Live Science Class for Kids: Ben Franklin’s Lightning Rod

Join our series of weekly virtual classes to learn how Ben Franklin’s inventions and scientific discoveries illuminate the national curriculum! You can recreate all the featured science demonstrations at home using household materials.

Did you know that Ben Franklin was one of the fathers of electricity? Learn about Ben’s famous kite and key experiment and how this led to the invention of the lightning rod. Try your hand at some practical activities to explore static electricity!

Activity materials: 2 balloons, 1 piece of paper, 1 spoon

Links to the Science Curriculum:

KS2: Electricity (Y4, Y6)

KS3: Static Electricity

Most Suitable for KS2 and KS3 (US Grades 2-8) but all ages welcome!

If you have any questions, please contact education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org

Watch the class and demonstration below: