Please note this is a past event. View upcoming events here.
Join our virtual family day this half term to learn about the history of Halloween, hear a spooky tale and find out how to make some ghoulishly good decorations.
Suitable for children aged 5-11
E-mail education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for more information
Wednesday December 9th 2020, 5pm BST/12pm EDT. Register here.
Join us for the December instalment of Ben’s Book Club, a monthly virtual gathering looking at themes relating to Benjamin Franklin, the 18th century, and American history.
This month we will be taking a festive break by talking to George Goodwin, our Author in Residence, about his book Christmas Traditions, an entertaining and enlightening guide to the sacred and secular traditions of Christmas, with many of the latter being 19th-century Anglo-American creations that owe much to Washington Irving and Charles Dickens.
When first experienced in childhood, Christmas seems all of a piece and to have a wondrously timeless quality, as its different aspects blend snugly together. With a collection of charming facts, quotations and anecdotes, George considers the history of the season’s most important festive elements. Beautifully illustrated with images from the British Library’s own vast collections, Christmas Traditions rekindles the memories that are an essential part of the magical nature of Christmastime.
George Goodwin is Honorary Author in Residence at Benjamin Franklin House in London, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Makin Fellow at the British Library’s Eccles Centre for American Studies, who sponsor his Christmas talks. As well as being the author of Christmas Traditions (2019), George has written three highly-acclaimed historical studies which include Benjamin Franklin in London: The British Life of America’s Founding Father.
Christmas Traditions is published by the British Library and most of its illustrations come from the BL’s own magnificent collections. It is available here and here and through all good bookshops.
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.
US Presidential Debate with representatives from Republicans Overseas and Democrats Abroad and moderator, veteran pollster, Sir Robert Worcester
In association with the Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library
Please note this is a past event. View upcoming events and all past virtual talks here.
Just weeks away, the contentious 2020 US presidential election between incumbent Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden is set against deeply divided ideological lines and a global pandemic. Veteran pollster, Sir Robert Worcester, will ask Greg Swenson, representing Republicans Overseas and Bill Barnard, representing Democrats Abroad why each believes their candidate is best placed to lead the United States over the next four years.
Sir Robert Worcester is the founder of opinion research firm, MORI. He spearheaded the 800th Anniversary Commemoration of the Magna Carta and is a governor of the Ditchley Foundation. He is Chairman of the Emeritus Governors and Honorary Fellow, LSE; Visiting Professor and Fellow, King’s College London; Honorary Professor, Warwick and Kent (former Chancellor); Adjunct Professor, University of Kansas; Deputy Chairman, Magna Carta Trust; Vice President, former Chairman, Pilgrim Society; Vice President, International Social Science Council/UNESCO, United Nations Association, European Atlantic Group; Governor, English-Speaking Union; past Member, Fulbright.
Greg Swenson is a member of Republicans Overseas and a founding partner of Brigg Macadam Ltd, an emerging market investment banking firm in London. He has over twenty years of banking, alternative investments, and global markets experience. He spent his first eleven years in the industry at Lehman Brothers, holding several positions in the fixed income area from 1992 to 2003. Greg holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College and MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University and is a frequent business and political commentator on BBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox News and other media platforms.
Bill Barnard is university professor and author of Dixiecrats and Democrats. Former Chair of Democrats Abroad UK, and former international Treasurer of Democrats Abroad, the official arm of the Democratic Party of the United States. He attended five Democratic conventions (two as a member of his state delegation and three as a political analyst and commentator for state-wide public television) and two Republican conventions as an analyst and commentator. Bill says he was a Democrat by inheritance, passing out flyers for Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and “a Democrat by persuasion by 1960,” campaigning for John F. Kennedy in the deep south at the age of 18.
Please note this is a past event. View upcoming events and all past virtual talks here.
Monday November 9th, 5pm BST/12pm EDT
George Goodwin discusses his latest research on George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and the intelligence networks that shaped the War for Independence.
George Goodwin is Author in Residence at the Benjamin Franklin House in London. He is the author of Benjamin Franklin in London: The British Life of America’s Founding Father (Yale University Press) and contributor of the Benjamin Franklin entry in The Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington.
He is the recipient of two separate international research fellowships at the Robert H. Smith Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello. This research project will provide a core element of his forthcoming book, Benjamin Franklin’s War: London, Paris and America’s Fight for Independence. Goodwin is an Eccles Centre Makin Fellow at the British Library, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a graduate of Cambridge University.
Saturday 3 July, 11.30am BST. 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). We are delivering our science club virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays at 4.30pm BST or Saturdays at 11.30am BST. Participants will learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. This week we’ll be exploring the core biology topic of muscles.
If you would like to make your own arm muscle model, you will need 2 pieces of paper (A4), a cardboard tube (e.g. from kitchen roll), tape, a paper clip, a sharp pencil, a pen and 2 long modelling balloons.
Most suitable for Years 7-9 (US Grades 6-8) but all ages welcome!
Please note that the session will be recorded. A parent, carer or teacher should register on behalf of participants.
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.
Tuesday 22 June, 4.30pm BST. 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). We are delivering our science club virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays at 4.30pm BST or Saturdays at 11.30am BST. Participants will learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. This week we’ll be exploring the core biology topic of the skeleton.
If you would like to complete the skeleton labelling activity, you can download the template here.
Most suitable for Years 7-9 (US Grades 6-8) but all ages welcome!
Please note that the session will be recorded. A parent, carer or teacher should register on behalf of participants.
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.
Saturday 19 June, 11.30am BST. 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). We are delivering our science club virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays at 4.30pm BST or Saturdays at 11.30am BST. Participants will learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. This week we’ll be exploring the core biology topic of maintaining a balanced diet.
If you would like to create your own eat well plate or balanced meal dairy, you can download the templates here. If you would like to recreate the investigation into the effects of different foods on our teeth, you will need the following items: 4 eggs, 4 cups/jars, water, coffee, vinegar, coca cola, toothpaste.
Most suitable for Years 7-9 (US Grades 6-8) but all ages welcome!
Please note that the session will be recorded. A parent, carer or teacher should register on behalf of participants.
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.
Saturday 18 December, 10am-11.30am. Register here to attend in-person.
Join our science club at Benjamin Franklin House, the London home of the famous Founding Father of the United States who was also a scientist and inventor. You will learn about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying your hand at practical investigations. This week we will be exploring the core physics topic of sound.
Most suitable for Years 7-9 (ages 11-14) but all ages welcome! Franklin’s Young Inventors is free to attend but booking is essential.
Parents are welcome to join, however, if you would prefer to drop off and pick up your child(ren) we will ask you to sign a permission form when you arrive.
COVID-19 Safety Precautions:
– We are limiting bookings to 15 people so please book a ticket for each adult and child attending
– Activities will take place in a well-ventilated historic space with hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes available
– All staff and adult visitors are encouraged to wear a face covering
Funding for Franklin’s Young Inventors has generously been provided by the United States Government and the DAR Walter Hines Page Chapter.
Saturday 19 March, 10am-11.30am GMT. Register here to attend in person.
Join our science club at Benjamin Franklin House, the London home of the famous Founding Father of the United States who was also a scientist and inventor. You will learn about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying your hand at practical investigations. This week we will be exploring the core physics topic of forces.
If you would like to recreate the simple forces investigation at home, you will need the following items: a toy car, cardboard (e.g. from recycled boxes), a ruler, a timer, tape
Most suitable for Years 7-9 (US Grades 6-8) but all ages welcome!
COVID-19 Safety Precautions:
– We are limiting bookings to 15 people so please book a ticket for each adult and child attending
– Activities will take place in a well-ventilated historic space with hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes available
– All staff and adult visitors without medical exemption are required to wear a face covering and visitors are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before attending
Funding for Franklin’s Young Inventors has generously been provided by the United States Government and the DAR Walter Hines Page Chapter.
Saturday 22 May, 11.30am BST. 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). We are delivering our science club virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays at 4.30pm BST or Saturdays at 11.30am BST. Participants will learn all about the experiments carried out by Benjamin Franklin and his British friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. This week we’ll be exploring the core physics topic of energy transfer.
If you would like to recreate the simple heat transfer investigation at home, you will need the following items: a metal spoon, a plastic spoon, a wooden spoon, a cup, a kettle, water, butter
Safety Notice! Make sure an adult boils the kettle and pours the hot water
Please note that the session will be recorded. A parent, carer or teacher should register on behalf of participants.
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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