Ben and Me
Ben and Me
Name:___________________________ Number of activities to be completed: _______
About the Book
About the Author
Stud
paper
colonial cookbook, white
copy of page 7
paper
pencil, paper
map
reference materials, world
the
reference materials on
ndence
Declaration of Indepe
ed
books, battery, insulat
• Activity #12: science
s or
wire, iron bolt, crayon
markers
ction paper, glue
copy of page 5, constru
of paper;
four 81/2" x 11" sheets
friends of Ben
reference materials on
Washington
Franklin, including George
crayons or
and Thomas Jefferson;
markers; stapler
of page 6
copy
#3:
y
Activit
in,
•
ce materials on Ben Frankl
• Activity #4: referen
crayons or markers
poster
ce books, magazines,
• Activity #5: referen
markers
board, glue, crayons or
ct
Friendly Contra
ersigned, mutually
We, the und
Write
________________________
_ (Friend 1)
2. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man
2. On the 10th, when was the first high tide?
__________
___
5. On the 18th, when was the second high
tide?
8. On the 20th, when was the first high
______________________________ tide? ________________
3. One today is worth two tomorrows. ________
9. On the 20th, how many hours passed
________________________________ between low tide and high tide?
4. Speak little, do much. ________________
_______
____
____________
nd 2)
_______ (Frie
____________
ing:
high tide between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00
a.m., which days would he choose?
_______________________________
ow
agrees to do the foll
____
_________
____________
___
____________
____________
__
____________
______
been made on this
(ordinal number)
This agreement has
, ________
(year)
day of ____________
(month)
and
________
____________
(Friend 2)
11. If a shipmaster wanted to dock during
high tide between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00
p.m., which days would he choose?
_______________________________
.
Write your own ending to each of these maxims.
_________________________________
12. What day has the earliest low tide?
6. You may delay, but ________________
_____________ Latest low tide?
___________________________ . _____________
7. No gains without ________________________
8. When you are good
between
_________
____________
(Friend 1)
1
12:31 P.M.
2
12:37 A.M.
1:17 P.M.
6:39 A.M.
3
1:22 A.M.
1:58 P.M.
7:19 A.M.
__________________
________________________________________
__________________
________________________________________
5
©The Mailbox®
6
5:54 A.M.
Page 7
1. 6:37 a.m.
2. 12:11 p.m.
3. 51/2 hours
6:28 P.M. 4. 2:14 p
.m.
7:09 P.M. 5. 8:11 p.m.
6. 151/2 hours
7:48 P.M.
High 2
2:05 A.M.
2:38 P.M.
7:58 A.M.
2:47 A.M.
3:17 P.M.
8:37 A.M.
9:01 P.M.
6
3:29 A.M.
3:56 P.M.
9:16 A.M.
9:38 P.M.
7
4:12 A.M.
4:35 P.M.
9:56 A.M.
10:17 P.M.
4:57 A.M.
5:15 P.M.
10:37 A.M.
10:58 P.M.
5:44 A.M.
5:59 P.M.
11:22 A.M.
11:43 P.M.
6:37 A.M.
6:46 P.M.
12:11 P.M.
11
7:33 A.M.
7:40 P.M.
12:34 A.M.
1:05 P.M.
12
8:34 A.M.
8:41 P.M.
1:31 A.M.
2:08 P.M.
13
9:37 A.M.
9:45 P.M.
2:35 A.M.
3:17 P.M.
14
10:40 A.M.
10:50 P.M.
3:43 A.M.
4:27 P.M.
11:51 P.M.
15
11:39 A.M.
16
12:34 P.M.
17
4:51 A.M.
5:32 P.M.
5:55 A.M.
6:31 P.M.
12:47 A.M.
1:26 P.M.
6:53 A.M.
7:23 P.M.
18
1:41 A.M.
2:14 P.M.
7:46 A.M.
8:11 P.M.
19
2:32 A.M.
3:00 P.M.
8:35 A.M.
8:57 P.M.
20
3:21 A.M.
3:44 P.M.
9:21 A.M.
9:40 P.M.
©The Mailbox®
Science
“Ben and Me”
Answ
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
3:21 a.m.
9:21 a.m.
151/2 hours
3, 4, 18
1,15, 16
2, 15
8:25 P.M.
8
9
___________________________ .
High 1
4
10
10. Don’t throw stones at your neighbors ________
Low 2
5
______________________________ .
9. Look ahead or you will ________________
_______
____________
Write one maxim of your own below.
____________
d 2)
(signature of Frien
__________________
________________________________________
®
low tide and high tide? _______
Low 1
________ .
to others, ________________________________
_______
____________
____________
d 1)
(signature of Frien
©The Mailbox
_____________
Date
_______________________________
10. If a shipmaster wanted to sail during
5. Well done is better than well said. ________
12.
Ben Franklin was fascin
ated
his experiments with lightni by electricity, and
ng are among his
most famous. Today it
is difficult to imagine life
without electricity. Resea
rch a simple electrical
current, and then draw
a diagram to illustrate
it.
Investigate to find one
electri
create, such as an electro cal experiment to
magnet. Demonstrate
the experiment to your
classmates, explaining
the simple circuit with
the aid of your diagram.
®
________________________________________
____________
_________
____
healthy, wealthy, and wise. ________ 6. On the 18th, about how
many hours passed between
Math
10.
©The Mailbox
er Keys
Pag
e6
4
Answers may vary
. Accept reasona
ble responses.
1. Use your time
wisely. Do not
waste time.
2. It is healthy
to go to bed earl
y and wake up
feel better and
early; you will
you will do bett
er.
3. Don’t waste
today wishing for
tomorrow.
4. Do not spe
nd too much time
talking about doin
do it.
g something;
5. It is better
to be good at doin
g things than it
talking about them
is to be good at
.
1. On the 10th, when was the first low tide?
__________
__________________________7. On the 20th, when was the first low tide? _______________
ing:
ow
agrees to do the foll
____________
3
below.
Science
8.
An inventor’s motivation
is usually a desire to
solve a problem. Benja
min Franklin’s home was
freezing cold, which promp
ted him to invent the
Franklin stove. He also
invented a chair that
converted into a stepla
dder and bifocal glasse
s
for reading and distan
ce. Think of a problem
that you would like to
solve, and then brainstorm different solutio
ns to the problem. Use
your solutions to try to
build an invention. Next,
write a paragraph that
includes a description
of
the invention, the proble
m it was designed to
solve, and if the invent
ion was successful.
Telling Tides
Use the Tide Table to answer the questions
©The Mailbox®
be completed: _______
Travel at the time Ben
Franklin lived was slow
compared to the many
traveling choices we
have today. Ben was
asked
England and France severa to travel by ship to
l times during his
life. Using a world map,
calculate the miles from
Philadelphia to England
and then from Philadelphia to France. Resea
rch the amount of time
it
would have taken Ben
to travel by ship to these
locations. Then resear
ch the amount of time
it
would take a person to
travel
today by ship and by airplan the same distance
e.
Finally, choose a
place that you would like
to travel to, and then
calculate the distance
and travel time.
Social Studies
_ 4. On the 18th, when was the second low tide? _____________
________________________________________
____________
____________
11.
_________________________________ 3. On the 10th, about how many hours passed between
1. Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle.
low tide and high tide? _______
pledge to each other
___
____________
maxim.
a sentence to explain the meaning of each
Language Arts
The Declaration of Indepe
ndence is one of the
most important docum
ents in the history of our
country. Ben Franklin
was a member of the
committee that wrote
it. Research the Decla
ration of Independenc
e to discover the events
that were taking place
in 1776. Investigate how
the document is conne
cted to Philadelphia,
John Hancock, and the
country’s birthday.
Then write a report about
the
Declaration of Independenc importance of the
e. Tell who wrote it,
when, where, and why.
Ben and Me
Name
Word2 s of Wisdom
Ben and Me
Social Studies
6.
Ben and Me
®
©The Mailbox
9.
During the time period
that Ben Franklin lived,
many patriots had strong
political beliefs and
spoke passionately about
them. Amos’s friend,
Red Jefferson, was well-k
nown for his inspiring
speeches about the Battle
of Versailles. An
influential speech can
be helpful in achieving
a goal. Think about an
issue that is important
to you, and then write
a speech to share your
beliefs. Give your speec
h to the class.
Ben and Amos enjoy their busy lives in colonial
Philadelphia. After a day filled with the challenges
of many different jobs, they enjoy relaxing with a
good meal. Find or create recipes for a colonial
meal. Then plan a colonial meal, considering the
types of food needed for a balanced diet. Make
a booklet including the menu, recipes, and a
description of the table setting.
or ’s
Po ard ck
ch a
Ri lman
A
Name
Activity #6:
Activity #7:
Activity #8:
Activity #9:
Activity #10:
Activity #11:
Name
Art
5.
When Amos changes
some of the Tide Table
numbers in Poor Richa
rd’s Almanack, he does
not realize the problem
it will cause. Later,
when he and Ben are
awake
mob of Shipmasters whose ned by an angry
aground, he understands ships have all run
the importance of the
Tide Table. Obtain a copy
of page 7. Then use
the Tide Table to answe
r the questions.
Ben Franklin worked as an apprentice printer
when he was young. Later, he moved to
Philadelphia and developed his newspaper,
The Pennsylvania Gazette, into one of the
most successful newspapers in the colonies.
Research and then write a report on interesting
facts about the life of Ben Franklin. Then create
a newspaper page using the information you
gathered. Complete your newspaper by adding
illustrations for each article.
Ben Franklin had many talents. Amos
describes him as a scientist, inventor, printer,
author, and soldier. Use these titles to create
a biographical poster of Ben Franklin. First,
research to discover the meaning of each title.
Next, draw Ben in the middle of your poster,
and then write his titles around him. Finally,
illustrate each title with a magazine picture or a
drawing.
List
ent Contract Materials
Science
7.
Research
4.
t
_______________ Numb
er of activities to
Ben Franklin had many famous friends, including
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Research the life of Ben Franklin to find
information about three of his friends. Then create
a booklet about Ben and his friends. Obtain four
sheets of white paper. Write the title “Ben and
Friends” at the top of the first sheet, and then draw
an illustration of Benjamin Franklin below it. Write
a different friend’s name at the top of each of the
three remaining sheets. Staple the sheets together
along the left side. Finally, complete the book by
writing facts about each friend and then drawing
an illustration for each one.
Language Arts
3.
Poor Richard’s Almanack contains Ben
Franklin’s words of wisdom. He believed
that others could benefit from sayings such
as “Haste makes waste.” Many of Ben’s
maxims are still popular today. Obtain a copy
of page 6 from your teacher. First, read each
maxim at the top of the page and then write
an explanation for each one. Next, write an
ending to complete each maxim in the middle
of the page. Finally, write your own maxim at
the bottom of the page.
Independent Contrac
Name:____________
Writing
2.
Amos feels he and Ben need a written contract
that clearly states their responsibilities. First,
they discuss their needs, and then they write
the contract. Amos wants food, shelter, and
protection for himself and his family. Ben wants
advice and assistance from Amos. Obtain a
copy of page 5 from your teacher. Then discuss
with a family member or a friend an idea for a
mutual contract, such as chores, homework, or
a special project. Write the contract, and then
mount it on construction paper.
gious Newbery and
received both the presti
only author who has
up in New Jersey. As
Robert Lawson is the
City in 1892 and grew
was born in New York
s
Caldecott Medals. He
greatly admired famou
and
reader
avid
an
a child he was
l of Fine and
ed the New York Schoo
illustrators. He attend
an illustrator for
established himself as
Applied Arts and then
illustrator Marie
1922 he married fellow
ing greeting
several magazines. In
design
by
elves
thems
rted
Abrams and they suppo
book, The Wee
first
his
ated
he illustr
cards for years. In 1930
was asked by
he
Later,
.
by Arthur Mason
ate.
Men of Ballywooden
illustr
to
st
intere
t a subject of his
a publisher to sugges
Me, the
the idea for Ben and
When he came up with
n won
to write the book. Lawso
at
publisher asked him
died
s during his career. He
many awards and honor
in 1957.
his home, Rabbit Hill,
• Activity #1:
• Activity #2:
Writing
1.
Franklin, one of the most
The life of Benjamin
Ben and
al times, is recorded in
important men in coloni
mouse.
and associate Amos the
Me by his close friend
claims to have been given
n
Author Robert Lawso
of being the
boasts
Amos
which
in
cover
Amos’s tiny journals
s man. Amos, under the
wisdom behind this famou
ments,
ces Ben’s writing, experi
of Ben’s fur hat, influen
based on
Their relationship is
and political activities.
advise
will
Amos
states that
a written contract which
protection,
home, food, clothing,
Ben in exchange for a
ent,
family. With this agreem
and the care of his large
e lifelong companions.
Ben and Amos becom
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ben and Me
Independent Contract
by Robert Lawson
7
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