Shana Keller, Children's Author

Best STEM Books, Children's Book Council
El día de los niños / El día de los libros

Ticktock Banneker's Clock

Throughout his life, Benjamin Banneker was known and admired for his work in science, mathematics, and astronomy, just to name a few pursuits. But even when he was born in Maryland in 1731, he was already an extraordinary person for that time period. He was born free at a time in America when most African Americans were slaves. Though he only briefly attended school and was largely self-taught, at a young age Benjamin displayed a keen aptitude for mathematics and science. Inspired by a pocket watch he had seen, at the age of 22 he built a strike clock based on his own drawings and using a pocket-knife. This picture book biography focuses on one episode in a remarkable life.

AVAILABLE AT: Amazon | B&N | Indie Bound | Sleeping Bear Press | B-A-M

Classroom Connections

Hamilton Cast Read Alongs (Read by AShley Brooks Monroe/The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)

Elementary STEM Club Activity (Teachers pay Teachers)

Banneker's Famous Math Riddle (PDF)

To Scale or Not to Scale (Activity/PDF)

Elementary STEM Showcase Lesson Plan (Crosscutting NGSS Concepts/PDF)

Ticktock Book Activities (Teachers pay Teachers)

Ticktock Activity Guide & Coloring Page (PDF)

What Exactly is a Striking Clock? (Wikipedia/PDF)

NSTA Ticktock Disciplinary Core Integrations (3-5-ETS1 Engineering Design/PDF)

Make Your Own Almanac (PDF)

"This picture-book biography chronicles Banneker's three-year attempt to build his most famous invention, a clock that accurately struck a chime on every hour. From inspiration to design and troubleshooting, young readers are guided through the process of invention. The setting of the eighteenth century Chesapeake Bay region is colorfully depicted on each page, from Banneker's tiny cabin to his tobacco fields and local metal smith. Opportunities for further discussion about social equity, the importance of perseverance, and intellectual property abound, making this a quality biography for a wide range of interests and readiness levels."

—Booklist Reviews.

“This warm picture-book biography chronicles the steps young Benjamin Banneker, a free-born African American farmer, took to invent the striking clock in 1753. Inspired by a pocket watch, Banneker meticulously studied, drew diagrams, and carved the parts for his clock using a pocketknife. Gardner's watercolor illustrations gorgeously evoke the passing seasons on Banneker's farm. An inspiring accompaniment for STEM programming.” —Horn Book Guide Reviews

"This book offers a glimpse into the brilliant mind and hard work of an engineer. An author's note provides more information on his life. VERDICT: A concise introduction to Banneker and a welcome addition to any picture book biography collection." —School Library Journal.