151 West 26th Street
New York, NY, 10001
212.647.1100
www.TWUSA.org
Patrick Garner’s HISTORY’S ALIVE presents
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN:
America’s First Citizen
STUDY GUIDE
Thank you very much for inviting me to perform for your students. I formed
HISTORY’S ALIVE! in an attempt to present history in an exciting, interesting
context in which your students don’t merely learn history, but learn from history.
It’s my hope that they will leave the assembly program with life and learning tools
they can use that very day. And the fact that those “life lessons” propelled these
ordinary people into the pages of history shows that they do indeed work!
In BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: AMERICA’S FIRST CITIZEN, the nation’s
favorite founding father – the man who tamed lightning and conquered crowns –
comes to life to demonstrate how a life of self-discipline, inquiry, public service
and a genuine love of life led to international fame and the gratitude of a nation.
Volunteers Needed!
For most of my shows, the volunteers selected are a little specific as to size and
such. For BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: America’s First Citizen , I need a boy and
a girl to play all the male and female parts of the story. These volunteers are very
important to this program as a lot of the show rests on them acting out the story I
tell. So, your top notch students, the ones you would rely on for such an important
task. During the show I’ll also be pulling about six more boys and girls for a
Fireman’s Bucket Brigade Race.
I’d appreciate it if you didn’t give me your class clowns. As a reformed class clown
myself, I know what a handful we can be. Pick some kids who will take part but not
take over. I’m sure, as teachers, you know exactly the type of children I’m hoping
for.
There will be absolutely nothing embarrassing for them to do. Nor will any jokes be
directed at them. They don’t need to come early. Just point them out to me as you
come in. Don’t tell the kids beforehand. I only need two main kids for the whole
show so I may have filled the slots before you arrive.
THANK Y OU VERY MUC H.
I HOPE Y OU E NJOY T HE S HOW !
THE PHILADELPHIA GAZETTE
Printed by B. FRANKLIN, Postmaster
At the New-Printing-Office, near the Market
OWNER BENJ. FRANKLIN UNDERTAKES TOUR
OF COUNTRY’S YOUNGEST PATRIOTS
Perhaps our foremost forefather has undertaken a tour
of the country he had such a
huge hand in forming.
Benjamin Franklin, printer,
has launched a series of talks
on his life and the lessons it
might hold for today’s young
Americans.
“First and foremost,” Franklin
counsels, “Never give up!”
Indeed
it
may
be
Franklin’s
perseverance that most impresses his
young audiences. Born the last son of a
soap-maker, Franklin grew to be the
most famous American of his time. His
name was known throughout
the world ...as it is to this day!
Through a disciplined system of
self-improvement, he bettered
himself at every turn. “You
have to believe in yourself!”
And when he became the
success about which he had
always dreamed, he continued
to give of himself...to his city, to
his country, to the world!
Even after his departure, Franklin
continues to give to mankind as he serves
as an inspiration to all who would
become all that they can be!
A BRIEF FRANKLIN TIMELINE
1706
1717
1718
1723
1727
1728
1731
January 17, Franklin born in Boston,
tenth son of Josiah & Abiah Franklin
Invents swim fins for his hands and
feet
Apprenticed to brother James as
printer
Runs away from apprenticeship, goes
to New York and then to
Philadelphia where he works as a
printer
Forms Junto, a society who meet for
“Self-improvement, study, mutual aid
and conviviality.”
Starts own printshop and takes
Deborah Read as his wife
Forms first Subscription Library
1732
1736
1737
1741
1749
1752
1774
1776
1784
1787
1790
1st POOR RICHARD’S
ALMANACK
Organizes the Union Fire Company
Appointed Postmaster of
Philadelphia
Invents Franklin Stove
Starts University of Pennsylvania
Conducts kite experiment
Humiliated in London’s Privy
Council
Helps write and signs Declaration of
Independence
Invents Bifocal Spectacles
Signs Constitution
Dies in Philadelphia at age of 84
FRANKLIN’S INVENTIONS
BIFOCALS
By combining lenses of
different shapes and
strengths within a single
frame. Ben managed to
eliminate the need to
change reading glasses for
distance glasses and vice
versa.
GLASS ARMONICA
Possibly Ben’s favorite.
Bowls of differing size are
touched by moistened
fingers to produce musical
notes. Beethoven and
Mozart composed music for
this instrument.
LIGHTNING RODS
Possibly Ben’s most
important. Countless lives
and property were saved by
these metal rods that
attracted lightning strikes
that were safely carried to
the ground.
FRANKLIN STOVE
Air baffles throughout the
stove channel heat into a
room making it much more
fuel efficient. Franklin never
obtained a patent for his
stove. He gave the plans
away to anyone.
THE POLITICAL
CARTOON
These were published in his
newspaper the Philadelphia
Gazette. Here Ben warns the
American colonies to join in
the coming Revolutionary War
SWIM FINS
Although his were made from
wood, young Ben managed
to increase his swimming
speed by inventing paddles
for his feet and hands!
While very few people swam
at that time, Ben enjoyed
swimming his whole life.
...AND A FRANKLIN DISCOVERY!
On one of his early Atlantic Ocean crossings, Ben
measured the water temperature throughout the trip
and wound up discovering the Gulf Stream! This
ocean current allows sailors to shorten their trips.
FACT OR FICTION?
Did Ben Franklin actually fly a kite in a
thunderstorm to discover electricity?
Probably. The source for the story is Ben’s own
autobiography. That book is surprisingly accurate in all
other matters. So it’s doubtful Ben would have made
the story up. Many other scientists were killed
performing similar experiments! However, Ben didn’t
“discover” electricity (the ancient Greeks did that).
Ben discovered that lightning was a form of electricity!
FRANKLIN’S MAGIC SQU ARES!
You think Sodoku is tough?
When Ben was the official printer for
the government of the Pennsylvania
Colony, he had to sit through long,
boring meetings. To pass the time he
made up “magic squares.” Magic
squares place numbers on a grid so
that the sums of the columns,
diagonals and rows are all equal.
34 in the example below, and 260 in
the example to the right.
WORDS OF WISDOM
FROM POOR RICHARD
For many years Ben published one of early America’s favorite books, Poor
Richard’s Almanac. Like most other almanacs, it was filled with recipes, first aid
tips, calendars, tidal tables, horoscopes, eclipse schedules, farming advice and
general what-not. What set Ben’s apart were the clever sayings he peppered
throughout, all attributed to the fictional “Poor Richard.”
•
•
•
•
•
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!”
“God helps those that help themselves!”
“A penny saved is a penny earned!”
“Haste makes waste!”
“He that lies down with dogs, wakes up with fleas!”
DID YOU KNOW…
Ben Franklin is one of only two
non-presidents to be honored
on US currency. Can you name the
other one?
Answer: Alexander Hamilton, 1st Secretary of the Treasury, on the $10 bill
HELP BEN UNTANGLE HIS KITE
Ben turned his back for a second while his son William minded the kite. A gust of
strong wind made a mess of their kite string. Help Ben and William find their way
from the kite string spool to their kite. Better hurry before the next lightning
strike!
FURTHER READING ON BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
For our Youngest Readers:
•
The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin by Cheryl Harness; National Geographic Children’s
Books; Reprint edition (September 23, 2008)
•
Time for Kids: Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents by the Editors of Time for Kids;
HarperCollins (July 26, 2005)
For our Mid-Level Readers:
•
Benjamin Franklin (DK Biography) by Stephen Krensky; DK CHILDREN (December 17,
2007)
•
Ben & Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert
Lawson; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 30, 1988)
For Adult Readers:
•
The First American: The Life & Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands; Anchor (March
12, 2002)
•
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson; Simon & Schuster (May 4, 2004)
For the Serious Franklin Reader:
•
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin; various editions.
FEEDBACK
I am constantly changing my shows to accommodate the needs and concerns of you, the teachers.
Your feedback, negative and positive, is always appreciated. There’s no reason for me to come into
your schools if I’m not helping you in our common goal of producing better students. Every little
bit of feedback helps me develop better shows, so I hope you’ll do me the great favor of providing
your thoughts on Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Citizen.
(When I first started with my Thomas Edison show, the phonograph would heckle a poetry reading
Edison by shouting, “Shut up!” After two years a teacher pointed out that they didn’t tolerate that
type of language in their school. In trying to find a replacement phrase, I found out that “Put a
sock in it” was actually how people muffled their phonographs... by putting a sock in them! Now
my show not only complies with school policy: it’s historically accurate! )
So if you’d like to send along any feedback please contact me
by email [email protected]
or by phone 973-420-5268.
THANKS AGAIN!