5 kids with technology on grassy lawn
Grade 3

Ben Franklin and the United States Government

Knowledge Constructor and Empowered Learner
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Overview​

Learn about Ben Franklin and how important he was to the development of the United States. Not only was he an important historical figure in the development of the United States Constitution, but he was also a great scientist and inventor. Students will make a connection to Ben Franklin and his part in U.S. history. He takes the students on a learning adventure.

Students will:

  • Be able to learn about the development of the United States Constitution through Ben Franklin and his great achievements.
  • Understand that Ben Franklin was an important part of United States history as well as a great writer, inventor, and scientist.
  • Be able to make the connection of Ben Franklin’s achievements and understand his role in the development of the Constitution.

Vocabulary Words:

  1. Apprentice: An apprentice is a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer.
  2. Aphorism: Aphorism is a concise statement of a scientific principle.
  3. Proverb: A proverb is a short saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.
  4. Ambassador: An ambassador is an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
  5. GPO: GPO is an acronym for Government Printing Office.
  6. Government: The government is the system by which a nation, state, or community is governed.
  7. Executive Branch: The executive branch sees that laws are carried out.
  8. Judicial Branch: The judicial branch makes sure that the laws and actions of the other branches agree with the United States Constitution.
  9. Legislative Branch: The legislative branch makes the laws.
  10. Bill: A bill is a draft of a proposed law.
  11. Law: A law is a rule of a particular country.

To prepare for this lesson:

Note: 

  • Have students start at the Apprentice Level even though it says for grades 4-8. Depending on their level, students can advance to the Journeyman or Advanced levels.
  • Be sure to have students refer to the glossary.

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

  1. Log onto Ben’s Guide.
     
  2. Begin with About Ben & GPO.
     
  3. Follow through the links on the left as you learn about Ben Franklin.
     
  4. Click on the home tab and then begin the Apprentice learning adventure.
     
  5. Go to the games tab. Play interactive games and take the quizzes.

Different options for assessing the students:

  • Observations
  • Check for understanding

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Knowledge Constructor
3a. Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.
3b. Students evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.
3c. Students curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.
3d. Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

Empowered Learner 
1a. Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
1b. Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
1d. Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

Apps. Extensions, Add-ons

Websites:
Ben's Guide

Ben Guide Glossary

Benjamin Franklin Biography for Kids

Benjamin Franklin Full Episodes

Benjamin Franklin Parts 1-3

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Research reports on Ben Franklin’s inventions.

Have a Ben Franklin museum with posters or 3-D items of his accomplishments.

Build electric circuits.

  • Create Classroom Constitution.
  • Build the timeline of Ben Franklin.

Report a bad link, inappropriate content or out-of-date content. 

Credits
This task card was created by Julie Hoehing, Lake Shore Public Schools, February 2020. 


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