Benjamin Franklin: Ideas at Work
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. As a boy, he loved to read.
When Ben was young, he worked in his brother’s print shop. A printer puts words on paper so many people can read them.
The shop used small pieces of metal with letters on them. Ben helped set the letters in rows. Then ink and a press put the words on paper.
Ben later moved to Philadelphia. He ran a print shop there and printed a newspaper. People could read news from near and far.
Ben also liked to make useful things. He made glasses called bifocals. The top part helped him see far away. The bottom part helped him see things close up.
Ben studied electricity, too. Some people say he discovered it, but that is a myth. People knew about electricity before Ben was born.
Ben wanted to help his town. He helped start a library where members could borrow books. He also helped start a group that worked to put out fires.
Later, Ben helped write the Declaration of Independence. This paper said that the American colonies wanted to be free from British rule.
Ben died in 1790. He is remembered for his work as a printer, an inventor, and a helper in his community.
- ink:
- Colored liquid used to print or write.
- electricity:
- A kind of energy that can power things.
- myth:
- An idea that people believe but that is not true.
- borrow:
- To take something to use and return later.
- community:
- A group of people who live in the same place.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where and when was Benjamin Franklin born?
- 2What did Ben love to do as a boy?
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About this biography passage for Lower Elementary
“Benjamin Franklin: Ideas at Work” is a biography reading passage about Benjamin Franklin, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 1 minute to read (212 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.