Benjamin Franklin

Hello there. My name is Benjamin Franklin. I was born on a chilly day, January 17th, 1706. I grew up in a big, busy house in a town called Boston. I had so many brothers and sisters. There was always someone to play with. My favorite thing to do was read books. I read and read and read. I also loved to ask questions. Why is the sky blue. How do birds fly. I was full of questions. One day, I wanted to swim faster in the water. So, I made special paddles for my hands. They helped me swim just like a little fish. Swish, swoosh, I went so fast.

When I grew up, I moved to a new city called Philadelphia. I opened my own little shop where I printed books and papers for everyone to read. I was still so curious about the world. I looked at the big, flashy lightning in the sky during a storm. I wondered if it was like the little sparks you see when you touch a fuzzy blanket. So, in June of 1752, I did a famous experiment. I flew a kite way up high in a storm. I discovered that lightning was a big, powerful spark. It was electricity. It was so exciting to learn something new about our amazing world.

I loved finding new ways to help my friends and neighbors. It made my heart feel happy to help. I saw that people needed more books to read, so I helped start the very first library where anyone could borrow a book. When I saw houses were in danger from fires, I helped start the first fire department to keep everyone safe. I also helped my friends write a very important paper for our country on August 2nd, 1776. It was called the Declaration of Independence, and it helped start the United States of America.

I grew very old and lived a long, happy life full of questions and discoveries. I died on April 17th, 1790, but my ideas are still helping people today. Always remember to be curious. Ask lots of questions and look for answers. You never know what amazing things you might discover that can help make the world a better, kinder place for everyone. Be curious and be kind.