Hello   John Suter  and the American Revolution group!

Are you or your students watching PBS Benjamin Franklin A Film by Ken Burns? And if so I’m curious as to how might you use the film in class?

Since the film is four hours and broken into two episodes I’m thinking those focusing on Franklin during the Revolution might use  Episode 2  “An American” The film also has a Spanish version.  

PBS has classroom lessons here: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/kenburnsclassroom/film/benjamin-franklin/

And of course there is a wealth of primary sources in the film, many from the Library of Congress including: 

• Exhibition Benjamin Franklin In His Own Words 
• Collection Benjamin Franklin Papers 

https://www.loc.gov/item/2018697119/

The PBS description of the film:

“Ken Burns's two-part, four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century's most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States. Franklin's 84 years (1706-1790) spanned an epoch of momentous change in science, technology, literature, politics, and government — fields he himself advanced through a lifelong commitment to societal and self-improvement.”

I'd be interested to hear how you might use the film integrated with the Library of Congress primary sources to teach about the American Revolution.

  Benjamin Franklin    American Revolution    Ken Burns