Ben and Me Ben and Me Ben and Me

Home , Ben and Me, Franklin stove

Ben and Me Ben and Me Independent Contract Ben and Me by Robert Lawson Name:______Number of activities to be completed: ______Independent Contract Name:______Number of activities to be completed: ______About the Book 1. Writing 2. Writing The life of Benjamin Franklin, one of the most 7. Science important men in colonial times, is recorded in Ben and Amos feels he and Ben need a written contract Ben Franklin had many famous friends, including 8. Science that clearly states their responsibilities. First, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. When Amos changes some of the Tide Table Me by his close friend and associate Amos the mouse. numbers in Poor Richard’s Almanack, he does An inventor’s motivation is usually a desire to Author Robert Lawson claims to have been given they discuss their needs, and then they write Research the life of Ben Franklin to find the contract. Amos wants food, shelter, and information about three of his friends. Then create not realize the problem it will cause. Later, solve a problem. Benjamin Franklin’s home was Amos’s tiny journals in which Amos boasts of being the when he and Ben are awakened by an angry freezing cold, which prompted him to invent the wisdom behind this famous man. Amos, under the cover protection for himself and his family. Ben wants a booklet about Ben and his friends. Obtain four advice and assistance from Amos. Obtain a sheets of white paper. Write the title “Ben and mob of Shipmasters whose ships have all run Franklin stove. He also invented a chair that of Ben’s fur hat, influences Ben’s writing, experiments, aground, he understands the importance of the copy of page 5 from your teacher. Then discuss Friends” at the top of the first sheet, and then draw converted into a stepladder and bifocal glasses and political activities. Their relationship is based on Tide Table. Obtain a copy of page 7. Then use with a family member or a friend an idea for a an illustration of Benjamin Franklin below it. Write for reading and distance. Think of a problem a written contract which states that Amos will advise the Tide Table to answer the questions. that you would like to solve, and then brain- Ben in exchange for a home, food, clothing, protection, mutual contract, such as chores, homework, or a different friend’s name at the top of each of the a special project. Write the contract, and then three remaining sheets. Staple the sheets together storm different solutions to the problem. Use and the care of his large family. With this agreement, your solutions to try to build an invention. Next, Ben and Amos become lifelong companions. mount it on construction paper. along the left side. Finally, complete the book by writing facts about each friend and then drawing write a paragraph that includes a description of an illustration for each one. the invention, the problem it was designed to solve, and if the invention was successful. About the Author 3. Language Arts 4. Research 9. Language Arts Poor Richard’s Almanack contains Ben Ben Franklin worked as an apprentice printer During the time period that Ben Franklin lived, 10. Math Robert Lawson is the only author who has received both the prestigious Newbery and Franklin’s words of wisdom. He believed when he was young. Later, he moved to many patriots had strong political beliefs and Travel at the time Ben Franklin lived was slow that others could benefit from sayings such Philadelphia and developed his newspaper, Caldecott Medals. He was born in New York City in 1892 and grew up in New Jersey. As spoke passionately about them. Amos’s friend, compared to the many traveling choices we as “Haste makes waste.” Many of Ben’s The Pennsylvania Gazette, into one of the a child he was an avid reader and greatly admired famous Red Jefferson, was well-known for his inspiring have today. Ben was asked to travel by ship to maxims are still popular today. Obtain a copy most successful newspapers in the colonies. illustrators. He attended the New York School of Fine and speeches about the Battle of Versailles. An England and France several times during his of page 6 from your teacher. First, read each Research and then write a report on interesting Applied Arts and then established himself as an illustrator for influential speech can be helpful in achieving life. Using a world map, calculate the miles from maxim at the top of the page and then write facts about the life of Ben Franklin. Then create several magazines. In 1922 he married fellow illustrator Marie a goal. Think about an issue that is important Philadelphia to England and then from Philadel- an explanation for each one. Next, write an a newspaper page using the information you Abrams and they supported themselves by designing greeting to you, and then write a speech to share your phia to France. Research the amount of time it ending to complete each maxim in the middle gathered. Complete your newspaper by adding cards for years. In 1930 he illustrated his first book, The Wee beliefs. Give your speech to the class. would have taken Ben to travel by ship to these of the page. Finally, write your own maxim at illustrations for each article. Men of Ballywooden by Arthur Mason. Later, he was asked by locations. Then research the amount of time it the bottom of the page. a publisher to suggest a subject of his interest to illustrate. would take a person to travel the same distance When he came up with the idea for Ben and Me, the today by ship and by airplane. Finally, choose a publisher asked him to write the book. Lawson won place that you would like to travel to, and then many awards and honors during his career. He died at calculate the distance and travel time. his home, Rabbit Hill, in 1957. 5. Art 6. Social Studies 11. Social Studies Ben Franklin had many talents. Amos Ben and Amos enjoy their busy lives in colonial The Declaration of Independence is one of the 12. Science describes him as a scientist, inventor, printer, Philadelphia. After a day filled with the challenges most important documents in the history of our Ben Franklin was fascinated by electricity, and Student Contract Materials List author, and soldier. Use these titles to create of many different jobs, they enjoy relaxing with a country. Ben Franklin was a member of the his experiments with lightning are among his a biographical poster of Ben Franklin. First, good meal. Find or create recipes for a colonial colonial cookbook, white paper committee that wrote it. Research the Decla- most famous. Today it is difficult to imagine life • Activity #6: research to discover the meaning of each title. meal. Then plan a colonial meal, considering the copy of page 7 Activity #1: copy of page 5, construction paper, glue • Activity #7: ration of Independence to discover the events without electricity. Research a simple electrical • 1 Next, draw Ben in the middle of your poster, types of food needed for a balanced diet. Make four 8 /2" x 11" sheets of paper; paper that were taking place in 1776. Investigate how current, and then draw a diagram to illustrate it. • Activity #2: • Activity #8: and then write his titles around him. Finally, a booklet including the menu, recipes, and a reference materials on friends of Ben Activity #9: pencil, paper the document is connected to Philadelphia, Investigate to find one electrical experiment to • illustrate each title with a magazine picture or a description of the table setting. Franklin, including George Washington • Activity #10: reference materials, world map John Hancock, and the country’s birthday. create, such as an electromagnet. Demonstrate drawing. and Thomas Jefferson; crayons or • Activity #11: reference materials on the Then write a report about the importance of the the experiment to your classmates, explaining Declaration of Independence markers; stapler Declaration of Independence. Tell who wrote it, the simple circuit with the aid of your diagram. science books, battery, insulated • Activity #3: copy of page 6 • Activity #12: Name when, where, and why. reference materials on Ben Franklin, wire, iron bolt, crayons or • Activity #4: Ben and Me Ben and Me crayons or markers markers Name • Activity #5: reference books, magazines, poster Telling Tides board, glue, crayons or markers Ben and Me Words of Wisdom ©The MailboxUse® the Tide Table to answer the questions below. “Ben and Me” 2 3

® ® Answer Keys ©The Mailbox 1. On the 10th, when was the first low tide? ______©The Mailbox® Name Page 6 Friendly Contract Write a sentence to explain the meaning of each maxim. 2. On the 10th, when was the first high tide? ______Answers may vary. Accept reasonable responses. 4 1. ______3. On the 10th, about how many hours passed between low tide and high tide? ______Use your time wisely. Do not waste time. 1. Be always ashamed to catch thyself idle. 2. It is healthy to go to bed early and wake up early; you will 4. On the 18th, when was the second low tide? ______feel better and you will do better. ______3. We, the undersigned, mutually pledge to each other 5. On the 18th, when was the second high tide? ______Don’t waste today wishing for tomorrow. ______4. Do not spend too much time talking about doing something; 2. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. 6. On the 18th, about how many hours passed between low tide and high tide? ______(Friend 1) do it. 7. On the 20th, when was the first low tide? ______5. It is better to be good at doing things than it is to be good at ______talking about them. agrees to do the following: 8. On the 20th, when was the first high ______tide? ______3. One today is worth two tomorrows. Page 7 9. On the 20th, how many hours passed 1. 6:37 ______between low tide and high tide? a.m. 7. 4. Speak little, do much. Date Low 1 Low 2 2. 12:11 3:21 a.m. ______High 1 High 2 p.m. 1 8. 9:21 a m 3. 5 /2 hours . . ______(Friend 2) 10. 1 12:31 P.M. 9. 1 Well done is better than well said. ______If a shipmaster wanted to sail during 5:54 A.M. 6:28 P.M. 4. 15 /2 hours 5. 2:14 p.m. high tide between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 10. 3, 4, 18 2 12:37 A.M. 1:17 P.M. 5. 8:11 a.m., which days would he choose? 6:39 A.M. 7:09 P.M. p.m. 11. agrees to do the following: 6. 151 1,15, 16 ______3 1:22 A.M. /2 hours 1:58 P.M. 7:19 A.M. 7:48 P.M. 12. 2, 15 11. If a shipmaster wanted to dock during 4 2:05 A.M. 2:38 high tide between 5:00 P.M. 7:58 A.M. 8:25 P.M. ______p.m. and 7:00 p.m., which days would he choose? Write your own ending to each of these maxims. 5 2:47 A.M. 3:17 P.M. 8:37 A.M. ______9:01 P.M. 6 3:29 A.M. 3:56 P.M. 9:16 This agreement has been made on this (ordinal number) 6. You may delay, but ______12. . What day has the earliest low tide? A.M. 9:38 P.M. ______Latest low tide? 7 4:12 A.M. 4:35 P ______, ______.M. 9:56 A.M. 10:17 P.M. day of 7. No gains without ______. ______8 4:57 A.M. 5:15 (month) (year) P.M. 10:37 A.M. 10:58 P.M. 9 5:44 A.M. 8. When you are good to others, ______. 5:59 P.M. 11:22 A.M. 11:43 P.M. between 10 6:37 A.M. 6:46 P.M. 12:11 P.M. 9. Look ahead or you will ______. 11 7:33 A.M. 7:40 and ______P.M. 12:34 A.M. 1:05 P.M. ______10. Don’t throw stones at your neighbors ______. 12 8:34 A.M. 8:41 P.M. 1:31 A.M. 2:08 P.M. (Friend 1) (Friend 2) 13 9:37 A.M. 9:45 P.M. 2:35 A.M. 3:17 P.M. 14 10:40 ______A.M. 10:50 P.M. 3:43 A.M. 4:27 (signature of Friend 1) P.M. 15

11:39 A.M. 11:51 P.M. 4:51 A.M. s 5:32 P.M.

Write one maxim of your own below.

______Almanack 16 12:34 P.M. Richard’ Poor 5:55 A.M. 6:31 P.M. (signature of Friend 2) 17 12:47 A.M. ______1:26 P.M. 6:53 A.M. 7:23 P.M. 18 1:41 A.M. 2:14 P.M. 7:46 A.M. 8:11 P.M. ______19 2:32 A.M. 3:00 P.M. 8:35 A.M. 8:57 P.M. ______20 3:21 A.M. 3:44 P.M. 9:21 A.M. 9:40 P.M. 6 ® ©The Mailbox ©The Mailbox® 5 7