Thursday, January 25, 1 PM
For next week’s Watch & Wonder Highlight, we’re thrilled to feature the first episode of the Ken Burns documentary, Benjamin Franklin. After watching, dive deeper with resources about Benjamin Franklin—founding father, inventor, scientist, and revolutionary—on PBS LearningMedia.
Ken Burns’s four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century’s most consequential figures, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States. In “Join or Die”, we join Benjamin Franklin as he leaves behind his Boston childhood, reinventing himself in Philadelphia where he builds a printing empire and a new life with his wife, Deborah. Turning to science, Franklin’s lightning rod and experiments in electricity earn him worldwide fame. After entering politics, he spends years in London trying to keep Britain and America together as his own family starts to come apart.
PBS LearningMedia
Ken Burns in the Classroom | Benjamin Franklin collection
Grades 3-12
The two-part, four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th Century’s most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States. Explore this collection of multimedia resources investigating Franklin’s widespread accomplishments, his personal and professional failures, his values, contradictions, and his compelling life story.
In school or at home, take advantage of the Watch & Wonder broadcast schedule. Running each weekday from 1-3 PM, Watch & Wonder is great for classroom viewing, distance instruction, and families looking to spend some extra, quality time together. Featured programs are ideal for kids in grades 6-12, encouraging creativity with the arts, kick starting innovation through STEM, and expanding their horizons with stories from across the globe!
Each week, we’ll highlight a show from our Watch & Wonder block, and share a PBS LearningMedia resource — suitable for middle and high school students. Follow along on the Watch & Wonder Schedule page, or subscribe to our newsletter!