How Ben Franklin Stole the
Lightning
Treasures, 4th Grade, Unit 2, Week 4
This PowerPoint was created by Dr. Anita Archer as a part of the Wichita Schools Vocabulary Project. Users
are encouraged to edit, reorder, reformat (change theme) or augment the slides to fit their classroom
needs.
* Words have been added from the passage.
1
invent*
verb
If you invent something such as a machine or a
process, you are the first person to think of it or
make it.
synonym – create, develop
2
invent example
Ben Franklin invented
the Franklin stove.
3
invent example
Ben Franklin also
invented this musical
instrument.
4
invent word relatives
invent
invented
inventions
inventor
verb
verb
noun
noun
Would you like to invent
something new? Ben Franklin,
an American born in 1706,
invented many things. One of
his inventions was the Franklin
stove. Ben Franklin is a very
famous inventor.
5
Other words for Ben Franklin
- cian
Ben Franklin played music.
He was a musician.
He worked with electricity.
He was an electrician.
He was involved in politics.
He was a politician.
6
Other words for Ben Franklin
- er
Ben Franklin loved to write.
He was a writer.
He helped print a
newspaper. He was a
printer.
He liked to do experiments.
He was an experimenter.
7
Other words for Ben Franklin
- ist
Ben Franklin drew
cartoons for newspapers.
He was a cartoonist.
He studied science. He
was a scientist.
8
mischief
noun
Mischief is something amusing that may cause
trouble.
synonym – pranks, tricks
9
mischief example
This kitten can get into
a lot of mischief.
10
mischief example
When he was young,
Ben Franklin worked as
a newspaper printer.
Ben got into mischief
when he pretended to
be a woman and wrote
an advice column for
the newspaper.
11
mischief checking understanding
These toddlers could get
into lots of mischief.
How might they get into
mischief?
Begin by saying:
These toddlers could get
into lots of mischief. They
could....
12
hilarious adjective
When a joke is hilarious, it makes you
laugh a lot.
Synonyms - very funny
13
hilarious example
We laughed at the
hilarious antics of the
monkey in the movie.
He got into lots of
mischief.
14
hilarious example
Is this Ben Franklin joke
hilarious?
How did Ben Franklin feel
after he flew a kite in a
thunderstorm?
15
hilarious example
Shocked!
16
convinced verb
To be convinced is to have accepted someone’s
views.
Synonym – talk into, persuade
17
convinced
example
During the American
Revolutionary War,
Ben Franklin went to
France. He convinced
the leaders of France
to help the Americans
defeat Great Britain.
18
convinced
check understanding
What have you convinced
people to believe or do?
Begin by saying:
I convinced someone to ...
19
independence
noun
Countries seeking independence wish to govern
themselves.
Synonym – self-government, freedom, liberty
20
independence example
The American colonists
fought against the British
(Red Coats) to gain their
independence. The colonists
wanted to rule their own
land.
21
independence example
Ben Franklin helped write
the Declaration of
Independence.
22
independence check understanding
• What is a synonym for independence?
Begin by saying:
A synonym for independence is...
23
dizzy
adjective
Someone who feels dizzy finds it hard to keep
his or her balance.
Synonym – self-government, freedom, liberty
24
dizzy example and check understanding
Jake has gone around and
around on this ride. He is
feeling dizzy. He can’t
even stand up.
Tell about a time when
you were dizzy.
Begin by saying:
I felt dizzy when...
25
whirlwind analyze the word
A whirlwind is a wind that
___________ around you.
Show the movement of a
whirlwind with your arm.
26
whirlwind check understanding
What would happen to
lightweight objects in a
whirlwind?
Begin by saying:
If there was a whirlwind,
lightweight objects
would...
27
nowadays analyze the word
check understanding
Nowadays are days that are
right ___________.
If something happened
today or recently, did it
happen nowadays?
If something happened 200
years ago, did it happen
nowadays?
28
handy analyze the word
check understanding
When something is handy, it is
nearby or near your_________.
Many people keep their cell
phone handy. What are some
everyday items that you want
to keep handy?
Begin by saying:
Some everyday items that I want to
keep handy include: ...
29
Lesson Review
Tell students the word hint. Have them form the number on their desk and then show you.
Word
1. invent
2. mischief
3. hilarious
4. convinced
5. independence
6. dizzy
7. whirlwind
8. nowadays
9. handy
I am thinking of a word that
means ......
• how you feel after being on
a roller coaster
• very funny
• talking someone into doing
something
• freedom
• getting into trouble
• to make something that no
one else has thought of
30