Benjamin Banneker

An article, including related resources, about Benjamin Banneker.
Grades:
8
9
10
11
Subjects:
Social Studies and History
African-American History
Space and Astronomy
Themes:
Biographies
Holidays:
Black History Month
Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Print
Benjamin Banneker 1731-1806
Mathematician, Astronomer, Surveyor
Birthplace: Ellicot's Mills, MD
Benjamin Banneker has been called the first African-American intellectual. Self-taught, after studying the inner workings of a friend's watch, he made one of wood that accurately kept time for more than 40 years. Banneker taught himself astronomy well enough to correctly predict a solar eclipse in 1789. From 1791 to 1802 he published the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris, which contained tide tables, future eclipses, and medicinal formulas. It is believed to be the first scientific book published by an African American. Also a surveyor and mathematician, Banneker was appointed by President George Washington to the District of Columbia Commission, which was responsible for the survey work that established the city's original boundaries. When the chairman of the committee, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, suddenly resigned and left, taking the plans with him, Banneker reproduced the plans from memory, saving valuable time. A staunch opponent of slavery, Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to counter Jefferson's belief in the intellectual inferiority of blacks.


Related Resources


Lesson Plan
Benjamin Banneker's Letter
Explores the letter Banneker wrote Jefferson concerning slavery.

Web Resources
Benjamin Banneker
Additional information on Banneker.
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/banneker-benjamin.html

Black History Month Return to the Encyclopedia
of Prominent African Americans.

Featured High School Resources

TEACHING RESOURCE

Writing Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

Close learning gaps this Fall with differentiated writing instruction This resource provides 5 strategies and 2 editabl...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Reading Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

TEACHING RESOURCE

Reading Differentiation Strategies and Activities for High School

Close learning gaps this Fall with differentiated reading instruction This resource provides 5 strategies and 3 editabl...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Math Differentiation and Remediation Strategies for High School

TEACHING RESOURCE

Math Differentiation and Remediation Strategies for High School

Close learning gaps with differentiated and remediated math instruction This resource provides 5 strategies for how to ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

Related Resources

REFERENCE

Ralph Johnson Bunche

1904-1971 Won Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 Birthplace: Detroit, MI Education: University o...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Frederick Douglass

1817(?)-1895 Abolitionist, Author, and Orator Birthplace: Tuckahoe, MD Frederick Douglass...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

African-American Scientists

Benjamin Banneker(1731-1806) Born into a family of free blacks in Maryland, Banneker learned the rudiments of reading...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Bernice Johnson Reagon

1942- Composer, Songleader, Historian, Curator Birthplace: Albany, GA Graduate of Spel...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Condoleezza Rice

Born: 14 November 1954Birthplace: Birmingham, AlabamaBest known as: U.S.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

REFERENCE

Marian Anderson

1897-1993 Singer Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA Education: Honorary doctorates from over ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Register
loading gif