Benjamin Franklin lived a life of contrast and contradictions, yet continually worked to improve himself and alter his beliefs as he learned more. In this lesson, students will trace Franklin’s journey from slave owner to abolitionist as they read, analyze, and respond to primary sources and film clips. Students can use Franklin’s life as a model to adapt their own understandings and beliefs as they learn from information and experiences.

As students view film clips, they will complete a Thinking Tracker graphic organizer as a pre-writing exercise. Teachers may choose to have students write a short answer, essay, or document-based question in response to the lesson’s central question, “How did Benjamin Franklin alter his beliefs towards African Americans and slavery throughout his lifetime?” The lesson also allows students to use the Thinking Tracker to complete a shorter mini-speech activity to show their learning.