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Benjamin Franklin and Life

Lesson 4:

From Unit How Did We Help?

Lesson

Handouts

Academic Standards

Philanthropy Framework

3rd-5th Grade

Subjects:

Arts, Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view

ART-VA:	Visual Arts: Create/Communicate
ELA:	Poor Richard’s Almanack
PHIL:	Nonprofit Sector
SOC:	Franklin, Benjamin; 1 genOn; Core Democratic Values; Good Character; Personal Virtue; Primary/Secondary Sources

Purpose:

This lesson will introduce the contributions made by Benjamin Franklin to the United States, both in the past and now. His book, Poor Richards Almanack, displays quotes that summarize his view on what he said and wrote. It will make connections to the common good through the ideas represented. The quotes will be used to create posters.

Duration:

Two to Three Forty-Five to Fifty Minute Class Periods

Objectives:

The learner will:

list Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the common good.
extract and illustrate Franklin's guiding philosophy about the common good from Poor Richard's Almanack.
describe how Franklin's writing and actions helped to promote the independent (or nonprofit) sector.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

Students will create posters which reflect Benjamin Franklin's philosophy about the common good. To share their knowledge about the common good, students will hang selected posters in the school or other sites. Suggestions may include nursing homes, hospitals, other schools, etc.

Materials:

Copies of Profiles in Caring: Benjamin Franklin (Attachment One)
Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin (see Bibliographical References)
Chart or construction paper
Markers, crayons, paint, and any other poster making materials
Parent Letter (Attachment Two)

Handout 1: Profiles in Caring: Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
Handout 2: Parent Letter

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:

Create your own poster of the title from "Profiles in Caring." (Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves.) Hold it up and ask the students what they think it means. Brainstorm and write the answers on the board. Tell the children that they are going to learn about the man who wrote this and about his contributions to the United States as well as to society and the common good.

Write the name Benjamin Franklin on the board or chart paper. Ask the students what they know about this person. (Write responses under his name.)
Distribute copies of Profiles in Caring: Benjamin Franklin. Have selected students read the paragraphs aloud. Discuss the contributions listed in the document. Write responses under the initial listing.
Put the term independent sector (nonprofit sector) on the board or chart paper. Explain that it is made up of all organizations that are not part of the government or private business. Give examples. Have the students select Franklin's accomplishments that pertain to the common good and the independent sector.
Introduce Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. (If possible have one for each student or one for small groups to share.) Have students locate various quotes that may be pertinent to the common good. Discuss the quotes they selected and ask why the learners feel they are important.
Go back to the list of Core Democratic Values. Relate the accomplishments and quotes of Franklin's to the Core Democratic Values. (See Core Democratic Values in Lesson Three: The "Society of Friends" and Society.) Discuss how they relate.
Tell the students that they are going to use some of the quotes they feel are very important in promoting the common good by making a poster. Show the initial poster used in the anticipatory set. Tell the learners that they should use pictures, words and designs in their posters to communicate meaning. Distribute the materials and have them make their own posters. Laminate the completed posters.
Display the completed posters and discuss possible places to display them. The posters should be donated to others so that they also may learn about contributing to the common good. Discuss how the children feel after contributing to a good cause. Celebrate their contributions.
Review the nonprofit (independent) sector and its effect on society.

Assessment:

Students should have correctly selected a quote that relates to common good and the independent sector. The posters should be colorful, graphic and the text should be clearly written. The students should have been actively involved in the discussion of Benjamin Franklin and active in the design of their specific poster.

School/Home Connection:

Interactive Parent / Student Homework:
See Parent Letter (Attachment Two) for the letter to send home informing the parents of the upcoming creation of the posters. Have them discuss with their child the design of a poster that could be displayed at home and why it would be pertinent.

Cross-Curriculum Extensions:

Students may choose to create posters using Poor Richard's Almanack for display at home, at the day care, at their place of worship, etc.

Bibliographical References:

Franklin, Benjamin. Poor Richard's Almanack. New York: Peter Pauper Press, 1983. ISBN 0-88088-918-7
Profiles in Caring: Benjamin Franklin Web site
http://www.nahc.org/NAHC/Val/Columns/SC10-3.html

Lesson Developed By:

Pamela McIntosh
Detroit Public Schools
Woodward Elementary School
Detroit, MI 48208

Handouts:

Handout 1Print Handout 1

Profiles in Caring: Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

"Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves."

Benjamin Franklin was a renaissance man if ever there was one. He was a printer, author, philanthropist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and scientist. He was also a member of Congress-the Continental Congress, which laid the groundwork for American independence.

Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 and grew up there, but left for Philadelphia at the age of 17. Already, he was an accomplished printer, and had started devoting himself to reading, writing, reflection and self-improvement, pursuits which would continue through his long life.

In 1730, Benjamin Franklin became sole owner of a printing business. From 1730 to 1748, he applied himself to business, and his industry and thrift soon brought prosperity. Many of the lessons learned were put to use in his wildly successful Poor Richard's Almanack, published from1732-1757. The Almanack was a genuine expression of Franklin's passion for improving himself and the importance of caring for others.

Franklin did not actively seek public office but he was too public-spirited to decline such
positions. He was clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly (1736-51), then a member representing Philadelphia (1751-64). He was Deputy Postmaster at Philadelphia (1737-53) and Deputy Postmaster General for the colonies (1753-74). In the latter post, he streamlined operations significantly and made the post office a financial success, too.

Now prosperous himself, Franklin was able to retire in 1748. He had hoped to pursue philosophical studies but public affairs again claimed him. In 1754, he was sent to represent Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress, called to unite the colonies in the war against the French and Indians. He was an agent of Pennsylvania in London for several years and then a member of the Continental Congress (1775-76). He sketched a Plan of Union for the colonies and organized the U.S. Post Office, of which he was the first Postmaster General. He was on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, which he also signed. Franklin also was part of a trio sent to France in September of 1776, to negotiate a treaty. The French, eager to tip the European balance of power in their favor, eventually joined the cause of the American Revolution, partly because of Franklin's credibility and popularity. After independence was officially won, Franklin returned to France as U.S. Minister to that country (1776-1785). He was also one of the negotiators of the treaty of peace with Great Britain.

Although in his seventies, Franklin was summoned for other responsibilities. He was chosen president of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania (1785-88), and also was selected for membership in the Constitutional Convention, which met in May 1787. Franklin made a powerful contribution with his immense prestige, persuasiveness and genial personality. He was the advocate of a strong federal government balanced by a respect for individual rights.

Franklin will perhaps best be remembered for his writing. For example, in Poor Richard's Almanack he said, "A good example is the best sermon." When asked what was the best way to get ahead in the world, he said, "The nearest way to come to glory, is to do that for conscience which we would do for glory." The noblest question in the world, he said, is: "What good may I do in it?" The importance of caring and public service runs throughout his work. "Sell not virtue to purchase wealth nor liberty to purchase power," he wrote. "If thou injurest conscience, it will have its revenge on thee." He added, "Fear to do ill and you need fear nothing else."

At his funeral 20,000 people assembled to pay homage to him as one of the most revered and beloved figures in American history.

Benjamin Franklin Web site: http://www.nahc.org/NAHC/Val/Columns/SC10-3.html

Handout 2Print Handout 2

Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

The students in my class are working on a unit that explores contributions of the independent or nonprofit sector to the "Common Good" starting with the Mayflower Compact. We are at the end of the unit and are going to work on posters displaying the quotes of Benjamin Franklin from his book, Poor Richard's Almanack.

We would like you to discuss ways in which we all contribute to the "Common Good" at home as well as in the community. Remember to bring in the grandparents. They are a wealth of information. Perhaps your child could design a quote poster to be displayed at home. This would be a great project and a wonderful reminder of the great things we do together.

Thank you for all of your support. We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,