17th January Benjamin Franklin Day Kid Inventors' Day

17th January is celebrated worldwide as Benjamin Franklin Day. He was born on this day in 1706 in Boston, the fifteenth child to a family with a modest soap and candle business. Franklin was a polymath, someone who had expertise in a variety of subjects, and an active inventor, author, printer, passionate about music and politics. He stopped attending school at the age of ten. 

Look for these biographies to learn more about his inventions and politics.

It is also Kid Inventors' Day because Benjamin Franklin first began inventing things as a child. Last year I wrote about this and gave a list of books to look for in the library. The Aussie Child Network also has lots of tangents to explore.

17th January K.I.D. Kid Inventor's Day

Kid Inventor's Day is celebrated annually on 17th January, the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who invented the first swim flippers, almost 300 years ago at age 12! 

Did you know that the snowmobile, flippers, popsicles, and braille were all invented by children?

These picture book biographies are about child inventors:

The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle  by Anne Renaud

Ben Franklin's Big Splash  by Barb Rosenstock

Six Dots  by Jen Bryant

The Boy Who Invented TV  by Kathleen Kroll

Marvellous Mattie  by Emily Arnold McCully

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kwamkwamba

Lily the Inventor  by Claire Thompson

Here are three reasons for sharing picture books about inventors with classes.

• Creativity and Imagination: Inventors often think outside the box and imagine new possibilities. Sharing these books nurtures creativity and imagination in children, encouraging them to explore unconventional ideas and embrace their imagination.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Inventors face challenges and solve problems; picture books about inventors can teach children valuable problem-solving skills. They showcase the process of identifying problems, thinking critically, and coming up with inventive solutions.
• Persistence and Resilience: Inventions often involve trial and error, setbacks, and perseverance. Picture books about inventors teach kids the value of persistence, resilience, and the importance of not giving up in the face of challenges.

There are many picture books, not about specific inventions that also encourage students to 'have a go at' making things. 

• Rosie Revere Engineer  by Andrea Beaty

• If I Build a Car  by Chris Van Dusen

• Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall

• Violet the Pilot  by Steve Green

• Doll-E 1.0  by Shanda McCloskey

• The Magnificent Thing  by Ashley Spires

• Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention by Pip Jones 

• Dotty Inventions  by Roger McGough

• Made by Maxine  by Ruth Spiro

• Melia and Jo  by Billy Aronson

• Ara the Star Engineer  by Komal Singh

• Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket  by Sue Fliess

• Bonnie's Rocket  by Emeline Lee

and a series of short chapter books about Izzy the Inventor by Zanna Davidson

4th March World Engineering Day

World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development was proclaimed by UNESCO at its 40th General Conference in 2019. It is has been celebrated worldwide on 4th March of each year since 2020 as a UNESCO international day of celebration of engineers and engineering.

I have a six year old boy who visits the library quite often to see if i have bought anymore books about engineering. He announced very early on that he was going to be an engineer! neither of his parents are engineers, but he is sure that's what he wants to do. Initially it was easy to provide him with books. I gave him these:

 

But where do I go now?

After searching through the catalogue and reading blurbs I will try:

I noticed how many of the books I was choosing had girls as main characters and thought how appropriate for this week as we will be celebrating International Women's Day. I have already done a display of biographies where I included books such as these:

Emily Roebling

Margaret E. Knight

Frances Gabe

 Zaha Hadid

(There are other biographies about Zaha as well)

Beatrice Shilling

Raye Montague

If you miss today, you can always celebrate International Women in Engineering Day on 23rd June.