February is Black History Month! It’s a fantastic time to explore and honor the rich history, culture, and achievements of black men and women. Whether you’re a teacher looking for classroom ideas or a parent wanting to engage your kids in meaningful activities, here are 21 fun and educational Black History Month activities that your children will absolutely love. Let’s dive in!
1. Story Time with Black Leaders
Kick off the month by reading books about important black men and women. Create a cozy reading corner in your classroom or at home and introduce both famous and lesser-known black leaders. Here are a few books to get you started:
2. Early Readers
Read all about important black leaders and their impact on the world. These differentiated readers make it easy to support the needs of your students and build confidence!
3. Black History Biographies (FREE)
Use these printable biographies to teach your students fun facts about black leaders! They can also use them to complete a research report or art project to show what they’ve learned!
4. Host a Poetry Slam
Introduce your kids to the works of Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and other black poets. Encourage them to write and perform their own poems for their classmates if they feel comfortable.
5. Black Music Appreciation
Explore jazz, blues, hip-hop, and other genres influenced by black musicians. Incorporate movement into your classroom by playing selections from these music genres and allowing your students to get up and dance!
6. ‘I Have a Dream’
Listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech and discuss its historical and current significance. Then, extend the learning with extension activities:
7. Learn About Black Inventors
Did you know George Washington Carver invented over 300 uses for peanuts? It’s true! Many black inventors have made a lasting impact on our world. A great book to read to introduce your young learners to these inventors is Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? by Patrice McLaurin. It highlights some of the overlooked contributions of black inventors and how they impact our daily lives.
8. Black History Month Art Projects
Introduce art created by black artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat or Faith Ringgold. Then, allow your students to create their own art inspired by those pieces. Let those little imaginations soar!
9. Reading Comprehension Activities
Your students can read about a black leader and their accomplishments. Then, check for comprehension with multiple-choice or short-answer questions!
10. Virtual Museum Tours
Take a virtual tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Your kids will absolutely love taking a field trip from their classroom or living room! It’s a great way to keep your students engaged and excited to learn more!
11. Interactive Timeline Project
Encourage your class to build a timeline of significant events in black history or important events throughout a black figure’s life. This can be in the form of a worksheet or a larger project to display on your classroom bulletin board!
12. Explore Black Scientists
Highlight black scientists and their contributions. Then, include a related science lesson or experiment! Let your students get hands-on and have fun!
13. Interview a Community Member
If possible, have students interview a local black community leader or family member about their experiences. They can present their findings to the class or write a report about what they learned!
14. Learn About African American Traditions
Explore traditions and celebrations, like Juneteenth or Kwanzaa, and their significance. Incorporate a project or craft to give your students a chance to show what they’ve learned.
15. African American Athletes in History
Discuss the impact of athletes like Jackie Robinson and Serena Williams and the barriers they broke. Then incorporate a fun, related movement activity!
16. Create a Black History Month Bulletin Board
Design a bulletin board for your classroom dedicated to Black History Month. Use educational posters, coloring pages, crafts, or writing projects to display facts about black history and what your students have learned.
17. Create Your Own Holiday
Ask students what day they would create to celebrate black history and how they would commemorate it. They can create a poster, drawing, or writing project to express their ideas!
18. Black History Worksheets & Flashcards
If you’re looking for some extra literacy practice for your students, try these Black History leaders differentiated worksheets and flashcards! Students can learn about important black leaders and write about what they’ve learned. They can also practice important ELA skills, like parts of speech, spelling, and vocabulary!
19. Map Out Historical Sites
Use maps to locate important sites in African American history and discuss their significance. This is a great opportunity to practice map skills, while discussing significant events in black history.
20. Write the Room Activities
Get out those wiggles with a movement activity that incorporates vocabulary and writing skills! You can get these ready-made printables to save you time and give your students an opportunity to move around and learn more about Black History Month! You can find more write the room activities here!
21. Thank You Letters to Historical Figures
Have students write thank-you letters to historical black figures, expressing how their actions have impacted them personally or changed the world.
BONUS: Black History Bookmarks (FREE)
If you’ve read all the way to this point, you are in for a treat! Encourage your students to read more with these free, printable, Martin Luther King Jr. bookmarks! They come in color or black & white, so that they can be printed and ready to go or colored by your students. Gift them or use them as a reading reward or student prize!
I hope you’ve found these Black History Month activities helpful and try out a few! Let me know which activities your students loved the most and be sure to tag me on Instagram!
Remember, the goal is to foster an appreciation and understanding of the contributions and struggles of African Americans, not just in February but all year round.
If you want engaging activities that will support your learners and give you your nights and weekends back, save big with this discounted bundle!
Have a great rest of your day!
Talk again soon,
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