http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/
This website by Dr. Leo Lemay provides year-by-year accounts of Benjamin Franklin’s personal, professional, and political life.  In a time line format, He explains (using a variety of resources) what happened in Benjamin Franklin’s life.

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html
This website (from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) describes Benjamin Franklin’s roles as scientist, inventor, statesman, printer, philosopher,musician, and economist.  It provides information about his life (the different roles he played).  It also has links to definitions of words important to learning about him (e.g. electricity and armonica) to explain to the students what these are.  There are also Quicktime movie clips (e.g. students are able to “play” the armonica) as well as links to additional information.

http://www.ushistory.org/franklin
This diverse site includes research articles, historical fiction, image galleries, 3D tours, puzzles, and links.  In addition, it includes a virtual tour of Philadelphia and Benjamin Franklin’s famous quotes.  The Quick Biography of Benjamin Franklin provides easier reading and has photographs and illustrations throughout the text for students to better understand the information (and to keep their interest).

http://people2.clarityconnect.com/webpages4/kcarsons/oconunit/instruct.htm
“The purpose of this Scavenger Hunt Activity is to have students reading about all the magnificent achievements of Benjamin Franklin. Students will be amazed at all this man did in his life! By using the Franklin Institute: Glimpses of the Man page, students will play a virtual glass armonica, hear exerts of Franklin's quotes, view a replica of Franklin's printing press and learn about Franklin's lightening experiments.”

http://www.carolhurst.com/index.html
This website by Carol Hurst and Rebecca Otis provides information about children’s literature and history (historical fiction).  It divides history into themes (e.g. American Revolution, Colonial Times, Native Americans, WWII, Civil War, etc.).  Clicking onto a theme, additional information is provided regarding professional books, children’s literature, young adult literature, activities, and ideas to use while exploring these themes.  In addition, reviews of the books are also provided.  It also provides tips on many things including how to critically look at a picture book with children.

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin
“Benjamin Franklin” himself provides information about his life.  The text is easier for students to read (more of an upper elementary level…but don’t rule it out even if you teach a higher grade level)!  Students can click onto icons and learn more from him about his roles as a printer, inventor, librarian, and statesman.

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/
This PBS website provides interactive activities for students to learn more about the life of Benjamin Franklin.  In How Shocking, they learn about static electricity and the kite experiment through diagrams that move.  In Citizen Ben, students learn about his active role as a citizen.  They will “travel” to Ben’s town and when they click on something in the town (e.g. library or post office) they are provided with information about his role in developing these services.  In addition, there is an interactive map of the world displaying where Benjamin Franklin traveled to and why (as a stateman).  Also, there is a glossary of terms that are useful when discussing and learning about Benjamin Franklin’s life.  Eight teacher lessons are also provided.

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html
This website (with Benjamin Franklin as your guide) is tailored to meet the needs of your students!  It is divided into grade levels:  K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  In addition, there is a section dedicated solely to teachers and parents.  It provides information about our nation (colorful maps of our country), historical documents (explanations of the documents followed by the full texts), branches of government, how laws are made, national versus state government, election process, citizenship, games and activities, a glossary, and links to other government websites appropriate for children.

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/realbenfranklin
In this one class period middle level lesson, students learn that Benjamin Franklin is known, among other things, for his wit and wisdom.  He published an almanac annually for 25 years.  He scattered proverbs, short sayings that spoke the truth, throughout the almanac.  Students will explain fully what one of these proverbs mean. 

http://time.com/time/2003/franklin/bffranklin.html
This on-line edition of Time magazine describes Benjamin Franklin’s life in detail. It is broken down into categories of his greatest virtues:  An aversion to Tyranny, A Free Press, Humor, Humility, Idealism in Foreign Policy, Compromise, and Tolerance.  Also, there are additional sections:  When Sparks Flew (what happened during the legendary kite experiment), In the City That Ben Loved (see what legend Benjamin Franklin left on the city), Scientist & Inventor (tour through his mind and see what he discovered and invented).  Also, there is a timeline of his life and work as well as his “words of wisdom”.

http://home.earthlink.net/~hogarth28/bibliog.html
This site provides a bibliography of 18th century Philadelphia in case one might additional resources or references regarding the city during this time period.

http://www.ushistory.org/tour/
This is a virtual tour of the city of Philadelphia.  It includes Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Old City Hall, etc.  Each photograph or illustration is accompanied by information about the location (or item).  In addition, there are links to additional information.

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_subject.html
When here, click onto medicine.  It describes medicine in the colonial time period (text manageable for students).  In addition, there is a video clip of a scholar explaining how a smallpox inoculation was administered. 

http://www.mayflowerfamilies.comcolonial_life/colonial_diseases.htm
This website provides a list of illnesses during the colonial times (the names they used then and what we call the illnesses today).

http://www.mrdowling.com/703-plague.html
This website provides a brief (student friendly) reading of the origin and history of the Bubonic plague.  It includes a link to a map of the infected areas of Europe (during the Middle Ages) for additional background information (regarding plagues).

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/tournament/pestilence/pestilence.html
The Discovery Channel reports information from different areas of the word affected by the “Black Death”.  This includes an audio journey to the places that were affected.

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~yehchris/yellowfever.html
A brief description is provided of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793 (a two-page summary of what happened).  The text is student friendly although the website background is disturbing!  The history or what happened and when is provided as well as the symptoms of the disease.

http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/fever1793.html
This is an on-line book by Bob Arnebeck with companion essays and primary documents.  It provides a short history of Yellow Fever in the United States as well as his thoughts on Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.

http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/search.html
(Provided by Dr. Carla Pestana)
Although this site does not have to do with her presentation, it does provide excellent information regarding the Atlantic Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Americas.