Fun Friday with Franklin

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There is only one subject that I like as much as history, and that’s science. Today’s visit to the Franklin Institute was the perfect combination of my two favorite subjects.

Today’s historical highlights were the exhibit of the inventions of Benjamin Franklin from a scientific background and the behind-the-scenes presentation. Later in the day we got a very detailed lecture on the “phases of Franklin” (printer, statesmen, scientist). As we sat in the Board Room of the Franklin Institute our group got to see, touch and hold artifacts from Franklin’s life. Among them were pound/shillings notes and a book that he printed, his static electricity tube, a lightening rod he produced, his sterling silver tankard, a sword presented to him by King Louis XVI, his will, a tea set presented to him by a French ”lady friend” and an Italianate plaque that portrayed Franklin in his famous coonskin cap.

Scientifically I saw many really interesting things as well. There was an exhibit on electricity. There was also a wonderful exhibit on the human body that I loved! These are both scientific concepts that I cover in 4th grade, and I kept wishing I could magically transport my students and boys to the museum for a tour. The human body exhibit features a giant walk through heart replica, as well as plasticized hearts from many different animals. That was especially interesting to me because right at the end of the school year my class dissected hearts (which was also a first for me). The planetarium show that we saw was titled “Cosmic Collisions.” Again, something we studied this year. I loved, loved, loved this show!!!

With a free afternoon to ourselves I poked around the museum some more before taking the Splash trolley tour around the city. I think I now finally have my bearings. We made a couple of stops at historical sites we had already visited but wanted to see again. Then on the way to Penn’s Landing got distracted by food. We ate at The Continental which served fusion cuisine and some delicious beverages (see the picture of the light fixtures). I would highly recommend this one to the others in the class. Feel free to invite Donna, Becky and I but don’t mention the prices to Donna (it was a little pricey).

Another really great day……

 

Classroom applications: Well this is a little silly, but I will be sharing lots of photos from the Franklin Institute with the kids. I learned content on Franklin himself, space studies and human body. All of these will surely be introduced to my class.

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