Benjamin Franklin/Constitution Day

Students' will require prior knowledge of the vocabulary terms used to describe segments of time, including year, decade, score, and century are recommended. Prior knowledge of the term "Founding Father" is needed before the start of this learning activity. Write on the board or chart paper for all students to view that Benjamin Franklin is considered to be a Founding Father because he helped to write the United States Constitution in 1787.

Prior to beginning the activity, check to be sure all technology devices and the Internet is working.

Write each of the following years on a sticky note. There are 27 different year(s)/events. Therefore, if you do not have as many as 27 students, then you will have extra dates unless you choose the specific number of events as you have students. Only write the years on the sticky notes; the students will research/retrieve from the website what happened during the particular year(s) that they chose. The following timeline is also on the website:

1706: Born in Boston, Massachusetts.

1718: Begins printing apprenticeship to his brother.

1723: Moves to Philadelphia, PA, to work as a printer.

1724: Moves to London and works in a printer’s shop there.

1726: Returns to Philadelphia.

1727: Establishes the Junto in Philadelphia, a social and scholarly group for ‘mutual improvement’; members gathered to discuss topics in politics, philosophy, science, and other areas.

1728: Opens a print shop of his own in Philadelphia.

1729: Publishes the “Pennsylvania Gazette.”

1730: Marriage (common-law) with Deborah Read.

1731: Writes the charter for the Library Company of Philadelphia. The Library Company began as a subscription library for Franklin’s Junto.

1732: Publishes “Die Philadelphische Zeitung.” Although short-lived, this was the first German-language newspaper published in America.

1732-1758: Publishes “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” a yearly compilation of days of the year, dates in history, weather patterns, astronomical data, and proverbs. Writes under the pseudonym Richard Saunders.

1743: Founds the American Philosophical Society. Daughter Sally is born; joins Ben’s son William in the Franklin household.

1746: Conducts experiments with electricity.

1748: Retires from printing.

1751: Publishes “Experiments and Observations on Electricity.”

1752: Experiments with kite and lightning.

1757: Travels to London; composes “The Way to Wealth.” Acts as a representative of the American colonies.

1771: Franklin begins composing his memoirs, now known as “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.”

1775-1776: Served as the Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

1776: Signs the Declaration of Independence, which declared that the thirteen American colonies were independent and no longer British.

1778: Negotiates Treaty of Alliance with France.

1782: Negotiates peace with Great Britain.

1783: Signs the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain. John Adams and John Jay were co-signers of the treaty.

1785-1788: Serves as Governor of Pennsylvania.

1787: Signs the Constitution of the United States.

1790: Dies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.