Benjamin Franklin Lesson Ideas: Fun & Educational Activities for Kids
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This post is packed with Benjamin Franklin lesson ideas, printable resources, book recommendations, and fun extension activities to bring history to life in your classroom or homeschool!
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential figures in American history—an inventor, writer, scientist, and Founding Father. Whether you’re teaching about early American history, electricity, or inventors, Ben Franklin offers countless opportunities for engaging learning.
Who Was Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 (not 1705—this was based on the Julian calendar). He played a major role in shaping the early United States and is known for his contributions to science, politics, and literature. From inventing the lightning rod to drafting the Declaration of Independence, Franklin’s legacy is rich and inspiring.
Free Printable Benjamin Franklin Lesson Pack
Use this printable lesson set to introduce Franklin in a hands-on, interactive way. It’s perfect for upper elementary and middle school students.
Included activities:
- Understanding the Quotes of Benjamin Franklin – Interpret and reflect on his famous proverbs from Poor Richard’s Almanack.
- Magic Squares Puzzle – A math logic challenge inspired by Franklin’s fascination with numbers.
- Famous Inventions – Learn about his many inventions and their modern-day impact.
- Invent Your Own Invention – A creative prompt for students to design and explain a new invention.
- Political Cartoon Activity – Learn about the iconic “Join or Die” cartoon and create your own.
Download the Benjamin Franklin Lesson
Recommended Books About Benjamin Franklin
Whether you’re building a classroom library or assigning a biography report, these titles are perfect for kids of all ages:
- Benjamin Franklin by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (beautiful illustrations!)
- Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta
- Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares by Frank Murphy
- Ben and Me by Robert Lawson (historical fiction with a fun twist)
- Electric Ben by Robert Byrd
- Who Was Ben Franklin? by Dennis Brindell Fradin
- Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer by Augusta Stevenson
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (great for older readers—free on Kindle!)
- Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard’s Almanack – Explore his clever quotes
- Benjamin Franklin, American Genius by Brandon Marie Miller – includes 21 hands-on activities
Videos and Documentaries
Bring history to life with video resources:
- Liberty’s Kids – Animated series featuring Ben Franklin as a main character
- Biography.com – Free Benjamin Franklin video biography
- 1776 Musical Movie – Entertaining and educational look at the signing of the Declaration of Independence
- YouTube – Search for kid-friendly documentaries and animated biographies
Crafts & Activities to Enhance Learning
- Make DIY Pipe Cleaner Glasses – Inspired by Franklin’s bifocals
- Fly a Kite – Learn about Franklin’s famous kite experiment and electricity
- Create Pseudonyms – Franklin used many (Silence Dogood, Richard Saunders). Let kids come up with their own!
- Try Printmaking – Franklin was a printer—try bubble printing or potato stamps
- Act Out the Constitutional Convention – Let kids roleplay early American leaders
Cross-Curricular Learning Ideas
- STEM: Explore electricity, make a simple circuit, or build a basic kite
- ELA: Write a newspaper article from Franklin’s perspective or create a persuasive essay
- Social Studies: Learn about colonial America, the Revolutionary War, and early American government
Teaching about Benjamin Franklin is a great way to integrate history, science, reading, writing, and creativity. With the printable lesson pack, book list, and hands-on ideas above, your students will gain a deeper appreciation for one of America’s most brilliant minds.
Don’t forget to download your FREE Benjamin Franklin lesson printables and check out the book and video resources for a complete unit of study.
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This is awesome, Franklin’s Birthday is on January 17th and I was planning on doing a unit on him them, thank you very much
Awesome! My oldest just read The Autobiography of Ben Franklin and wrote a post on him as an inventor, and then last weekend gave hubby (and anybody within earshot lol) at Mt. Vernon a dissertation on the history of the lightning rod (that was in the tree George Washington planted to protect it). 1776 is on our to-do list when we get a little closer to the Revolution – one of my favorites, but we have to fight the French and Indian War first. 😉
One of my small people is a huge history buff, so I know she’ll enjoy checking out all of the Ben Franklin resources you’ve shared.
Great list! We recently read “Ben and Me” and watched the disney video of it. We also love Liberty’s Kids!
This is a fabulous collection of resources and some great printable activities you put together.
Thanks for this! I personally do not know much about Ben Franklin so this will be so helpful in teaching my kds. Thanks so much for the book suggestions as well. They look like fun reads.
So happy to have you linking up with us at the #homeschoollinkup. Sharing this wonderful post!