The
Monarch
Award:
Illinois'
K-3
Children's Choice Award
2008
Master List
Sponsored by
the
Illinois
School Library Media Association
2008 Nominee: How Ben Franklin Stole the LightningFocuses on Benjamin Franklin's role as an inventor of whimsical gadgets and practical contraptions, with an emphasis on his experiment of flying a kite during a rainstorm.
Author/Illustrator: Rosalyn SchanzerRo
Book
Activities
- Discussion questions: For what is Ben Franklin famous?
List Ben's inventions. Which
one was the most important?
- Language arts: Look at alamanac's. What kind of
information is in an almanac?
- Writing: Write a story about a day with no electricity.
- Math: Play the magic squares game Ben invented.
- Science: Research lightning and electricty. What are
safety rules for electricity?
- Social Studies: Learn about Ben's contribution to the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and as ambassador to
France.
- Drama: Act out Ben's experiment with the kite.
- Cooking/Food: Find 10 foods rich in vitamin C. How did
sailors come to be called limeys?
- Art: Make decorative kites highlighting some of Ben's inventions.
- Music: Learn about the armonica which Ben invented. Play
sound clip below.
- Movement:
- Technology: Make a Kidspiration picture of all the things
that run on electricity.
Related Books
Now and Ben by Gene Baretta
Picture book of Benjamin Franklin by David Adler
What's the big idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
The hatmaker's sign by Candace Fleming
Ben and me by Robert Lawson
Ben Franklin and the magic squares by Frank Murphy
John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith
Websites
2008 Nominee Resources