First Name_____________________________

Last Name______________________________

1.  Ben Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 to a large, religious family.  Although he only had about
two years of formal schooling, Ben’s love of reading led to his first job (at age 12) as an
 ___________________________________________________.

2.  Franklin also loved to write. When he was 16, his writings were published in his brother's newspaper
under the name of _________________________________.  His letters were popular until his brother
found out who sent them!

3.  In 1729 Franklin began publishing his own newspaper, The _____________________________________________
____________________________, and then wrote a best-selling annual book of weather reports, recipes, and advice called ___________________________________________________________.
Find the answers at: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm

4.  Finish the quotes from Benjamin Franklin...
a)  “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead (and rotten), _________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________."

b)  “Well done is better than ________________________________ .”

c)  “Never leave that till tomorrow which _____________________________________________________.”

d)  "By failing to prepare, you are _________________________________________________________."

e)  What quote from Franklin that you like best? _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________."
Find the answer at:  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr103731.html

5.  Franklin earned so much from printing that he wanted to invest in his community.  He started the first
______________________________ in 1731, and Philadelphia’s first ___________________________
(of which he was voted chief) in 1736.
Find the answer at: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/timeline.htm

6.  In his free time, Franklin was a great inventor, creating bifocals and the first wood stove.  He even
proved that lightning is a form of ______________________________, and invented the
_______________________ to protect buildings and ships from lightning damage.
Find the answer at: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/inventor.html

7.  Franklin’s study of the natural world also made him an important scientist.  Though his kite
experiment is his most famous, he also chased ___________________, forecast weather, and charted the
________________________________!
Find the answer at: http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/scientst/scientst.html

8.  What are four documents signed by Franklin that helped form our nation?
a) ___________________________________________________________________________________  
b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
c) ___________________________________________________________________________________  
d) ____________________________________________________________________________________
Find the answer at: http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/statsman/statsman.html

9.  Franklin played an important role in gaining France’s support for the American Revolution.  Besides
French, he also taught himself to read four other languages: _________________________________________,
_______________________, ______________________ and ____________________________________. 

10.  Franklin invented a glass harmonica called the armonica and also taught himself to play the
__________________, _____________________________ and __________________________________.
 Find the answers at:  http://www.franklinbusybody.com/facts.asp

11.  Choose a FAQ (frequently asked question) or a "did you know" and write what you learned.  _________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Find the answer at:  http://www.fi.edu/franklin/birthday/faq.html
http://www.benfranklin300.org/etc_trivia.htm

http://fi.edu/franklin/musician/virtualarmonica.html