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Live History Class: Georgian Art and Literature

Join our virtual history classes on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30pm BST to learn about key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London. Together we will uncover the past and develop historical skills!

In this class we’ll look at the styles of art and literature which were popular in the Georgian era. We’ll learn all about famous artists such as Hogarth, Reynolds and Gainsborough as well as how people saw their artwork at exhibitions. We’ll also see how the novel grew in popularity and look at influential writers like Jane Austen before making our own 18th century-style portrait!

Activity materials: pencil, paper, paints (optional)

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

Watch the class below:

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Live History Class: Discover Georgian Music

Join this special half term edition of our virtual history classes series all about music in the 18th century! In these classes, we learn about key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London. Together we will uncover the past and develop historical skills!

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was a great lover of music? He enjoyed singing and even invented his own instrument… the glass armonica! In this class, we’ll look at popular styles of music from the Georgian era. We’ll also learn about famous composers from the period and hear their music played on a modern replica of Franklin’s armonica. Then we’ll have a go at making our own percussive instruments!

Activity materials: small container (e.g. empty Kinder egg capsule, empty hand sanitiser bottle), rice

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

Watch the full class below:

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Live History Class: Georgian Buildings and Architecture

Join our virtual history classes on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30pm BST to learn about key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London. Together we will uncover the past and develop historical skills!

In this class, we’ll explore architectural styles and well-known architects from Georgian era. We’ll look at the design of Benjamin Franklin House and what makes it typical of the period. We’ll then have a go at designing our own Georgian façade!

Activity materials: paper, ruler, pencil

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

Watch the full class below:

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Science on Stage

Wednesday 26 May, 1.30pm-2.45pm BST. Register here for this virtual event.

Science on Stage is a science enrichment event for upper Key Stage 2, run jointly by Benjamin Franklin House and The Royal Institution. Both our charities have a rich historical and scientific heritage and hold science events with school-age students to inspire the next generation of scientists. During this year’s online event, students will learn all about Benjamin Franklin, the science of sound and the invention of the glass armonica. They will be awe-struck by electrical demonstrations, as they find out how scientists at the Ri have contributed to our understanding of electricity.

Programme:

1.30pm-1.35pm – Welcome and Introductions

1.35pm-2.05pm – Benjamin Franklin House’s presenter Eleanor Hamblen will tell you all about famous scientist Benjamin Franklin and his invention of the glass armonica. What is sound? How do you invent a musical instrument? Eleanor will answer these questions through demonstrating Franklin’s magical instrument and showing you how to make your own music using bottles and water!

2.05pm-2.10pm – Movement Break

2.10pm-2.40pm – The Royal Institution’s presenter Dan Plane will tell us some stories from the history of electricity. How did Ri scientists, such as Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday, explore and experiment with electricity? What discoveries did they make? And do any of them still matter today? Dan will answer these questions through live demonstrations, feature surprising sources and uses of electricity from 200 years ago, some of which we still use today.

2.40-2.45pm – Questions and Farewell

Schools: We invite Year 5/6 classes to participate. Each class teacher should sign up separately, so that they receive their own joining link.

Families: We invite parents/carers to sign up on behalf of their children. Participants should be supervised and the recommended age range is 9-11.

Online Safety Protocols: The event will be held via Zoom Webinar. Only the presenters will appear on screen and be able to speak over the microphone. Participants will be able to type in the chat, but this will only be seen by the presenters and not by other attendees. All presenters are DBS checked. Please note that the event will be recorded.

All participants will also receive resources for optional follow-up activities. For more information, contact our Education Manager.

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Live History Class: Georgian Health and Medicine

Join our virtual history classes on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30pm BST to learn about key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London. Together we will uncover the past and develop historical skills!

In this class, we’ll explore health in the Georgian era and the development of modern medicine. We’ll find out why it was common for women to faint and why there was an anatomy school at Craven Street. We’ll even have a go at making our own smelling salts!

Activity materials: Epsom salts, essential oils (available at low cost at most pharmacies), course sea salt, small container or pouch

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

Watch the full class below:

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Live History Class for Kids: Education and Etiquette

Thursday 22 April 2021, 4:30pm BST/11:30am ET. Register here.

Join our virtual history classes on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30pm BST to learn about key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London. Together we will uncover the past and develop historical skills!

In this class, we’ll find out how education varied for boys and girls across different social classes during the Georgian era. We’ll even have a go at some cursive handwriting 18th century-style!

Activity materials: paper, pen, cursive template

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

For more information, contact our Education Manager.

Watch the class below:

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Live History Class: Discover Georgian Ceramics

Thursday 8 April, 3pm BST/ 10am ET. Register here.

For this special holiday edition of our virtual history class series, we are delighted to welcome Anya Naumovic from the Newington Green Meeting House to introduce us to 18th century ceramics and show us how to make our own pinch pots!

Activity materials: 500g of air-dry clay

Optional decoration: acrylic paints, paint brush

(You will need to leave your pot to dry for 24 hours before decorating)

Most suitable for children aged 7-11 but all ages are welcome!

For more information, contact our Education Manager

Watch the class below:

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Live History Class: Georgian Easter Celebration

Thursday 1 April 3pm BST/ 10am ET. Register here.

Join us for this special Easter edition of our virtual history class series. During these sessions, we explore key aspects of the Georgian period, when Benjamin Franklin was living in London.

This week, we’ll learn how the Georgians celebrated Easter and even find out how to make our own Easter bonnets! 

Activity Materials: a paper plate, a paper bowl, scissors, tape, felt tip pens

Optional decorations: tissue paper, ribbons, stickers, Easter chicks, PVA glue 

Most suitable for children aged 5-11 but all ages are welcome!

By registering, participants agree to follow our Online Safety Agreement

For more information, contact our Education Manager

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Franklin’s Young Inventors: ‘Give me a second’ with Andrew Hanson

Tuesday 23 March, 4.30pm GMT. Register here for this 30-minute virtual class.

Franklin’s Young Inventors is our weekly science club for aspiring scientists in Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14). This week we’re delighted to welcome special guest Andrew Hanson who will show you how to make a time recording machine!

Andrew Hanson MBE is a scientist working at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) who make some of the most accurate clocks in the world. In this session you’ll create your very own time recording machine inspired partly by Franklin’s three-wheeled clock design.

To join in with the (optional though recommended) inventing bit – you will need:

  • A ruler or measuring tape
  • A 50cm length of string
  • A rod (e.g. pencil or chopstick), to hang the string from
  • A clip or peg to make easy adjustments of string on rod
  • A weight (bob) e.g. holed stone or Lego
  • A timer (e.g. stopwatch on phone or tablet)
  • Paper and pencil to record result

Please note only adults can register on behalf of children, adult supervision is required for the practical experiment. By registering, participants agree to follow our Online Safety Agreement. For more information, contact our Education Manager.

Funding for Franklin’s Young Inventors has generously been provided by the United States Government and the DAR Walter Hines Page Chapter.

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Ben’s Book Club Family Edition: ‘A Ben of All Trades’ by Michael J. Rosen

Wednesday August 18th 2021, 5pm BST/12pm EDT. Register here. 

Join us for the August installment of Ben’s Book Club, a monthly virtual gathering looking at themes relating to Benjamin Franklin, the 18th century, and American history. 

In this month’s special family edition of Ben’s Book Club, we will be talking to Michael J. Rosen about his book, ‘A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin’. This rousing biography, illustrated by Matt Tavares, reveals how Benjamin Franklin’s boyhood shaped his amazingly multifaceted life. 

Young Benjamin Franklin wants to be a sailor, but his father won’t hear of it. The other trades he tries — candle maker, joiner, boot closer, turner — bore him through and through. Curious and inventive, Ben prefers to read, swim, fly his kite, and fly his kite while swimming. But each time he fails to find a profession, he takes some important bit of knowledge with him. That tendency is exactly what leads him to become the astonishingly versatile genius we remember today.  

Inspired by The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Michael J. Rosen’s wry tale captures Ben’s spirit in evocative yet playful language, while illustrations by Matt Tavares follow Ben from the workbench to the water in vivid detail. A love story to the value of variety, ‘A Ben of All Trades’ sheds light on an unconventional path to greatness and humanizes a towering figure in American history. 

Michael J. Rosen is the creator of a wide variety of more than 150 books for both adults and young readers. He is a poet, editor, writer of fiction and non-fiction, humorist, illustrator, ceramic artist, and playwright…and companion animal to a cattle dog named Chant.  

You can purchase a hardcopy or audio book of ‘A Ben of All Trades’ here.  

Join us even if you don’t have a chance to read the book by the event date! 

This event is free of charge but please consider making an online donation here to support the work of Benjamin Franklin House.