We know that Black history is American history and needs to be embedded into your classroom experiences year-round. At the same time, Black History Month provides the necessary opportunity to dig deeper with students. Every February, we can support students as they learn more, discover cultural impacts, and follow social movements from the past to the present day. These Black History Month lessons and activities cannot be isolated or one-off classroom experiences. Think of how you can connect these topics to what you’re already doing and make it authentic. And most important, do not just focus on oppression: Focus on the joy too!
Since 1928, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History has provided a theme for Black History Month. In 2024, the theme is African Americans and the Arts.
1. Learn the basics about Black History Month
Watch an introductory video about Black History Month. Then ask students to write their questions about Black history and use those to curate your resources and lessons for the month.
2. Re-create civil rights freedom posters
The Civil Rights Movement Veterans site offers powerful examples of freedom movement posters, as does the Civil Rights Digital Library. Review them with your students, and then have them get into groups and create their own to share.
3. Explore Black history through primary sources from the National Archives
Primary sources are great discussion starters to talk about Black experiences. Choose from thousands of resources, including this 1970s photo series of Chicago.
4. Learn about famous Black artists
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Future Jacob Lawrences and Elizabeth Catletts will appreciate learning more about artists and expanding their own talents. Plus, check out these other Black artists.
5. Watch a Black History Month video
Get more specific information or do a deep dive into an area of Black history with a video about civil rights, slavery, accomplished Black Americans, and more.
Check out this list of Black history videos for students in every grade level.
6. Learn about Black Lives Matter
The Black Lives Matter site explains the group’s history while books like Dear Martin andThe Hate U Give explore the movement from a fictional perspective.
7. Learn about the inventor of the traffic light
Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light and patented the three-position traffic signal. Teach students about his achievements as an example of how Black Americans impact our everyday experiences. Watch a video about Morgan and talk about what inspired his invention and how being an African American impacted him as an inventor.
Buy it: Garrett Morgan Activity Pack at Amazon
8. Create a newsletter or magazine with content from Black authors
Have your students generate their own newsletter or literacy magazine to distribute to parents. Include poems and short stories by Black authors, as well as student-generated writings and images that center on Black History Month.
9. Read a Black History Month poem
To enhance our conversations this month, we’ve put together this list of powerful Black History Month poems for kids of all ages.
10. Listen to young poet Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman is another accomplished Black American and a great introduction to Black poetry. Watch the poem she read at Barack Obama’s inauguration, read her book Change Sings, and learn about her at Poets.org.
Buy it: Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem at Amazon
11. Turn your classroom (or school!) into a history museum
Have your students choose a notable Black pioneer they’d like to know more about, such as voting rights and women’s rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, dancer Alvin Ailey, or Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest full-time national parks ranger. Then, host a living museum right in your classroom.
12. Decorate your classroom door for Black History Month
Turn your classroom door into an educational experience. Check out how these teachers decorated their classroom doors in amazing ways to showcase Black History Month, and review this video with ideas.
13. Read books with Black characters in honor of Marley Dias
Dias is a young activist who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign as a sixth grader. She has compiled an excellent guide to books with Black girl characters. Check out WeAreTeachers’ list of books with Black protagonists as well.
14. Learn the story of the Henrietta Marie
The Henrietta Marie was a slave ship that sunk off the coast of Florida. Learn about the ship, its journey, and the underwater memorial that honors African slaves. Get more information about the Henrietta Marie at National Geographic.
15. Experience the I Have a Dream speech from multiple perspectives
Read A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein. Then, watch the I Have a Dream Speech online, and explore resources about the speech at National Geographic. Engage students in discussing why this speech is so important in American history and why it continues to resonate today.
Buy it: A Place to Land at Amazon
16. Meet Oprah
Oprah Winfrey is a name every student knows, learn more about this influential Black American in this interview:
17. Read Black History Month books
If you’re looking for more reading activities, these picture books help celebrate Black History Month and educate your students on how these influential Black people helped shape history.
18. Learn the art of stepping
Stepping is a form of dancing in which the body itself is used to create unique rhythms and sounds. The website Step Afrika!has videos and information about the history of stepping.
19. Take a virtual field trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The digital collections of the Schomburg Center, located in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, feature some amazing online exhibits, interviews, and podcasts.
20. Virtually visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
You can browse the collection online by topic, date, or place.
21. Host a poetry reading featuring works by Black poets
Have students choose a poem by a Black poet to learn and recite for the class. Choose a student to serve as the emcee, write up a program, and set the tone with dimmed lights and jazz music played between performances. The Poetry Foundation has excellent resources that can help get you started.
Here’s inspiration with Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise:
22. Check out online Black history exhibits
Educating yourself and your students with these shows is one more way to understand Black history and the current moment.
23. Dive into Georgia Stories: Black History Collection on PBS
As a state, Georgia played a huge role in the 2020 presidential election, and its Black history dates back to the earliest days of slavery in the colony.
24. Discuss implicit bias, systemic racism, and social justice
Start a much-needed discussion around implicit bias and systemic racism with these resources that can empower students to fight for justice in our society.
25. Read and discuss Freedom in Congo Square
The award-winning picture book Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie is a nonfiction children’s book that describes the tyranny of slavery to help young readers understand how jubilant Sundays were for slaves.
Buy it: Freedom in Congo Square at Amazon
26. Watch Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History
Kevin Hart highlights the fascinating contributions of Black history’s unsung heroes in this entertaining—and educational—comedy special.
27. Recognize Black visionaries
This great poster featuring activists, artists, authors, and revolutionaries will highlight Black changemakers in your classroom. Use companion activities to deepen understanding by researching several of the visionaries and asking students to write a story or create their own poster about what they’ve learned.
28. Review a timeline of Black history
Why is Black History Month in February? How long ago was it founded, and who started it? Find the answers to these questions and learn more with this timeline.
29. Explore the music of Black artists
This lesson traces the long history of how Black artists have used music as a vehicle for communicating beliefs, aspirations, observations, joy, despair, resistance, and more across U.S. history.
30. Sample Black-founded snack brands
Honor Black History Month with delicious snacks from Black-founded brands delivered to your classroom—5% of proceeds are donated to the Equal Justice Initiative and one meal is donated to Feeding America for every box delivered.
31. Understand the role of Black women in NASA’s history
How much do your students know about Black contributions to space exploration? Rent the film Hidden Figures and watch with your students to remember, honor, and share the incredible accomplishments of three Black women working on NASA’s space flight program. Before watching the movie, research the liberties the film took in telling the story and discuss with your students the function of the choices. Did the filmmakers make the right choices?
Watch it: Hidden Figures at Amazon
32. Support local Black-owned businesses
Research your city’s Black-owned businesses and see if you can purchase a sample of their products, invite some of the entrepreneurs to speak to your class, or book a field trip!
33. Stream Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices on Netflix
“Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices is a live-action collection of 12 five-minute episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children’s books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience.”
34. Celebrate the “Black Lives Matter at School” movement
“Black Lives Matter at School” is a national coalition organized for racial justice in education. It encourages all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join an annual week of action during the first week of February each year. For a variety of Black History Month activities, visit their website to learn more about their campaign.
35. Watch a historic moment
When Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, it was a monumental day for Black History. Watch his inauguration and discuss what this meant for American history.
36. Analyze Hair Love
You can approach the book Hair Love by Matthew Cherry in a few ways. Talk about the importance of representation in picture books and media, have students share their connections with the story, or analyze the book as a story about modern Black families.
Buy it: Hair Love at Amazon
37. Study the Underground Railroad
Examine the Underground Railroad using various sources, like the picture book biography Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome. National Geographic has a collection of resources about the Underground Railroad. And you can take a virtual tour of the Harriet Tubman museum.
Buy it: Before She Was Harriet at Amazon
38. Research Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the freedom of enslaved people. Learn about Juneteenth, how it came about, and what it means to Black Americans with these National Geographic resources.
39. Listen to musician Rhiannon Giddens
As she was trying to understand and make sense of violence against Black Americans in 2020, folk musician Rhiannon Giddens wrote and released the song “Build a House.” The song came out on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth. The song, which was made into a picture book, captures 400 years of Black history in a lyrical and thoughtful way. Use Giddens’ book either to introduce or wrap up a month on Black history.
Read an essay about the song, and watch the video.
Buy it: Build a House at Amazon
40. Study the pivotal court case Loving v. Virginia
Loving v. Virginia, decided in 1967, made marriage between people of different races legal. Learn about the Loving decision and why it’s important at National Geographic.
Plus, get inspiration from these Black History Month bulletin boards for your classroom.
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Black History Month is an important time to celebrate and learn about the contributions and experiences of African Americans throughout history. It is crucial to embed Black history into classroom experiences year-round, but Black History Month provides a dedicated opportunity to delve deeper into these topics with students. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has been providing themes for Black History Month since 1928, and in 2024, the theme is "African Americans and the Arts" [[1]].
Connecting Black History Month to Classroom Experiences
To make Black History Month lessons and activities more meaningful, it is important to connect them to what is already being taught in the classroom. By integrating Black history topics into existing lessons, educators can make the learning experience more authentic and relevant for students. It is also essential to focus not only on the oppression faced by African Americans but also on the joy and achievements within the community [[1]].
Black History Month Activities and Resources
The article provides a comprehensive list of activities and resources to engage students during Black History Month. Here are some key concepts and ideas covered in the article:
- Learning the basics about Black History Month: Watching an introductory video about Black History Month and encouraging students to write their questions about Black history to curate resources and lessons [[1]].
- Re-creating civil rights freedom posters: Exploring powerful examples of freedom movement posters and having students create their own in groups [[1]].
- Exploring Black history through primary sources: Using primary sources, such as a 1970s photo series of Chicago, to discuss Black experiences [[1]].
- Learning about famous Black artists: Discovering and learning about famous Black artists and their contributions [[1]].
- Watching Black History Month videos: Watching videos that provide specific information or delve deeper into areas of Black history, such as civil rights, slavery, and accomplished Black Americans [[1]].
- Learning about Black Lives Matter: Exploring the history of the Black Lives Matter movement through the organization's website and related books [[1]].
- Learning about the inventor of the traffic light: Teaching students about Garrett Morgan, the African American inventor of the traffic light, and discussing his achievements and the impact of being an African American inventor [[1]].
- Creating a newsletter or magazine with content from Black authors: Having students generate their own newsletter or literacy magazine featuring poems, short stories, and student-generated writings and images centered on Black History Month [[1]].
- Reading Black History Month poems: Exploring powerful Black History Month poems suitable for kids of all ages [[1]].
- Listening to young poet Amanda Gorman: Learning about Amanda Gorman, an accomplished Black American poet, by watching her poem at Barack Obama's inauguration, reading her book "Change Sings," and exploring more about her at Poets.org [[1]].
- Turning the classroom into a history museum: Having students choose notable Black pioneers and hosting a living museum in the classroom to learn more about their contributions [[1]].
- Decorating the classroom door for Black History Month: Transforming the classroom door into an educational experience that showcases Black History Month [[1]].
- Reading books with Black characters: Exploring books with Black protagonists, including those recommended by young activist Marley Dias [[1]].
- Learning the story of the Henrietta Marie: Discovering the history of the Henrietta Marie, a slave ship that sank off the coast of Florida, and exploring the underwater memorial honoring African slaves [[1]].
- Experiencing the "I Have a Dream" speech from multiple perspectives: Reading the book "A Place to Land" about Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous speech, watching the speech online, and discussing its significance in American history [[1]].
- Meeting Oprah: Learning more about influential Black American Oprah Winfrey through an interview [[1]].
- Reading Black History Month books: Exploring picture books that celebrate Black History Month and educate students about influential Black individuals who shaped history [[1]].
- Learning the art of stepping: Discovering the history of stepping, a form of dancing, and exploring resources from Step Afrika! [[1]].
- Taking a virtual field trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: Exploring the digital collections, exhibits, interviews, and podcasts available online from the Schomburg Center in Harlem, New York [[1]].
- Virtually visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture: Browsing the museum's collection online by topic, date, or place [[1]].
- Hosting a poetry reading featuring works by Black poets: Having students choose and recite poems by Black poets, creating a program, and setting the tone for a poetry reading event [[1]].
- Checking out online Black history exhibits: Educating oneself and students by exploring online exhibits that focus on Black history and the current moment [[1]].
- Diving into Georgia Stories: Black History Collection on PBS: Exploring the role of Georgia in Black history, including its contributions and the earliest days of slavery in the colony [[1]].
- Discussing implicit bias, systemic racism, and social justice: Engaging students in discussions about implicit bias, systemic racism, and social justice using available resources [[1]].
- Reading and discussing "Freedom in Congo Square": Exploring the picture book "Freedom in Congo Square" to understand the tyranny of slavery and the significance of Sundays for slaves [[1]].
- Watching Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History: Enjoying an entertaining and educational comedy special where Kevin Hart highlights the contributions of unsung Black heroes in history [[1]].
- Recognizing Black visionaries: Using a poster featuring activists, artists, authors, and revolutionaries to highlight Black changemakers and engaging students in related activities [[1]].
- Reviewing a timeline of Black history: Exploring a timeline that provides information about the origins of Black History Month, its founder, and other significant events in Black history [[1]].
- Exploring the music of Black artists: Tracing the history of how Black artists have used music to communicate beliefs, aspirations, observations, and more throughout U.S. history [[1]].
- Sampling Black-founded snack brands: Celebrating Black History Month by enjoying snacks from Black-founded brands, with a portion of the proceeds donated to charitable causes [[1]].
- Understanding the role of Black women in NASA's history: Learning about the contributions of Black women to space exploration by watching the film "Hidden Figures" and discussing the liberties taken in the movie [[1]].
- Supporting local Black-owned businesses: Researching and supporting Black-owned businesses in the local community through purchases, inviting entrepreneurs to speak to the class, or organizing field trips [[1]].
- Streaming "Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices" on Netflix: Watching a collection of live-action episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children's books by Black authors that highlight the Black experience [[1]].
- Celebrating the "Black Lives Matter at School" movement: Participating in the annual week of action organized by the "Black Lives Matter at School" movement, which focuses on racial justice in education [[1]].
- Watching a historic moment: Watching Barack Obama's inauguration and discussing its significance in Black history and American history [[1]].
- Analyzing "Hair Love": Discussing the importance of representation in picture books and media using the book "Hair Love" by Matthew Cherry as an example [[1]].
- Studying the Underground Railroad: Examining the Underground Railroad using various sources, such as the picture book biography "Before She Was Harriet" by Lesa Cline-Ransome, and exploring resources from National Geographic [[1]].
- Researching Juneteenth: Learning about Juneteenth, its origins, and its significance to Black Americans using resources from National Geographic [[1]].
- Listening to musician Rhiannon Giddens: Exploring the song "Build a House" by Rhiannon Giddens, which captures 400 years of Black history, and using her book to wrap up a month on Black history [[1]].
- Studying the pivotal court case Loving v. Virginia: Understanding the Loving decision, which made interracial marriage legal, and its importance in Black history [[1]].
These activities and resources provide a starting point for educators to engage students in meaningful discussions and learning experiences during Black History Month. By incorporating these ideas, educators can help students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the contributions and experiences of African Americans throughout history.
