“By failing to prepare, you are
preparing to fail.”
“Do not fear mistakes. You will
know failure. Continue to reach
out.”
“It takes many good deeds to
build a good reputation, and
only one bad one to loose it.”
-Benjamin Franklin
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TIME
CAPSULE
By: Paige Portacio
Facts You Will Want To Know
Ben was a statesman, scientist, publisher, and popular
author.
 He shaped and witnessed more events leading to
independence than any other colonist.
 Ben signed the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution of the United States.
 He discovered rules about electricity.
 He helped organize firefighters, schools, and hospitals.
This was a man who helped invent the American Dream .
Here is his time capsule!

Poor Richard’s
Almanac
Bifocal
Glasses
Sedan Chair
“Join or Die”
Kite and Key
The Way To
Wealth
Treaty Of
Paris
Poor Richard’s Almanac

This is Poor Richard’s Almanac.
Poor Richard- Richard Saunders is
one of Ben’s literary character’s.
This almanac contained a calendar.
It was also packed with all kinds of
extra information about the
seasons and weather. In Ben’s time,
almanacs were useful references.
Farmers, sailors, fishermen, and
practically all people used
almanacs. At first, Ben expected to
print almanacs written by other
writers. Then the writers switched
printers to save money and that
was when Ben put the pen to the
paper.
Poor Richard’s Almanac (Part 2)

This almanac is unique because
it was better than all of the
rest, it included extra
information. To amuse people,
Ben started a public feud.
Poor Richard says he used
astrology to predict a
competing author’s death. The
author won’t be amused but
people will be. I included Poor
Richard’s almanac to show how
good of a printer and writer
Benjamin was.
“Join or Die”

Ben had commissioned what
is said to be the first political
cartoons in America; a call to
the colonies for unity. It was
first Published in the
Pennsylvania Gazette on
May 9, 1754. It is a woodcut
snake with each segment
labeled with the initials of
one of the thirteen American
colonies or regions. It helped
make his point about the
importance of colonial unity.
“Join or Die” (Part 2)

It became a symbol
of colonial freedom
during the American
Revolutionary War.
Kite and Key


Benjamin had been waiting for a long
time to do this experiment. Benjamin
was waiting for a church steeple to be
built because it was high enough to
catch electricity. The kite came in when
Benjamin was tired of waiting for the
steeple to be built.
Ben wanted to test his belief that
lightning is electricity. He wanted to
draw electricity from the sky. This
experiment was so wide spread that a
soldier in Paris even did this
experiment successfully.
Kite and Key (Part 2)
I included Benjamin’s
key and kite
because without
Benjamin’s
experiment, we may
have not been able
to use electricity the
way we can today.
The Way To Wealth


“The Way To Wealth” is an
essay written by Ben. It is a
collection of advice that was
presented in Poor Richard’s
Almanac. This information
was organized into a speech
given by “Father Abraham.”
The essay’s advice is based
on the themes of work ethic.
The Way To Wealth also
includes proverbs. Proverbs
are wise sayings.
The Way To Wealth (Part 2)

I included this because
proverbs were passed
down from generation
to generation through
out history. This essay
shows how smart
Benjamin Franklin was.
Bifocal Glasses
In 1784, Ben Franklin developed bifocal
glasses. He was getting old and was
having trouble seeing both up-close and
at a distance. Getting tired of switching
between two types of glasses, he devised
a way to have both types of lenses fit
into the frame. The distance lens was
placed at the top and the up-close lens
was placed at the bottom.
inventors.about.com › … › Famous Inventors
-F
Bifocal Glasses (Part 2)

Glasses today are
necessary for many
people to see.
Benjamin Franklin
helped to improve
glasses so that they
could become the
way they are today.
Sedan Chair



Of the 55 delegates, Benjamin
is by far the oldest at 81. His
health was not good. Later, he
was carried from his home to
the meetings in the sedan chair.
It was like a carriage without
wheels, held by four men. The
bumpy ride on a carriage
would have been much to
uncomfortable.
Sedan chairs were used in
many different cultures.
Good things happen to good
people. Benjamin Franklin lived
a long life.
Sedan Chair (Part 2)

His sedan chair
symbolized being old
and aging.
Treaty Of Paris

Benjamin Franklin negotiated the Treaty
of Paris which brought the Revolutionary
War to an end. Ben’s big chance came
when he heard the surprising news from
America. The Americans had won the
Battle of Saratoga. Ben made sure this
news was published throughout France.
This convinced the French minister. The
minister then rushed to make the alliance
which was what Ben really wanted.
Benjamin got the Americans a good deal.
They will now get money, military aid,
and the recognition they need thanks to
Benjamin Franklin. This was a turn over.
Treaty of Paris (Part 2)

Benjamin was persuasive and he had good
strategies. Ben really cared about helping his
country out.