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We seek an America where we more perfectly realize the promise of liberty and equality expressed in the Declaration of Independence. This calls for civic education that helps students examine the story of our country and exercise the skills of citizenship.
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Lesson

Benjamin Franklin and Civic Virtue

Duration: 90 min
Published: Jul 20, 2023

How did Benjamin Franklin’s develop and practice virtue? Help students identify ways they can make being virtuous a habit.

Virtues

Guiding questions

Essential Question

When practicing a habit, is striving for perfection reasonable?

Guiding Questions

What does it mean to make something a habit?
How can you practice virtues to improve yourself and your community?

Learning Objectives:

Students will analyze Benjamin Franklin’s method for developing and practicing virtues to identify ways they can make being virtuous a habit.  
Students will close-read a primary source and summarize the main idea of a historic text.   
Students will create plans to practice virtues in their daily lives.

Materials

Student Resources

Primary Source Analysis handout

Teacher Resources

Analysis Questions
Virtue in Action
Journal Activity

Lesson Components

ActivityPrimary Source Documents

Lesson plan

90 minClick a phase to open it

Key Terms

Courage: The ability to take constructive action in the face of fear or danger. To stand firm as a person of character and do what is right, especially when it is unpopular or puts one at risk.
Honor: Demonstrating good character and being trustworthy.
Humility: A recognition that one’s ignorance is far greater than one’s knowledge. Putting others ahead of ourselves in thought, word, and deed. A willingness to give others credit and to admit when we are wrong.
Integrity: To tell the truth, expose untruths, and keep one’s promises.
Justice: Upholding of what is fair and right. Respecting the rights and dignity of all.

More Information

Procedures

You may use this lesson as a supplement to the Student Introduction lesson, Defining Civic Virtues. This lesson continues exploring civic virtues and practicing them as a habit.
In this lesson, students analyze a primary source from Benjamin Franklin to understand his method for developing and practicing virtues. Through analysis, a creative activity, and reflection students can identify ways they can make being virtuous a habit.

Standards

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →