Before he was Benjamin Franklin, he was just Ben, a boy in colonial Boston with an adventurous spirit.
- Genres
-
- Mystery
- Themes
-
- Adolescence
- History
- Inquiry
- Episodes
- 18
- Avg. length
- 10-20 minutes
- Total
- 6 hours
Synopsis (Season One and Two)
Before he was Benjamin Franklin, legendary inventor and statesman, he was just Ben, a boy in colonial Boston with an adventurous spirit, a curious mind… and a penchant for getting into trouble. Meet our most endearing Founding Father at 13, a charming rebel only beginning to discover the ageless sayings and brilliant inventions that would make him famous. Built upon historically-accurate events in the life of teenage Benjamin Franklin, such as his pivotal relationship with his older brother and apprenticeship as a publisher, Young Ben Franklin imagines a gripping mystery that lets us watch the fictional Young Ben call upon the intelligence, charm and resolve that made the real-life teenager into one of the most influential adults of his time, and a model of a free thinker worth discussing.
In Season One we find Ben as the leader of a gang of kids known fondly as “The Wharf Rats,” Ben’s tireless quest for knowledge and inquisitive nature often leads to trouble. So when Ben and his friends stumble upon a mysterious letter that could lead to a legendary treasure, Ben’s curiosity leads him afoul of the cruel British governor of Massachusetts.
In Season Two, Ben finds himself in the middle of another high-stakes mystery, this time in 1720 New York City. When Ben’s prospective boss goes missing, the investigation leads him to an even darker secret, and takes him from the townhouses of the New York gentry to the mean streets of a diverse and ever-changing city.
Students from the 6th to 8th grade level will develop deeper levels of inquiry and understanding as they dive into this historical fiction narrative, filled with jumping off points for discussions about American Colonial history and more as part of both the ELA and History curriculum. In between Seasons One and Two, students can listen to a leading Ben Franklin scholar provide a short, absorbing overview of the real-life historical character over four bonus “mini-episodes”.
Buy the scripts for the series here.
Here is a handy link to a PDF of Standards associated with Young Ben Franklin classroom engagement.
Classroom Resources
Hey Educators! You’re excited to use Young Ben Franklin in class, and maybe you’re asking yourself where do I start or what’s the best way to listen? The answer is that thousands of teachers across North America use GZM Shows podcasts in dozens of different ways for multiple grade levels, classroom-wide, for breakout groups, to reward learning, and as homework. Below, you’ll find customizable materials that support a flexible and powerful staged approach to engaging with Young Ben Franklin. And they’re free!
The Listening Guide offers a simple and effective way to guide your students through themes of story and character development, help guide their search for clues and evidence, and encourage their development of bigger ideas.
The Explore Board is a resource for students both before they start listening to the podcast and while listening. The Explore Board resource introduces students to concepts, themes and topics of the podcast and helps them hone skills for deeper learning engagement with the podcast. Customizable for your classroom with Workflow Instructions in video and PDF format.
The Choice Board is a resource for students to use after they have finished listening to the podcast. The Choice Board takes a deeper dive into major themes, concepts and topics introduced in the podcast. The Choice Board features a combination of anchor assignments and lighter exercises, so you’ll find helpful direction and support for every student. Customizable for your classroom with Workflow Instructions in video and PDF format.
