Ben and Me Part 2

1. Ben and Me Part 2 • Aim: Words of wisdom to live by • Objective: Students will use critical thinking skills to evaluate 3 of Benjamin Franklin's 26 famous maxims. Students will develop their maxim (words of wisdom) for young people.

2. Materials Needed • Computers with Internet access • Fortune cookies • Benjamin Franklin's Famous Maxims worksheet • Drawing or copy paper • Rulers • Paper punch • Yarn • Copy of Words of Wisdom from Benjamin Franklin for students who will not use the computer.

3. Motivation • After students are asked to clear their desks except for their Ben and Me books, place one fortune cookie in front of each student. Instruct the students not to open the cookies until you have given them permission to do so. Once all the students have a cookie in front of them, ask students, "What do you have in front of you?" Take answers (it will be obvious to the students that it's a fortune cookie). "What is a fortune cookie?" Take several answers since this is a little vague. Have students open their cookies and read their fortunes to their group. Ask for several volunteers to read their fortunes aloud. Write some of these on the board and ask students to think about what they mean.

4. Procedure • 1. Read chapters 3 and 4 aloud to the students as they follow along. • 2. Students will have 10 minutes to read chapter 5 in their small groups. • 3. Once the timer sounds, have students get out their journals. On the board write, "What will happen in chapter 5?" Give students 3 minutes to write what they think will happen next and why. • 4. Ask, "Does anyone know what the word maxim means?" • 5. Explain that today they are going to review 26 maxims that were created by Benjamin Franklin. • 6. Hand out the worksheet entitled, Benjamin Franklin's Famous Maxims and read the directions aloud as they follow along. • 7. Once the timer sounds, have students return to their seats. Ask for volunteers to share which maxim they chose and what they believe it means. Discuss their ideas without passing judgment on their analysis of the maxim.

5. Evaluation • 1. The teacher will assess student contribution to group and class discussions.2. The teacher will observe students as they read aloud to their peers.3. The teacher will assess the students' ability to follow directions.4. Although students' level of critical thinking cannot be directly "graded", the teacher will assess the amount of relevance that students place into their responses.

6. Homework • Your Homework for Ben and Me Part 2 is here: http://micheldumay.wikispaces.com