Why I Picked Them Up:
I first picked up Now and Ben because it’s a biography on Benjamin Franklin, who I think is the most interesting man in the world! Not to mention he is in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for elementary social studies. After I fell in love with the book, I found Timeless Thomas by the same author. Rumor has it, he has a handful of other books I will need to buy.
Why I Finished Them:
Not only did I finish them, but I have also reread them several times and shared them with multiple classrooms. Both books are set up so that on the left side you see an invention that we use today and on the right side, it shows how it was invented by either Edison or Franklin, as well as how it looked back then. How clever is that? I knew Benjamin Franklin was truly an amazing man and inventor, but I honestly didn’t know how much he had created that we still use today.
Who Would I Give These Books To:
Is everyone a viable answer? I don’t even know how to narrow the field. Okay, perhaps my husband would think himself too advanced for the picture book format, but everyone else will find at least something interesting within these pages.
Integration Ideas:
Social Studies: Inventors and Biography
Both of these books are informational, but so much more exciting than a textbook. I am even going to stretch and say the layout is even better than most biographies. Because the books show how the invention from the past has morphed into something we use nowadays on a one-page spread, it lends itself to discussion and manageable chunks of information. This is a great way to integrate ELA/R and Social Studies standards. Have students discuss the genre Literary Nonfiction while discussing the facts presented in the texts. Students could:
- research other inventions from the past that are still used today.
- create their own inventions.
- research more about Franklin or Edison.
- compare and contrast the two inventors.
- research how the invention slowly changed over the years.
- discuss what it takes to make an inventor.
Science, Technology, and Society Strand
This would be a great opportunity to look at how technology has changed society over time. Pick one of the inventions and brainstorm all the ways (beyond just what is pictured on the page) we use it today and what life would be like if we didn’t have it. For example, batteries. Yes, if Edison hadn’t invented the battery, we wouldn’t have a battery section at the store, but what else would be affected? Think about all the devices, toys, and tools we have that are battery-powered. This technology has definitely impacted our society!
Technology Integration
Timeline Tools
- SnapGuide
- Hstry (Paul Revere’s Ride)
- TimeToast (Abraham Lincoln)
- Dipity
- Tiki-Toki
- ReadWriteThink
- Prezi (5th Grade Ben Franklin) (Dual Timeline Example)
Another Technology Option: Create an App Smash Biography!
I’m so pleased to see Timeless Thomas reviewed! My great-great grandmother and Thomas Edison were first cousins. For Christmas, I gave all 8 of my great nephews and nieces this book, explaining their connection to this genius!
That’s so fabulous. I bet they love the book, especially with the connection. These two books are definitely on my list for presents this year.