ALEX Learning Activity

This learning activity may be used before a lesson on Democracy to engage students in the principles of American democracy. It may be used around some holidays or celebrations such as Constitution Day.

This learning activity explores the chronological life of Benjamin Franklin. Students will read along with the Educator via the website about Franklin's life. Students will choose a year and research what happened during that year and report their findings to the class. The entire class will create a talking timeline that chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin.

This activity is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

The students will be able to locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions about Benjamin Franklin.

The students will be able to identify national historical figures (including our founding fathers) that exemplify fundamental democratic values, including equality, justice, and responsibility for the common good.  

Remind students of the vocabulary used as segments of time, including year, decade, score, and century. Tell students that Benjamin Franklin is considered to be one of the Founding Fathers of our country. Remind students that a Founding Father is a member that helped to write the United States Constitution in 1787. Students will choral read from the board or chart paper that Benjamin Franklin is considered to be a Founding Father because he helped to write the United States Constitution in 1787.

Tell students that today's learning activity explores the chronological life of Benjamin Franklin using a digital source. Students will read along with the Educator via the website about his life (Click on About Ben & GPO; then click on Timeline).

Next, students will choose a year from folded sticky notes at the educator's table (see the Advanced Preparation section). Then students will research what happened during the year that they chose, write down the event in their Social Studies journal, and report their findings to the class. The entire class will create a talking timeline that chronicles the life of Benjamin Franklin.

The educator will assess the students' journals for accuracy of the date and significant event after researching Benjamin Franklin.

Students' will require prior knowledge of the vocabulary terms used to describe segments of time, including year, decade, score, and century are recommended. Prior knowledge of the term "Founding Father" is needed before the start of this learning activity. Write on the board or chart paper for all students to view that Benjamin Franklin is considered to be a Founding Father because he helped to write the United States Constitution in 1787.

Prior to beginning the activity, check to be sure all technology devices and the Internet is working.

Write each of the following years on a sticky note. There are 27 different year(s)/events. Therefore, if you do not have as many as 27 students, then you will have extra dates unless you choose the specific number of events as you have students. Only write the years on the sticky notes; the students will research/retrieve from the website what happened during the particular year(s) that they chose. The following timeline is also on the website:

1706: Born in Boston, Massachusetts.

1718: Begins printing apprenticeship to his brother.

1723: Moves to Philadelphia, PA, to work as a printer.

1724: Moves to London and works in a printer’s shop there.

1726: Returns to Philadelphia.

1727: Establishes the Junto in Philadelphia, a social and scholarly group for ‘mutual improvement’; members gathered to discuss topics in politics, philosophy, science, and other areas.

1728: Opens a print shop of his own in Philadelphia.

1729: Publishes the “Pennsylvania Gazette.”

1730: Marriage (common-law) with Deborah Read.

1731: Writes the charter for the Library Company of Philadelphia. The Library Company began as a subscription library for Franklin’s Junto.

1732: Publishes “Die Philadelphische Zeitung.” Although short-lived, this was the first German-language newspaper published in America.

1732-1758: Publishes “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” a yearly compilation of days of the year, dates in history, weather patterns, astronomical data, and proverbs. Writes under the pseudonym Richard Saunders.

1743: Founds the American Philosophical Society. Daughter Sally is born; joins Ben’s son William in the Franklin household.

1746: Conducts experiments with electricity.

1748: Retires from printing.

1751: Publishes “Experiments and Observations on Electricity.”

1752: Experiments with kite and lightning.

1757: Travels to London; composes “The Way to Wealth.” Acts as a representative of the American colonies.

1771: Franklin begins composing his memoirs, now known as “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.”

1775-1776: Served as the Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

1776: Signs the Declaration of Independence, which declared that the thirteen American colonies were independent and no longer British.

1778: Negotiates Treaty of Alliance with France.

1782: Negotiates peace with Great Britain.

1783: Signs the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain. John Adams and John Jay were co-signers of the treaty.

1785-1788: Serves as Governor of Pennsylvania.

1787: Signs the Constitution of the United States.

1790: Dies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Educator may view the website https://www.constitutionday.com/ with the students to teach about the biography of the Founding Fathers or may assign each student a Founding Father to research and present their findings to the class.

Extension to this learning activity: Put students with a partner and the pair may continue to explore this website as a team. They may click on learning adventures 4-8 and click on games. 

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