1

Let’s Learn About Benjamin Franklin

2

Vocabulary Words • Almanac- a book that contained information about

the weather, recipes, poems, jokes, and advice.

• Apprentice- someone who learns a job by working for a person who is skilled in that job.

• Author- someone who writes books, stories, or articles.

• Autobiography- a book written by someone telling about their life.

3

Vocabulary Words• Declaration of Independence- a document that

helped create the United States of America.

• Document- a writing that contains information.

• Inventor- a person who creates something new.

• Statesman- a respected leader of a country.

4

Who Was Benjamin Franklin?

Benjamin Franklin was on of the most

talented people who ever lived. He was

born on January 17, 1706 in Boston,

Massachusetts.

5

Benjamin Franklin: A young boy

Benjamin Franklin enjoyed being outdoors. He

was a skillful swimmer and loved to go fishing and

boating. His love of swimming inspired one of his

first inventions….paddles for his wrists and feet to

help him swim faster.

6

The Education of Benjamin Franklin

As a child, Benjamin Franklin loved to read, write, and collect books. He started school at age 8, and he became the best student in his class. His father took him out of school when he was 10 years old because the family could not afford to pay for his education. He started working with his father making candles.

7

Benjamin Franklin: The Working Young Man

When Benjamin Franklin was 12 years old, he was

old enough to become an apprentice. He worked

for his older brother in a print shop, where he

learned how to run the printing machine and sell

newspapers.

8

Benjamin Franklin: The Inventor

Benjamin Franklin had many talents and

interests. He was very curious about

things and the way they worked. He

tried to find ways to make things that

were already made work better.

9

INVENTIONS

10

BIFOCAL GLASSES

He invented bifocal glasses so that he would not have to switch glasses when looking at things far away and close up.

11

FRANKLIN STOVEHe invented an iron furnace stove.

It allowed people to safely warm

their homes using less wood.

12

LIGHTNING RODHe invented the lightning rod to

protect people’s homes from catching on

fire when hit by lightning.

13

ODOMETER

Benjamin Franklin needed a way to

keep track of how far he travelled when

riding in his carriage.

14

FAMOUS EXPERIMENTHis most famous experiment was

aboutelectricity and lightning. It involved a

kite with a key attached to it’s tail string. He

discovered that lightning and electricity were the

same.

15

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Franklin was a great writer. He

was known for writing the Poor Richard’s

Almanac and his autobiography.

16

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: THE STATESMAN

Benjamin Franklin was a person that people liked and

respected. He signed five very important documents that

helped the United States of America become a free

country. One of the important documents was the

Declaration of Independence.

17

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: HIS DEATH

He died on April 17, 1790. Twenty-

thousand people came to pay their

respects and say goodbye.