Ben and Me by Robert Lawson is a humorous tale that imagines a mouse named Amos as Benjamin Franklin’s secret helper and advisor. Through Amos’s adventures with Ben, young readers learn about creativity, teamwork, and the importance of friendship. The story provides a fun perspective on historical events and encourages curiosity about history, showing how collaboration and clever ideas can lead to remarkable achievements.

In our homeschool curriculum, Ben and Me supports a three-week literature unit. Some of the activities include:

• Hands-on Historical Projects: Students create replicas of Franklin’s inventions, bringing tangible connections to historical advancements. 
• Creative Writing Assignments: Inspired by the novel's unique narrative perspective, students compose their own historical fiction pieces or diary entries from the viewpoint of an animal or object witnessing historical events.
• In-depth Historical Analysis: Leveraging Ben and Me as a starting point, students dive into research projects about Benjamin Franklin’s life and contributions. They explore a variety of sources, from biographies to original writings by Franklin, to construct a well-rounded report.
• Critical Discussions on Historical Accuracy and Fiction: Engaging discussions help students differentiate historical facts from the author’s creative liberties.