Kindergarten Social Studies
The TEKS Explained
2014-2015
Second Nine Weeks October 20 – December 19 (40 days)
Week 1: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison
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Identify the contributions of Franklin, Bell and Edison
Understand ways technology is used in the home and school and how
technology affects people’s lives
Background Information: Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Essential Understanding: Benjamin Franklin participated in government by
contributing to the writing of the Constitution. In addition, he showed
responsibility in daily life by inventing things that improve the lives of people in the
community. He helped to shape communities: He founded a library, a fire
department, experimented with electricity, and was well-known for saving his
pennies. He was frugal, hardworking, and well-respected by community members.
o Benjamin Franklin was a man of many talents. He wrote and published books
and newspapers, conducted science experiments, came up with new inventions,
and helped create the United States of America.
o He was a citizen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the colonial period and
the Revolutionary War.
o He helped his community by starting the first lending library in America, the
first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia, the first hospital in
Pennsylvania, and a working postal system.
o He helped write parts of the Declaration of Independence.
o He was the oldest member to at the Constitutional Convention.
Interesting anecdote: Books were very expensive during Benjamin Franklin’s time,
and not everyone was able to afford them. So Franklin and some of his fellow
printers, known as the Leather Apron Club (because they wore leather aprons),
discussed ways they could help the community. Franklin suggested they start a
lending library that would be open to everyone. They put their money together and
bought books which people could borrow. So in 1731, the first lending library
opened, and soon other towns began to open libraries.
See links in textbox below for resources.
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Teacher Information
Ben Franklin - in person
Ben Franklin - coloring pages
Activity - A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Activity - Making a Tri-Corner Hat
Images of Ben Franklin and His Inventions
See the link below for more on Benjamin Franklin.
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=benjamin+franklin+animated+hero+classics
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Background Information: Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)
Alexander Graham Bell is most famous for his invention of the telephone. He
first became interested in the science of sound because both his mother and wife
were deaf. His experiments in sound eventually let him to want to send voice signals
down a telegraph wire. He was able to get some funding and hire his famous
assistant Thomas Watson and together they were able to come up with the
telephone. The first words spoken over the telephone were by Alex on March 10,
1876. They were "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you".
It turns out that other scientists had similar ideas. Bell had to race to the
patent office in order to get his patent in first. He was first and, as a result, Bell
and his investors had a valuable patent that would change the world. They formed
the Bell Telephone Company in 1877. There have been many mergers and name
changes over the years, but this company is known today as AT&T.
Bell was born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in Scotland
and was initially homeschooled by his father who was a professor. He later would
attend high school as well as the University of Edinburgh.
Bell actually had many inventions and did experimentation in many areas of
science. Some of these include:
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The Metal Detector - Bell invented the first metal detector which was used
to try and find a bullet inside of President James Garfield.
Audiometer - A device used to detect hearing problems.
He did experimental work on aeronautics and hydrofoils.
He invented techniques which helped in teaching speech to deaf persons.
He made a device to help find icebergs.
Fun Facts about Alexander Graham Bell
 Bell made the first transcontinental telephone call on January 15, 1915. He
called Thomas Watson from New York City. Watson was in San Francisco.
 He helped form the National Geographic Society.
 Bell did not like to have a telephone in his study as he found it intrusive!
 He did not get the middle name Graham until he was 10 years old, when he
asked his father to give him a middle name like his brothers.
 At his wife's request, Bell went by the nickname Alec.
 Upon his death, every phone in North America was silenced for a short period
to honor him.
See links in textbox below for resources.
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Teacher Information - Alexander Graham Bell Biography
Images - Alexander Graham Bell
A World Without Cell Phones
Bell - Did He Do It?
Super Sounds
Make a Sound
Reading with questions - Teacher read aloud
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=alexander+graham+bell
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Background Information: Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
Thomas Alva Edison was born February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He was nicknamed
“Al” at an early age. At age 11, Edison moved to Michigan where he spent the
remainder of his childhood.
Thomas Edison struggled at school, but he learned to love reading and conducting
experiments from his mother who taught him at home. Edison often entertained
himself by taking things apart to see how they worked. Soon, he decided to become
an inventor.
In 1870, Edison moved to New York City where he soon formed his own company.
Meanwhile, Edison married Mary Stillwell, had three children and moved his family
to Menlo Park, New Jersey where he started his famous laboratory.
In 1877, Edison, invented the phonograph. The phonograph was a machine that
recorded and played back sounds. He perfected the phonograph by recording “Mary
had a Little Lamb” on a piece of tin foil! In 1878, Edison invented the light bulb as
well as the power grid system, which could generate electricity and deliver it to
homes through a network of wires. He subsequently started the Edison Electric
Light Company in October of 1878.
In 1884, after he attained great fame and fortune, Mary Stillwell died. Edison
remarried 20 year old Mina Miller in 1886. He had three more children and moved to
West Orange, New Jersey. At West Orange, Edison built one of the largest
laboratories in the world. He worked extremely hard and registered 1,093 patents.
Edison continued to invent or improve products and make significant contributions to
x-ray technology, storage batteries and motion pictures (movies). He also invented
the world’s first talking doll. His inventions changed the world forever. They still
influence the way we live today. Edison worked until his death on October 18, 1931.
Thomas Alva Edison
(sung to the tune of “Ten Little Indians”)
Thomas Edison was an inventor
Of many useful tools and appliances
Some he improved on the works of others
The Wizard of Menlo Park
A voting machine, his first invention
Electric light bulb, most important
Phonograph was his favorite
The Wizard of Menlo Park
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Images Edison
Thomas Edison Inventor ppt
Edison and Bell and Franklin
Edison, Bell and Franklin sort (A Herring, NCE)
Inventors - PowerPoint
Inventors 3-way matching
Inventions Pictures
Questions to ask:
 What is an inventor? What does an inventor do?
 What is an invention?
 How was _____(Franklin, Bell, Edison) a good citizen?
 What did _____ (Franklin, Bell, Edison) invent?
 Who do you think was the most important inventor? Why?
 What do you think was the most important invention? Why?
 What would you like to invent one day?
Activities:
 3-way Matching Cards
 Option 1: Teacher reads information card and students match picture
of inventor with pictures of inventions and name of inventor.
 Option 2: Teacher reads information card and students match picture
of inventor with pictures of inventions.
 Option 3: Use cards in centers.
 Edison, Bell and Franklin Sort
 Use in centers.
 Match pictures of old and new inventions.
 Draw pictures of inventions: favorite invention, something student would like
to invent, etc.
 Draw and label one invention for each of the three inventors studied.
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