Courtney Lesman

TAG Lesson Plan

2015-2016

Ben and Now: Inventions

Compare Aspects of Benjamin Franklins Life Your Own

LESSON: Metaphorical Expression
Lesson-Personal Analogy

TIME: 45 minutes

TAG Standard: Higher Order and Critical Thinking Standards:

3. The students conducts comparisons using criteria.
4. The student makes and evaluates criteria using criteria.
Grade Level Specific Social Studies Standards:
SS1H1: The students will read aloud about and describe the life of historical figures in American history.
b. Describe how the everyday life of this historical figure is similar to and different from everyday life in the present
(food, clothing, homes, transportation, communication, recreation).
Choose an item.

Essential Question: How are the inventions of Benjamin Franklins time different and the same
from the inventions of today?
OBJECTIVES: The students will:
1. Knowa. How to compare and contrast 2 different ideas.
b. Ask and answer questions about a topic.
2. Understanda. You can ask and answer questions about 2 things to learn more about them.
3. Doa. Read different text to find more information.
b. Identify and record key information from videos.
c. Compare and contrast then and now.
MATERIALS:
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
-American Heroes
1. THE HOOK: If you could invent anything what would it be? How
Benjamin Franklin
would it work? Would you be able to make this same invention
book
during this time period (display a picture of the early 1700s)? Why
--American Heroes
or why not?
Benjamin Franklin big
book
2. SET THE PURPOSE: Today we are going to compare and contrast
-Whats the Big Idea
the inventions of the 1700s vs. the inventions of today. Show and
Ben Franklin?
explain the rubric students will use later to evaluate others projects
-Ben and Now Gene
and that will be used to grade their own. Explain expectations of
Barretta
the product.
-A Picture Book of
Benjamin Franklin
3. INTRODUCE CONTENT: Supply books and videos for students to
-My First Biography
read and identify key ideas relating to the inventions of the 1700s
Benjamin Franklin
in Ben Franklins time. Students will use a graphic organizer (Venn
-Close Reads
Diagram) to record the key differences that they notice about thee
(PebbleGo.com,
inventions of the past and todays. Differentiation: Some
Reading A to Z)
students will work with the teacher to listen to a story, read
-Ben Franklin
together with a leveled partner, work as a mixed ability table
Schlessinger video
group, read in an ability leveled reading groups, or independently
-Ben and Me video
based on needs.)
4. DISCUSSION: Have students gather back to shared learning space
and turn and talk with neighbors to share their thoughts about the

Courtney Lesman
TAG Lesson Plan
2015-2016
similarities and differences between the inventions of the past and
present. Differentiation: This could be whole group written on
whiteboards or notecards for later reference.
5. CREATE PRODUCT: Students will choose a way to present what
they found about the similarities and difference of inventions of the
1700s vs. today. They can select from a skit, poster, google slide,
chatter pics, movie maker, books, informational speech, or news
article). Presentations must include at least 3 similarities and 3
differences.
6. EVALUATION: Students will use present their product and share
their discoveries with other first grade classes to spiral their
learning.
SELF-REFLECTION and ANALYSIS: Students will complete a teachers create rubric that will
answer questions of what they did well, what gave them trouble, and if they were challenged by
the activity.
TEACHER EVALUATION: Take photos of students work, student observations during activity,
rubrics completed by peers and teacher.

Reflection of Lesson: