Virginia SOL 2.7.b

Social Studies2nd Grade

The Standard

Benjamin Franklin

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify Benjamin Franklin as an inventor, writer, scientist, and public servant. They explain how his work helped his community and the new nation.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students name at least two Franklin contributions, such as the lightning rod, public library, or volunteer fire company. They explain whom each contribution helped.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think Franklin was a president or that he invented electricity. They may name an invention without explaining how it solved a problem.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Draw and label one Franklin contribution. Complete the sentence, “This helped people by…”

Lesson moves

Sort picture cards of bifocals, a lightning rod, a newspaper, a library, and a fire company by Franklin’s different roles.
Ask, “Which Franklin contribution helped the most people?” Students choose one and support their answer with two facts.
Play a matching game that pairs Franklin’s contributions with effects, such as lightning rods with safer buildings.
Mark a local library and fire station on a community map, then connect each place to Franklin’s community work.

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