A fellow resident of 36 Craven street during Franklin’s stay in London, Dr. William Hewson ran an anatomy school for medical students. Join us to learn about the history of medicine and what Hewson taught his students about the human body.
Most suitable for ages 11-13.
You can watch the virtual segment below:
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org
Franklin famously used a kite to show that lightning was a natural form of electricity in Philadelphia. He also watched the first manned ascent of a Montgolfier hot air balloon in Paris. Join us to carry out investigations into the forces which affect flight!
Most suitable for ages 8-11.
You can watch the virtual segment below:
How to make a model parachute:
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org
Although we’re not able to hold the annual Benjamin Franklin House Children’s Summer Fete this year, we’ve still teamed up with our friends from across the heritage world bring a range of fun craft ideas to you virtually!
Follow the links below to find out more:
Benjamin Franklin House: Monoprinting
John Wesley’s House: Music Makers
Arts & Crafts Hammersmith: Mobile and Sunflower
Leighton House: Make and Create
Newington Green Meeting House: Craftivism Protest Banner
Don’t forget to send in photos of your creations to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win one of our Benjamin Franklin House sticker books!
Craftivism Protest Banner
Mary Wollstonecraft was just one of the revolutionary figures who visited the Newington Green Meeting House. Watch this video to find out how to create your own protest banner, as part of the craftivism series they are running throughout the summer. If you would rather read the instructions, you can download them here.
Don’t forget to send a photo of your creations to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win a sticker book!
Make and Create with Leighton House Museum
Welcome to Leighton House, Kensington, the magical home of celebrated Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton.
Do you like stories full of mystery, drama, love and adventure? So did Leighton! He was inspired by the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome to create some of his best known paintings and the Narcissus Hall in his home.
Be inspired too! Make and create with our five activity packs, and listen to these wonderful stories told by our professional storyteller, Vanessa Woolf (@londondreamtime).
Don’t forget to send a photo of your creations to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win a sticker book!
Let’s Make a Sunflower!
The William Morris Society promotes all aspects of the life and work of William Morris (1834-1896) and runs a small museum at his former home, Kelmscott House in Hammersmith. Download the instructions to make your own sunflower, inspired by Morris’ designs, here.
Let’s Make a Mobile!
The Emery Walker Trust conserves, maintains and displays Emery Walker’s House at 7 Hammersmith Terrace and its contents, and promotes the advancement of the study and appreciation of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Download the instructions to make your own Arts & Crafts mobile here.
Don’t forget to send a photo of your creations to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win a sticker book!
Music Makers
Gemma from the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley’s House will be showing us how to make a rattle drum. The inspiration for the activity is Charles Wesley, John’s brother, who along with John was one of the founders of the Methodist Church. Charles was a talented musician and writer, he wrote over 6000 hymns! So, join in and become Music Makers too! If you would rather read the instructions, you can download them here.
Don’t forget to send a photo of your creations to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win a sticker book!
How to make a monoprint
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin started out as a printer? Follow the steps outlined in the video below to create your own simple monoprint. If you would rather read the instructions, you can download them here. You might like to include images which link to Franklin’s life, like his famous kite and key experiment.
Don’t forget to send a photo of your prints to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org for your chance to win a sticker book!
Although once disregarded by historians as sentimental and ephemeral, today American sheet music is valued for the unique light it sheds upon the nation’s concerns and aspirations. In this talk, Eccles Centre for American Studies librarian Jean Petrovic will share items held at the British Library. She will consider how this music moved ‘from the sacred to the secular and from the timeless to the timely’ and will explore how songs associated with World War I and the movement for female suffrage captured, reflected – and possibly even shaped – the cultural and political zeitgeist.
Image: Marie Zimmerman, Votes for Women. Suffrage Rallying Song. Philadelphia: E.M. Zimmerman, 1915. British Library shelfmark: H.3992.r.(18)
Benjamin Franklin was born at a time when the abhorrent practice of slaveholding was common. He was initially accepting of owning slaves, and came to London with two black servants, Peter and King, who became free on arrival in Britain. His years on Craven Street led to a fundamental transformation. House Director, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, will explain how Franklin became the American founder who campaigned against slavery, spending his last days as the President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.
This event was free to attend but we would ask attendees to consider making a voluntary donation here to support Benjamin Franklin House continue to share Franklin’s story as we begin to reopen to the public.
Watch the full talk and Q&A here:
