Ben and Me

Benjamin Franklin’s Famous Maxims

Benjamin Franklin is famous for many reasons and one of them is for his words of wisdom, or Maxims.

Directions:

You and your group will go to a computer with Internet access, log onto the Internet, and type in the following address: http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/printer/abc.html–make sure that the address is typed in exactly as shown.

When you have reached the web site explore each of Benjamin’s 26 maxims by clicking on the hyperlinks. You can listen to the maxim being read aloud, but make sure that the volume on the speakers is set to low. When you have explored the maxims, each person in your group should select 3 maxims and write them in the spaces provided below. Try to have each person select different maxims, but it will be O.K. if you have some of the same ones as your peers.

When you have selected your 3 maxims and written them in the spaces below, fill out the rest of the worksheet. If you have any questions ask someone in your group for help first and then ask the teacher if no one can answer your question.

Maxim #1: ___________________________________________________________________________

What do you think this maxim means? ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think this? ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Maxim #2: ___________________________________________________________________________

What do you think this maxim means? ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think this? ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Maxim #3: ___________________________________________________________________________

What do you think this maxim means? ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think this? ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

(Back to Lesson 2)

Artwork by Robert Lawson