string in the middle of it that produces light as it slowly burns fin n. a type of large, flat shoe used for swimming, especially underwater
Vocabulary gazette n. a type of newspaper kite n. a thin device flown in the wind on string
Vocabulary lightning n. a flash of electricity generated between clouds or a cloud and the ground during a storm patrol v. to go around an area to see if there is any trouble or danger
Vocabulary stove n. something that you cook food on or heat a room with vegetarian adj. not eating or having any meat
