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.
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BFH_logo_RGB_Black.jpg6001000Henry Wilkinsonhttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngHenry Wilkinson2020-07-31 17:55:122020-08-01 09:16:02Virtual Children's Summer Fete: Benjamin Franklin House
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)
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/iiif-service_music_mussuffrage_mussuffrage-100172_mussuffrage-100172.0001-full-pct_100-0-default.jpg57514558Megan Kinghttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngMegan King2020-07-13 11:46:512020-08-05 16:57:17Virtual Talk: American Sheet Music at the British Library
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:
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/446px-FranklinByPeale.jpg599446Megan Kinghttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngMegan King2020-07-04 19:07:212020-08-05 16:53:54Virtual Talk: Benjamin Franklin and Black Lives Matter
Join us for a special reopening celebration of Independence Day at Benjamin Franklin House and enjoy a tour of the world’s only remaining Franklin home!
As a founder of the United States, Franklin was the only statesman to have signed all four documents that created a new nation, including The Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and The Constitution. The first of these was signed on 4 July 1776.
We are limiting group sizes to 4 people from separate households. If your group has more than 4 people from your household, please contact us at info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org or +44 207 839 2006 to arrange your booking
All staff and visitors (excluding those exempt under current UK government guidance) will be required to wear a mask inside the House – on entry, visitors will find a station with hand sanitiser, masks, and gloves
Our staff will be regularly cleaning the public areas throughout the days we are open to the public to ensure a safe environment
We look forward to welcoming you again to Benjamin Franklin’s only surviving home in fulfilment of our mission to bring history and innovation to life!
Benjamin Franklin House Team
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Independence-Day-Party.jpg322400Megan Kinghttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngMegan King2020-07-01 16:38:202020-07-01 16:38:20American Independence Day Tours
We are excited to announce that following new UK government guidelines on museums and galleries, Benjamin Franklin House will be reopening to the public with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In celebration of American Independence Day, we will offer Architectural Tours from 2-4pm on 4 and 5 July. Please make a booking for this special celebration here.
Following, we will be open Friday-Sunday, 12-5 for Architectural Tours from Friday, 10 July. We hope to begin running our primary offering, the Historical Experience,before the close of summer.
Please make a booking for Architectural Tours here.
Changes to ensure the safety of visitors and staff
To ensure we keep everyone safe:
We are limiting group sizes to 4 people from separate households. If your group has more than 4 people from your household, please contact us at info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org or +44 207 839 2006 to arrange your booking
All staff and visitors (excluding those exempt under current UK government guidance) will be required to wear a mask inside the House – on entry, visitors will find a station with hand sanitiser, masks, and gloves
Our staff will be regularly cleaning the public areas throughout the days we are open to the public to ensure a safe environment
We look forward to welcoming you again to Benjamin Franklin’s only surviving home in fulfilment of our mission to bring history and innovation to life!
Join our series of weekly virtual classes to learn how Ben Franklin’s inventions and scientific discoveries illuminate the national curriculum! You can recreate all the featured science demonstrations at home using household materials.
In 1769, Venus could be seen passing across the Sun from Earth. Scientists in Philadelphia carefully tracked its journey and used this to measure the distance between the Sun and the Earth. Ben Franklin wrote about their findings and this helped American to enter the global scientific community. Learn more about the transit of Venus as well as the other planets before creating your own model solar system!
Materials: black paper, tin foil, acrylic/ poster paints, paintbrush, PVA glue
Links to the Science Curriculum:
KS2: Earth and Space (Y5)
KS3: Space Physics
Most Suitable for KS2 and KS3 (US Grades 2-8) but all ages welcome!
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Week-13.jpg6431024Henry Wilkinsonhttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngHenry Wilkinson2020-06-23 12:04:332020-07-14 17:15:54Live Science Class for Kids: Ben Franklin and the Solar System
Join our series of weekly virtual classes to learn how Ben Franklin’s inventions and scientific discoveries illuminate the national curriculum! You can recreate all the featured science demonstrations at home using household materials.
In 1783, a dramatic volcanic eruption took place in Iceland which lasted for several months. Ben Franklin wrote about how the eruption might have impacted the climate across Europe. Find out more about the eruption of Laki and how volcanoes work. You’ll also create your own model of an erupting volcano!
Materials: small plastic bottle, paper, scissors, tape small bowl, cup, 1tbsp bicarbonate of soda, 1 tbsp washing up liquid, 2 tbsp water, ½ cup vinegar, 1 tbsp red food colouring,
Links to the Science Curriculum:
KS2: Rocks (Y3)
KS3: Earth and Atmosphere
Most Suitable for KS2 and KS3 but all ages welcome!
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Week-12.jpg6771024Henry Wilkinsonhttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngHenry Wilkinson2020-06-23 11:52:152020-07-07 18:41:06Live Science Class for Kids: Ben Franklin and Volcanoes
“The days flow by. I feel myself dragged about by time as if by a torrent. A decrease in energy and health, though possibly only temporary, makes me nevertheless fear for an early death. I feel deeply that there is nothing more to be desired than what pertains to eternity, that I should not waste a moment of time, that I should hurry to fulfill at least part of my task.”
Harro Maas, professor in history and methodology of economics at the Centre Walras-Pareto for the history of economic and political thought at the University of Lausanne, will use these words from the diary of François-Marc-Louis Naville, a turn-of-the nineteenth-century Genevese pastor and pedagogical innovator, as a cue to examine his use of Benjamin Franklin’s tools of moral calculation and a lesser known tool, Marc-Antoine Jullien’s moral thermometer, to improve his moral character. He will situate Naville’s use of these tools within the Swiss pedagogical reform movement of Pestalozzi and others in the early nineteenth century and will examine in detail how Naville used and adapted Franklin and Jullien’s tools of moral accounting for his own moral and religious purposes. We will see that God’s most precious gift to man, Time, provided Naville the ultimate measure of his moral worth.
Watch the full talk and Q&A here:
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DSCN5691.jpg34564608Megan Kinghttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngMegan King2020-06-22 12:56:252020-07-16 14:21:54Virtual Talk - True Grid: François-Marc-Louis Naville and his moral tables
To join this 1 hour online class on Thursday 25 June at 4pm BST/11am EDT, please register here.
We are delighted to be collaborating with the New-York Historical Society on a special installment of their History @ Home series to uncover the many different faces of Benjamin Franklin.
By examining the New York Historical Society’s collection of artefacts portraying this Founding Father of the United States, students will learn to interpret symbols in works of art before creating symbolic portraits of their own.
Activity Materials: Bring your favourite drawing materials to complete an art activity at the end of the session!
Most Suitable for Years 4-7 (Grades 3-6) but all ages welcome!
The New-York Historical Society Education Division provides dynamic programming and curriculum resources for students and teachers in New York and beyond. Historical study sparks curiosity and creativity, promotes cultural understanding, and fosters an empowered citizenry to strengthen our democracy. Our staff of passionate professionals draws on our world-renowned collections to engage learners of all ages in the study of our collective past.
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Roslin-Portrait-e1592401202885.jpg236193Henry Wilkinsonhttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngHenry Wilkinson2020-06-17 14:26:152020-06-23 13:47:11Live History Class for Kids: Collaboration with the New York Historical Society
We are very excited to welcome a guest presenter from The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley’s House for this week’s instalment of our weekly virtual science classes. You can recreate the featured demonstration at home using household materials.
John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin lived in London at the same time and they were both interested in electricity, John even visited America! It’s John’s journey to America that’s inspired this session led by Gemma Smith, Learning & Community Engagement Officer at John Wesley’s House. John encountered a scary storm on his way there so we’ll be thinking about what materials float and why. You’ll be able to join in with the experiments as we go along, testing materials from around your house. We’ll also explore how the density of materials affects whether they float or not.
Activity Materials:
Experiment 1: a large bowl/container of water, different materials from around the home e.g. wood (pencil), plastic (old bottle), metal (coin), cork, fruit
Experiment 2: ice cube, water, oil, a glass
Experiment 3: syrup (the syrup should be pre-poured into an old jam jar or other see-through container), water, oil
Links to the Science Curriculum:
KS2 – Materials and their properties
KS3 – Density
Most Suitable for KS2 and KS3 (Grades 2-8) but all ages welcome!
https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Week-11.png445931Henry Wilkinsonhttps://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/bfh_web_logo_white_retina.pngHenry Wilkinson2020-06-17 13:23:292020-06-30 18:21:01Live Science Class for Kids: Guest Presenter from John Wesley's House
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