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Benjamin Banneker

From the Series History Maker Biographies

  • Interest Level: Grade 3 - Grade 6
  • Reading Level: Grade 4

True or False? Benjamin Banneker used a telescope and mathematics to predict a solar eclipse. True! In 1789, Banneker calculated when the moon would pass between the earth and sun. And he did it without any formal math or science training. As a young boy, he worked on the farm owned by his father, who was a freed slave in Maryland. He helped to survey and plot out the site for the U.S. capital city, Washington, D.C. He also published several almanacs that helped farmers, merchants, and sailors predict the weather and know the dates of holidays and festivals.

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978-0-7613-3999-1
 $31.99
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Interest Level Grade 3 - Grade 6
Reading Level Grade 4
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Lerner Publications ™
Language English
Publication Date 2008-01-01
Reading Counts! Level 3.4
Reading Counts! Points 4.0
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007050, JNF007090
Dewey 520.92
Graphics 1-color illustrations, Full-color illustrations
Lexile 640
Guided Reading Level S
ATOS Reading Level 4.2
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 119823
Accelerated Reader® Points 1.0
Features Bibliography/further reading, Index, Photo captions, Sidebars, Table of contents, Teaching Guides, and Timeline

Author: Catherine A. Welch

Catherine A. Welch is an award-winning author with more than 20 books to her credit and is a writing instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature. Elementary teachers have found her two short historical fiction books especially useful in the classroom. A teaching strategy for her book, Clouds of Terror, an NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, appeared in Instructor (October 1995). A four-day lesson plan for Danger at the Breaker, her book praised by School Library Journal and Booklist, appears at teachers.net. While many of her works are biographies and history books, her writing credits include several science books. She has degrees in biology and biochemistry, and enjoys giving writing workshops to children and teachers.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

History Maker Biographies

Explore the lives of famous figures found in the core of every history curriculum. Each completely nonfiction book is illustrated with historical photographs and illustrations. Sidebars, a timeline, and entertaining cartoon illustrations further illuminate each subject’s personality. View available downloads →