Investigates the underlying reasons for the fundamental shift in Benjamin Franklin's portrayals of the British colonies in America. Explores the hypothesis that "Magna Britannia" was both a deliberative work directed toward the British Parliament and an apologetic work directed toward conservatives in the colonial public. Also discusses…

Describes a two-week unit about Benjamin Franklin, and discusses what happens when 9- and 10-year olds use their own language and life experiences to learn new content. (SR)

Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin provides authenticity to a historical account of early work in the field of lightning. Present-day theories concerning the formation and propagation of lightning are expressed and photographic evidence provided. (CP)

This article presents a brief review of James Cross Giblin's "The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin" (Scholastic, 2000). This book provides a real look at the life of one of America's most famous statesmen who was also a printer, inventor, and writer. The book additionally includes a chronology of Franklin's life, information about his many…

This New York City school district educational project sought to locate actual dropouts and identify potential dropouts from Benjamin Franklin High School, and to involve them in the Urban Street Academy Program as a means of resolving their school problems and helping them continue their education. The objectives of the Academy were (1)…

Offers short descriptions of 10 books for children in which a famous writer appears as an essential character and a catalyst for the plot or content (while another character tells the story). Includes such famous writers as Benjamin Franklin, Emily Dickinson, and William Shakespeare. (SR)

Describes the Colonial Junto organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1727 as a discussion club to debate politics, morals, and natural philosophy, and the later American Philosophical Society which extended (and continues) the subject knowledge. The present-day Junto Center for Continuing Education in Philadelphia is an adult education information…

Suggests that Benjamin Franklin's autobiography contains many useful messages for today's students. Discusses Franklin's list of virtues that he followed in an attempt at attaining moral perfection. Includes temperance, industry, justice, tranquillity, and humility. Describes the message of Franklin's lesson as one of achieving through effort…

Describes the educational program at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, as an example of the potential for synergy between content instruction and character development. Highlights how the school follows guidelines from the publication "Promoting Social and Emotional Learning, Guidelines for Educators." (EV)

Describes in detail a three-month class project focusing on fictionalized biographies and the life of Benjamin Franklin. Notes that in-depth integration of reading, writing, and content area instruction improves reading skills, as well as learning from content area textbooks, especially for low ability readers. (MM)

Provides an outline for an exercise for junior high and high school students that encourages them to develop a philosophy of life in the form of resolutions, similar to those written by Jonathan Swift, Benjamin Franklin, and Jonathan Edwards. Cites examples of resolutions written by students. (PA)

Considers the influence of the Iroquois Great Law of Peace in American government and its possible influence on Russian government. Discusses history of Iroquois society and describes their form of representative democracy. Cites references to Iroquois government and law by Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, and Benjamin Franklin. (JHZ)

Traces the history of the Library Company of Philadelphia, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin. Early book selection and scope of the collection, subsequent growth and development, and the various directors of the company are described. The bibliography includes publications of the Library Company and publications about the Library Company.…

Solving many current urban problems requires reinventing the American university so it becomes a humanistic, morally inspired, civic institution with an inclination and ability to help America become just and fair for all. The article discusses educational reform similar to Benjamin Franklin's original plan for the University of Pennsylvania. (SM)

The Academy of Philadelphia (today known as the University of Pennsylvania), founded through Benjamin Franklin's influence in 1751, and the Dessau Philanthropine, founded by Johann Bernhard Basedow in 1774, were arguably the first non-denominational schools in the eighteenth century. Yet, the congenial educational ideas of their founders have…