At Radio Flyer, we're celebrating Black History Month with 11 fun and educational activities and crafts compiled by our Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee. From printable activities to crafts to a family quote jar to movie nights, these activities offer an opportunity for families to learn more about Black history together.
- Read Aloud Time
Celebrate Black History Month with family read aloud time. Carve out some time when the entire family is free – maybe in the morning before school or in the evening before bed-time – and take turns reading pages from the chosen picture books. If you need some ideas, we’ve compiled a list of 8 must-read children’s books that celebrate and educate on Black history. You can rotate these Black history kids books into your reading lineup this month and year-round.
- Black History Month Printable Activities
Click to download our free printable Black History Month worksheets. Fun for all ages, discover coloring pages, crosswords, and word searches to that spark creativity and learning.
- Family Quote Jar
Assemble a family quote jar that celebrates historical Black figures. Cut strips of paper and write down inspirational, powerful, or moving quotes from famous figures. Each day, you and your family can choose a quote from the jar and talk about what it means together. Feel free to decorate the jar however you like and replenish it for year-round use! Here are a few quotes you can use to get your jar started:
- “Never be limited by other people’s imaginations.” -Dr. Mae Jemison
- “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- “If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” -Maya Angelou
- “No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful.” – Michelle Obama
- Movie Night
Films are a wonderful way to introduce difficult topics to your little ones. Tiny Beans compiled a list of 10 movies perfect that create a learning opportunity for preschoolers to big kids about Black history. From the Oscar nominated Hidden Figures to the elementary-school favorite March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World, these selections educate viewers & provoke important conversation. Some additional favorites from our team include Pride and The Great Debaters.
- Pen Pal Writing & Research Activity
This is a perfect activity for little writers to complete with a friend, cousin, or grandparent! Kids should use books or parent-approved websites to do some research on a historical Black figure of their choice. Then, they should write a short biography of their chosen hero in a letter to their pen pal. Kids can mail it out or use their wagon to drop it off if their pen pal lives close by. Both pen pels will learn about 2 significant individuals in Black history – the one they researched and the one their friend researched! You can also modify this activity for younger kids and have them draw pictures instead of write.
- Dove of Peace Craft
Internationally, doves are recognized as a symbol of hope and peace. Spend the afternoon learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with your little ones while completing this dove of peace craft from Activity Village. Dr. King’s message was always one of peace – don these adorable doves around the house as a reminder of that February and year round.
- I Have a Dream Printable Activity
Another activity to teach little ones about Martin Luther King Jr. is this I Have a Dream printable from Thirty Handmade Days. Alluding to the famous speech Dr. King gave during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, this worksheet opens dialogue about the Civil Rights Movement and allows kids the opportunity to imagine & express their own dreams. Make sure to date the completed printable so you and your little one can look back and reflect on it together later.
- Mae Jemison’s Space Shuttle Craft
Celebrate Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space, with this adorable space shuttle craft from Woo! Jr. This craft is fun and easy to make and only requires a few materials – colored construction paper, glue, scissors, and crayons. Your little ones can hang their shuttles on the fridge or in their room as a reminder to always reach for the stars but like Mae Jemison. Learn more about Mae Jemison.
- Jackie Robinson Craft
Toddlers can learn about sports hero Jackie Robinson with this cute Jackie Robinson craft from What We Can Do With Paper and Glue. The baseball legend and Hall of Famer broke the color barrier when he became the first Black man to play in the MLB in the modern era. His number, 42, is retired across all major league teams. All you need is paper, glue, scissors, and markers to create this mini Jackie portrait. Learn more about Jackie Robinson.
- Red Light, Green Light!
What does this beloved children’s game have to do with Black history? Garrett Morgan, a skilled entrepreneur and one of our country’s most successful Black inventors, invented the three-position traffic light. Prior to Morgan’s innovation, most traffic signals only featured two positions, stop and go, with no interval in between. His three-position light delivered significant safety improvements to the roads. Before you play this classic game, take the opportunity to teach your kids about the prolific inventor who helped developed the first three-position traffic light that we commonly recognize today. Learn more about Garrett Morgan.
- What is Diversity Egg Activity
This egg activity from Kids Activities introduces the idea of diversity to toddlers in a simple & easy to understand way. All you need are two eggs, one white and one brown, and a plate to crack them on. Discuss their observations about the eggs and what they think is inside of each. Then, simply crack the eggs to demonstrate that they are the same on the inside. You can explore & discuss further based on your child’s age and the questions they ask.
We hope these activities resonated with your family to help celebrate Black history. Outside the home, be sure to check out your city calendar for events to support and celebrate with your local community. How are you and your family celebrating Black History Month? Let us know by tagging us at @RadioFlyerInc or using #RadioFlyer on social media.
