- Prodigy Math
- Prodigy English
From our blog
- Is a Premium Membership Worth It?
- Promote a Growth Mindset
- Help Your Child Who's Struggling with Math
- Parent's Guide to Prodigy
- Math Curriculum Coverage
- English Curriculum Coverage
- Prodigy success stories
- Prodigy Teacher Dashboard Overview
- Help Students Learn at Home
- Remote Learning Engagement
- Teaching Strategies
- Parent Letter (English) PDF
- Game Portal
10 Inspiring Black History Month Activities for Students
- Teacher Resources
- Teaching Activities
7 Black History Month topic ideas
Guidelines for teaching during black history month, 10 black history month activities for your students.
February is Black History Month : the celebration of African American history, contributions, and achievements that’s recognized annually across the United States and Canada.
For teachers, it’s a great opportunity to teach with intention, honoring the tradition and showing students its importance, along with the importance of Black history and culture.
And this year, it's more important than ever to uphold this tradition and celebrate Black history — no matter where your students are learning.
Use these 10 activity ideas to teach Black history all month and keep your students engaged, whether they're in-class or online!
Typically, teachers tend to stick with the same few topics during Black History Month: civil rights, historical Black leaders or celebrities, and important milestones.
While these are still great topics to explore, there are also plenty of other important concepts you should consider introducing to your students this year, such as:
- Current Black political issues
- The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
- Stereotypes and microaggressions
- The history and impact of Black culture
- The history of hip hop
- African Americans and the Vote
- Black Health and Wellness (this year's Black History Month theme!)
For Black History Month 2022, this year's theme is Black Health and Wellness. People are encouraged to explore how North American healthcare has underserved the black community and recognize the contributions to medicine and healthcare by black people.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Firsties♥️Ms. Salamak (@fur_babies_and_firsties)
When teaching Black history, remember to:
- Follow the do’s and dont’s
- Always promote diversity in your classroom
- Remind students that Black history is American history
- Leverage Black voices as much as you can (use relevant media, invite guest speakers etc.)
P.S. If you want to help parents talk about Black history and racial issues with their kids at home, use these 8 tips for parents as a helpful resource to start with — including additional resources for anyone who wants to learn more.
Use these activities throughout the month (and the rest of the year) to keep Black history at the forefront of your lessons and encourage your students to keep learning more.
1. Quote or fact of the day
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
Maya Angelou
Every morning, greet your students with a new quote or fact that’s relevant to Black history.
Say them aloud during your lesson, add them to your bulletin board or send them in an online message (or all of the above, if you’re feeling ambitious). After this, you can open a discussion with your class about the relevance of each quote or fact.
Your students will love looking forward to what each day brings!
Try these:
- Black history facts
- 15 Inspiring quotes
- 5 Black history quote posters
- Black history quotes - mini posters
2. Person of the day or week
Take time to talk about Black influencers and their accomplishments. Highlight a different person every day or week and center your lessons around them!
Explore categories like:
- Politicians
- Historical figures
- Heroes and iconic leaders
- Scientists and mathematicians
Tip: Try to look beyond typical historical figures and popular celebrities. There are plenty of Black contributors students may not have even heard of yet — use this chance to introduce them!
3. Black history trivia & games
Bring some fun (and maybe a little competition) into your lessons this month! Find trivia and games that focus on Black history, or repurpose other classroom games to incorporate Black History Month questions and answers.
- Black history multiplication - true or false
- Black history quizzes (these online quizzes are perfect for remote learning!)
4. Worksheet activities
Teach students about Black history while they work on fun activities at their own pace. Send worksheets to students online or print them out for independent classroom learning.
- Black history coloring pages
- Barack Obama crossword and trivia
5. Virtual events
Classroom learning is great, but there’s so much students can learn from their own experiences!
This year especially, there are plenty of online activities and events celebrating Black History Month. So why not choose a youth-appropriate one your class can participate in?
- National Museum of African American History: Classroom Connections
- Black History Every Month: Virtual Events That Inspire Action, Education, and Connection
6. Timeline activity
Provide more context on important events in Black history with a bit of chronology.
Have students put together their own timelines, whether individually or in groups, that focus on specific historical events or people. They’ll have fun putting all the events together and learn lots along the way!
7. Study (and create) art
Art in the Black community carries so much historical and cultural significance that can inspire some great, illuminative lessons.
Assign one of these activities from Creative Child , or get students to:
- Write a story
- Make a video or podcast
- Create visual art or crafts
8. Use relevant media
There’s so much good media out there to help you teach Black history — use it to your advantage!
Read books or watch videos with your class, then discuss the themes and lessons of each piece of media. After this, you can assign work based on them.
Try these books:
- All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
9. Host thought activities
Strengthen collaboration skills with various thought activities during February. These will get students thinking and help them learn new ideas and perspectives from each other.
Start by posing a relevant question to your class, like:
- Why do we celebrate?
- What does Black History Month mean to you?
- How can we fight intolerance in our everyday lives?
Encourage plenty of participation, then discuss everyone’s answers together!
10. Assign a class project
Give your class a larger assignment they can work on for the entire month, like a collaborative media project or group presentation — like this one from The Core Coaches on Teachers Pay Teachers .
These bigger projects let students build on what they’re learning and work together towards something they can be proud of!
Additional resources
Get inspired by these extra resources to help you even more:
- Black History milestones
- Black History in the National Archives
- Teaching tools for Black History Month
- Black History in America teaching guide
- Black History Month resources and lessons
- 10 Picture book biographies to celebrate Black History Month
- 20 Important lessons to teach kids about Black History Month
P.S. Want to make your math classes more engaging? Research shows Prodigy make math more fun and can even contribute to better test performance! Discover more about Prodigy's adaptive math platform today!
Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers
We Are Teachers
34 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond
Honor our shared history with activities for the entire classroom.
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 2023, the theme is Black Resistance . As you review some of our favorite Black History Month activities for the classroom, keep that very important theme in mind.
(Just a heads up ! WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
1. Re-create civil rights freedom movement posters
SOURCE: Civil Rights Movement Veterans
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.
2. Explore Black history through primary sources from the National Archives
SOURCE: National Archives
Choose from thousands of resources , including this 1970s photo series of Chicago.
3. Learn about famous Black artists
Future Jacob Lawrences and Elizabeth Catletts will appreciate learning more about artists and expanding their talents! Plus, check out these other Black artists .
4. Watch a Black History Month video
Watching videos can be some of the most meaningful Black History Month classroom activities. Check out this list of Black history videos for students in every grade level.
5. Learn about the Black Lives Matter movement
SOURCE: Black Lives Matter
The Black Lives Matter site explains the group’s history while books like Dear Martin and The Hate U Give explore the movement from a fictional perspective.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Turn your classroom (or school!) into a living 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.
9. Learn about Madam C.J. Walker and other Black entrepreneurs
Do you know about Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made female millionaire in America? Click here to learn more about her!
10. Decorate your classroom door for Black History Month
These teachers decorated their classroom doors in amazing ways to showcase Black History Month.
11. Honor some of the military’s most courageous veterans
From the 54th Massachusetts to the Buffalo Soldiers to the Tuskegee Airmen , Black men and women have long served in the United States military , even when their own rights weren’t secure.
12. Read books with Black characters in honor of the young hero Marley Dias
SOURCE: GrassROOTS Community Foundation
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 WeAreTeacher’s list of books with Black protagonists as well.
13. 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 people helped shape history.
14. Learn about the art of stepping
SOURCE: Step Afrika!
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.
15. Take a virtual trip to the illustrious Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
SOURCE: Emmett Till Project
The digital collections of the Schomburg Center, located in Harlem in New York City, feature some amazing online exhibits, interviews, and podcasts.
16. Virtually visit the incredible Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
SOURCE: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
You can browse the collection online by topic, date, or place.
17. 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.
18. Discuss the Supreme Court trial that gave rights to Black Americans
Source: ThurgoodMarshall.com
Your future legal eagles will enjoy learning about the key Supreme Court cases that helped Blacks secure rights, the events and efforts that sparked the cases, and the aftermath of those court decisions. Be sure to recognize Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice and the lead lawyer in the Brown case, along the way. Also, follow up with students on how they feel these decisions impact our world today.
19. Listen to a podcast that celebrates Black history
Source: RadioPublic
RadioPublic has an excellent roundup of podcasts about Black history to listen to and discuss with your students.
20. Check out online exhibits on Black history
Source: Smithsonian
Educating yourself and your students with these shows is one more way to understand Black history and the current moment.
21. 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.
22. Discuss implicit bias, systemic racism, and social injustice
Source: Teaching Tolerance
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.
23. Read the Freedom in Congo Square picture book to celebrate the dominance of spirit over suffering
Source: Amazon
The award-winning picture boo, Freedom in Congo Square , is a nonfiction children’s book that describes the tyranny of slavery to help young readers understand how jubilant Sundays would be for slaves.
24. 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.
25. Recognize Black visionaries
Source: Education.com
This great poster featuring activists, artists, authors, and revolutionaries will highlight Black change-makers 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.
26. Create a Black History Month playlist
Many genres of music we listen to today were shaped by Black artists and their groundbreaking influences. Celebrate Black History Month with a playlist of pivotal artists, from Louis Armstrong and Jimi Hendrix to Beyoncé and Lauryn Hill. Spotify has ready-made lists to inspire you!
27. Review the time line of Black History Month
Source: History.com
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 time line .
28. Explore the music of Black history
Source: Edsitement.com
This lesson traces the long histor y of how Black artists have used music as a vehicle for communicating beliefs, aspirations, observations, joy, despair, resistance, and more across U.S. history.
29. 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.
30. 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 choice?
31. 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!
32. Stream Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices on Netflix
“ Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices is a live-action collection of twelve five-minute episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children’s books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience.”
33. Check out this planner from Rethinking Schools
If you are looking to find more ways to include Black history year-round, check out this planner.
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 .
Plus, check out these inspirational Black History Month bulletin boards for your classroom .
Want more articles like these subscribe to our newsletters .
There is no link for item #34, Explore the music of Black History. It says, “This lesson,” so I’m wondering if there was supposed to be a link. Thanks so much for sharing all of these ideas, and please let me know if there’s a link that can be shared for this lesson.
Log in to Reply
The lesson is there under the image, it’s just in small font!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
Suggested Results
- EdCommunities
- NEA Foundation
Black History Month Lessons & Resources
By: National Education Association Published: 12/16/2020 Last Updated: 01/26/2023
All people, regardless of race or place, deserve the same rights and freedoms. For too long, Black and brown people in America have been denied equality because of the color of their skin. To help students understand the reality of Black people's experiences in American history, their impact on American culture, and to celebrate their achievements, we've compiled a selection of lesson plans that cover a variety of subjects that can be adapted to fit multiple grade levels.
If you're commemorating Black History Month in your classroom consider preparing by reading Learning For Justice's Do's and Don'ts of Teaching Black History and Black History Month is Over. Now What? , and listening to our podcast on teaching Black history meaningfully (below) to ensure students get the most out of Black history lessons.
Lesson Plans
Lesson plans & activities, lesson plans.
Musical Harlem In this 3-5 lesson , students will learn about the Harlem Renaissance and create original jazz artwork. They will listen to audio samples, analyze elements of jazz, research musicians, and learn how jazz became a unifier between community and culture.
Jazz Music, Dance, and Poetry In this 3-5 lesson , students will explore jazz music and dance, then write a jazz-inspired cinquain poem. They will build their background on the history of jazz and its use of improvisation to demonstrate jazz dance movements.
Teaching Hard History Our youngest students deserve a truthful, age-appropriate account of our past. Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching for Tolerance) provides resources for elementary educators in this first-of-its-kind framework, along with student texts, teaching tools, and professional development for anyone committed to teaching this hard history. Grades K-5 .
National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs The Smithsonian's free, interactive platform provides ways to explore well-known and lesser-known moments of history by utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge, hone historical thinking skills and inspire users to see themselves as agents of change. (Free account registration required)
Notable African Americans from the 18th-century to the present In this Jeopardy-type quiz game students in grades 5-12 can choose from three levels of difficulty to test their knowledge of famous African Americans. Spelling counts, for example Billy Holiday rather than Billie Holiday would be marked incorrect.
Who is Claudette Colvin? Nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, Claudette Colvin refused to move for white passengers and was forcibly removed from a Montgomery, Alabama, bus and jailed. Learn more about her story.
Background Resources
Social studies.
African American History Month Exhibits & Collections Resources covering art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides.
W. E. B. Du Bois: Online Resources Includes digital materials related to W. E .B. Du Bois and links to external Web sites.
Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education History, images, and other resources covering the historic Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and ensuring opportunity in education.
Africans in America Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher’s and youth guides. The four-part series may be in local libraries.
Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People Biographies, timelines, photos, and videos on notable African Americans.
The Awakening of Norman Rockwell This article examines Norman Rockwell’s career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.
Poems to Celebrate Black History Month Poems and articles by African-Americans.
Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns Online activities and biographies, transcripts of many interviews with musicians, K-12 lesson plans, and a music study guide for grades 5-8 .
The History of Hip-Hop A collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement.
African American Visual Art and the Black Arts Movement The Black Arts Movement (BAM) began in the mid-1960s to provide a new vision of African Americans. This site provides images galleries a theoretical essay, timeline, and links to other online art sources. Note: the top banner links are dead but the bottom links are functional.
The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed African American and Global African history resources.
10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About A list from PBS Education of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians that includes links to media resources to help you bring their work—and stories—into your classroom.
8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier This blog post outlines some of the lesser-known but vital contributions of Black inventors.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: Resources for Teachers Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball there was Negro League Baseball. This site features history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources.
African American Athletes Brief biographies and film clips of outstanding African American athletes. Don’t miss the links to legal and political figures, scientists and educators, activists, artists and writers, entertainers, and musicians and singers.
- Civil Rights Heroes Quiz
- Quizzes and Crosswords
- Timeline (Separate Is Not Equal) A timeline of segregationist laws and court rulings.
- Word Search and Crossword
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (68 minutes) Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz.
Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children's Books A teacher's resource kit from the High Museum
A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley and Amy NathanYoung Sharon hears the story of how she, after a series of protests to integrate the park, is the first African American to ride on the carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in 1963.
Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste This picture book biography celebrates both Claudette Colvin, whose teen-aged activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and the power of collective action.
Author Tracey Baptiste shares how to make Black history accessible to young readers:
Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson Meet the “father of Black History,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and discover the experiences that shaped his passion.
Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann Born into slavery, Lilly Ann secretly learned to read and write from her master’s children—and then read everything she could get her hands on. Wishing to share her knowledge with others, she secretly taught hundreds of other enslaved people despite the great risks.
Find African American booklists from Read Across America.
Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series: Removing the Mask Students in grades 6-8 analyze and compare visual and poetic works by Jacob Lawrence, Helene Johnson, and Paul Laurence Dunbar and consider how they represent changing roles of African Americans.
The Poet’s Voice: Langston Hughes and You Students in grades 6-8 investigate “voice” in Hughes’s poetry, develop their own distinctive voices in journal entries, and write an original poem or critical essay on an aspect of Hughes’s poetic voice.
Teaching Hard History These resources for middle- and high-school educators include Learning for Justice's grades 6–12 framework, as well as student-facing videos and primary source texts to help all students grasp the historical significance of slavery. Educators will also find teaching tools and professional development resources.
PBS Black History Lesson Plans These lesson plans and resources cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms.
The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom The Underground Railroad was the network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860-1865).
Africans in America Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher’s and youth guides. The four part series may be in local libraries.
Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People Biographies, photos, and videos of notable African Americans.
The Awakening of Norman Rockwell This article examines Norman Rockwell’s career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.
- Civil Rights Heroes Quiz
Audio & Video
Blues Journey (23:17 minutes) This four part audio series explores the history of the blues.
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (68 minutes) Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz. Check local listings to see when it airs on a local PBS station.
Forgotten Genius (120 minutes) Chemist Percy Lavon Julian struggled against racism as he pursued research with steroids and alkaloids and helped to create affordable and effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and glaucoma.
Through the Window and into the Mirror: Narratives of African American STEM Professionals This video conversation series shares the experiences of African American STEM professionals today.
Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B. Little relate their Black family's challenges and triumphs from 1927 to 1968 while struggling as sharecroppers, living under Jim Crow, and fighting for Civil Rights in Mississippi.
When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods To figure out what happened to his missing father, thirteen-year-old Winter travels to Los Angeles from Mississippi to visit his cousin Eden and her family during the summer of the Watts Riots in 1965.
Grades 9-12
Rhythm & Improv: Jazz & Poetry Students in grades 9-12 analyze jazz music, considering sound, rhythm, and improvisation in order to identify jazz characteristics in poems by Yusef Komunyakaa, Sonia Sanchez, and Langston Hughes. They will then incorporate the elements in their own poetry.
Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten Through a series of video clips and activities, students can learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and how the community of Tulsa is coming to terms with its past, present, and future.
African American English In this unit, students in grades 9-12 examine several hypotheses about the development of African American English (AAE), consider how AAE has been treated in schools, and analyze the influential role of AAE in modern culture and society.
Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People Biographies, photos and videos of notable African Americans.
Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns Online activities and biographies, transcripts of many interviews with musicians, K-12 lesson plans, and a music study guide for grades 5-8 .
The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed African American History by region.
Blues Journey (23:17 minutes) This four part audio series explores the history of the blues.
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (220 minutes) Jack Johnson was the first African American boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The website includes the story of Johnson’s life and career, a timeline, and media gallery. The DVD may be available in local libraries.
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon An essential account of the Black Panthers as militant revolutionaries, social activists, and human rights advocates working to defend and protect their community.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds; adapted from Stamped from the Beginning by and with an introduction from Ibram X. Kendi Using humor and a conversational style, author Jason Reynolds deftly reworks Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, exposing young adult readers to the history of America's racist past that textbooks leave out.
Additional Resources
Learn about black leaders in the labor movement, black lives matter at school week of action, black history month booklist, teaching black history, meaningfully.
How you can make your Black history lessons more meaningful, unique, and powerful for your students? We asked Colorado social studies teacher Kevin Adams to join us for a discussion about breaking stale patterns when teaching Black history and shaping your lessons to fit your classroom and community. Listen to Kevin's advice and experiences in this 36 minute School Me Podcast.
Black History Month: Books and More for K-12 Students
The following resources from NEA’s partners at WETA highlight books and classroom resources highlighting Black history and culture.
Reading Rockets: Booklists for Elementary
Celebration and Remembrance: Children’s Books About Black Lives
This collection includes picture book biographies of a young boy who shipped himself to freedom during the Civil War, a trailblazing pilot, a brilliant writer — and a sensitive but honest retelling of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. You'll also meet Milo, who realizes on a subway ride to visit his mom that you can't know someone just by looking at them.
People Make the Difference: A Celebration of Black History Month
These are stories of turbulent times in the United States. Each book is told with a young audience in mind and presents a slice of history and highlights the impact of real individuals.
For additional books and resources, see:
- Selected Books for Black History Month
- Celebrating and Learning About Black History and Culture : Classroom Resources, Author Interviews, and More
- Afro-Latinx Stories: Latin America and the Caribbean (Colorín Colorado)
AdLit: Booklists for Middle and High School
Black Characters and Social/Cultural Themes
These books for middle grade and young adults feature stories across a range of genres from dynamic authors including Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, Ibi Zoboi, Renée Watson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Rita Garcia-Williams, Kekla Magoon, Kacen Callender, Jerry Craft, and Justina Ireland.
For additional ideas, see the following resources:
- Civil Rights
- Race and American History
AdLit: Author Interviews
- Angie Thomas
- Kekla Magoon
- Michelle Coles
Reference s
- 1 Learning and Living the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 2 Teach Truth: Know Your Rights FAQ
- 3 It's Banned Books Week: Celebrate the Freedom to Read!
- 1 NEA LGBTQ+ Resources
- 2 Racial Justice in Education Resources
- 3 White Supremacy Culture Resources
Leadership Institutes
- Education Support Professionals Leadership Institute
- Teacher Leadership Institute
- Early Leadership Institute
Women's History Month for the Classroom
- Get resources and teaching ideas
Stay Informed We'll come to you
Great public schools for every student.
- Sign Up Individual School
Black History Month Activities & Resources
February is Black History Month
Popular black history month activities.
February is Black History Month. Help your students learn about and celebrate the important Black contributions to the American and global story with our cross-curricular lesson plans, worksheets, projects, quizzes, and activities below.
Why Do We Teach Black History Month?
As with any number of topics, approaches to teaching Black history have evolved and changed over the years. While it's roots go back to the early 20th century, Black History Month as a national observance was created as a way to focus attention on the contributions of Black Americans that had been overlooked, marginalized, and outright ignored as part of conventional American history lessons. As President Ford said when announcing the month-long observance in 1976, “In celebrating Black History Month, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
For the most part, this led to a fairly "traditional" look at Black historical figures in the classroom - with a heavy emphasis on inspirational people and stories, but little context around the "hard history," as Black educator Rann Miller calls it, of the Black experience. "I was told of Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. I heard very little of Malcolm X, the FBI’s campaign against civil rights leaders...I was taught about the marches and firehoses in Alabama, but I had to teach myself about the acts of terrorism committed against Black people in Rosewood, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Wilmington, North Carolina," says Miller in a widely-read and influential essay .
Over the past several years, as high-profile events like the murder of George Floyd have forced a reckoning look at systemic racism and inequality in the United States, the teaching of Black history has become more contextual and less personality-driven. It's still important to highlight the considerable achievements of Black Americans for students - but many teachers are also using Black History Month to "explore the impact of racism in the Black experience," as Miller puts it.
What to Teach for Black History Month
These TeacherVision resources were commissioned or curated to give teachers a wide selection of approaches to integrating Black History Month into existing curriculum. You'll find lesson plans, student choice activities, printables, videos, and more for all of the major curriculum areas - Social Studies, Reading, Math, and Science.
Choice Boards and Projects
Black History Month Project - Black Pioneers in Medicine
Black History Month Choice Board for Middle School
Educational Videos & Activities
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos & Activities
- Slavery & The Civil War Videos & Activities
Technology Resources
- African Storytellers
- African-American Heroes
- Hour of Code: Code a Slideshow for Black History Month
Black History Worksheets for Grades K-5
- Black History Month Profile: Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron
- Black History Month Profile: Young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman
- Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
- Cultures Day Project Ideas
The Civil Rights Movement
- "I Have a Dream" Little Book
- Jackie Robinson Biography & Activities
Black History Worksheets for Grades 6-8
- Black History Month Profiles: Great African American Poets from Across the Generations
- The Underground Railroad Matching Activity
- The Life and Accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Fever 1793 Teacher's Guide
- I Have a Dream
- The Harlem Renaissance Activities
- Sarah Boone Coloring Page
Black History Worksheets for Grades 9-12
- Black Lives Matter E-Book: A Movement for Racial Justice
Billie Holiday's Song "Strange Fruit"
Defining Jazz Music
Visualizing Jazz Scenes of the Harlem Renaissance
Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations
- African-American Gospel Music
- Black History Word Search
Black History Month Lesson Plans for Grades K-5
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Leader
Triangular Trade in the Atlantic Ocean
- Write a Letter to Jesse Owens
- Activities for African Folk Tales
- Percussion Performance and Culture
- Influencing Others in Our World
Black History Month Lesson Plans for Grades 6-8
- The Underground Railroad
- The Struggle Against Segregation
- Jackie Robinson and Civil Rights
- Interactive Timeline
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Receives the Nobel Peace Prize
Black History Resources
- African Folk Tales: Background Information
A Raisin in the Sun
Maniac Magee Literature Guide
- Jackie Robinson Coloring Page
- Rosa Parks Coloring Page
- Civil Rights Movement Playlist
EDITOR'S COLLECTIONS
- Top 10 Children's Books for Black History Month
- Top 10 Martin Luther King Activities
- 20 Black History Month Activities
- Kwanzaa Activities (Grades K-8)
- Coloring Book of African-Americans Slideshow
- Civil Rights Quiz
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Quiz
- ABC Order -- Famous Black Americans
- Kwanzaa Facts Quiz
- Black History Month Quiz
- Kwanzaa Word Problems
- Coretta Scott King Award Winners
- Dwight D. Eisenhower's Little Rock Response
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life
- Assassinations and Attempts in U.S. Since 1865
- Amendments to the Constitution of the United States
- Amendments to the Constitution: Voting
- Harriet Tubman Biography
Music & Drama Activities
- A Jazz Talk Show
- Learning through The Duke
- Exhibit Scoring Guide
- Assessment of Learning Through "The Duke" Lesson
Language Arts Activities
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
- Historical Fiction Reading Warm-Up: Rosa Parks
- Harriet Tubman Writing Activity
- Juneteenth - African Americans Word search
Recommended Black History Month Resources
LESSON PLANS
African-American Scientists: A Comprehensive Social Media Account Project
BOOK GUIDES
The Hate U Give Teaching Guide
CHOICE BOARDS
Black History Month Writing Choice Board for Middle School
Grade 3 Holiday Math and Literacy Kit
Notable African-American Women Quiz
EDITOR'S COLLECTIONS
Martin Luther King, Jr. & Black History Month Activities Packet
Langston Hughes, an Everyday Poet
Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos & Activities
Kente Cloth
Dr. Mae Jemison Coloring Page
Ways to Celebrate Black History Month: Activities for High School
Investigating, sharing, and understanding stories and narratives that shape society is crucial to understanding the context in which we live, the politics we’ve both inherited and created, and the education system we’re working to change. Black history is an essential aspect of the “story” of America and the world. As Nikole Hannah-Jones from The New York Times most recently demonstrated with her groundbreaking 1619 Project , you can’t understand American history without understanding Black history – and where they converge and diverge.
While it may seem obvious, teaching Black history needs to be more than a month-a-year endeavor. And it needs to go deeper than the traditional cursory glance at Martin Luther King, Jr. or Rosa Parks. We should be challenging ourselves and our students to grapple with the full, complicated fabric of history. From Fannie Lou Hamer , to Ella Baker , to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), to Reconstruction to the Harlem Renaissance – a more holistic approach to Black history offers innumerable opportunities to engage in important discussions around race, gender, class, politics, and culture.
So, what can you do?
Black History Month activities for high school
Below we’ve compiled some classroom resources for educators who want to offer a more inclusive and complete discussion of the country’s history.
- The Largest Civil Rights Protest You’ve Never Heard Of (Rethinking Schools)
- Black Past
- Teach Reconstruction Campaign (The Zinn Education Project)
- 50 Resources for Black History Month (KQED)
- Celebrate Women This Black History Month (Teaching Tolerance)
- What Counts as History? (Teaching Tolerance)
- Want to read more and dig deeper into Black history? Take a look at XQ’s High School Reading List for Black History Month (And Every Month) .
We’d love to know what resources you’re using and what approaches you’re taking in teaching Black history at your school and with your students. Give us a shout on Twitter @XQAmerica and let us know!
PHOTO BY JAMES FORMAN FROM SNCC
Related articles.
High School Redesign
Beyond MLK Day and Black History Month: Making social justice a part of school all year round
This LA high school features Martin Luther King Jr. in curriculum for more than one day – or one month – a year. Learn how this school is using his teachings in a different way.
- DA VINCI RISE HIGH
- Teaching & Learning
Fresh ideas for Black History Month
Transforming spaces, exploring the teenage brain, and innovative grants. Here are five ideas to help transform your classroom.
High School & Society
Education & Equity on MLK Day
Today, more than six decades after Brown v Board, and more than fifty years after Dr. King's assassination, educational equality in America still falls short of his vision for the future.
- Data: Equity, Access & Opportunity
Black History Month is a time to recognize the importance of Black culture, contributions and history of perseverance in the United States. Here are some fun Black History Month activities for kids of all ages that go beyond a textbook.
Each year in February, Boys & Girls Clubs, classrooms, companies and households across the nation celebrate Black History Month. While celebrating the achievements of Black Americans and learning about our nation’s history shouldn’t be limited to one month, it’s a great opportunity for kids to deepen their knowledge, expand their perspective and advocate for a more equitable future. After all, learning, celebrating and building perspective is what Black History Month is all about.
How did Black History Month get started?
Gerald Ford was the first president to officially recognize Black History Month in 1976, but it had origins long before that. In the 1920s, African American historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson kicked off efforts to promote the achievements of Black Americans and others of African descent. Why do we celebrate Black History Month in February? Early celebrations included a national week dedicated to Black history, celebrated during the second week of February to bridge the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation into effect, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. This week of celebrations was expanded to a month as a result of the civil rights movement leading into the 1960s, with classrooms and college campuses honoring the contributions of Black Americans across U.S. history. For nearly 50 years now, it’s served as a federally recognized national celebration spanning the full month of February.
The Importance of Black History Month for Kids
Kids of all races and ethnicities, ages and backgrounds can discover something new and important in learning about Black history, from amazing achievements of Black Americans to a legacy of working toward something better. Here are some reasons why it’s important to learn about Black history:
- Black youth can learn about people who look like them ( representation matters ) and understand their ancestors’ accomplishments and obstacles, as well as how those translate to today.
- Since Black History Month was created to call attention to the amazing achievements of Black people, it’s a great time to expand young people’s understanding of the Black experience beyond slavery and civil rights. From inventions to industry, cuisine to pop culture (and even the many “firsts” from our history-making Boys & Girls Club alumni ), Black culture and contributions continue to have a lasting impact on our nation.
- For students learning about slavery and civil rights, this history can build their empathy and understanding as well as their sense of justice and advocacy.
At Boys & Girls Clubs, kids explore Black history through lessons, programs, field trips and open dialogues that cover everything from historical trauma to inspiring Black icons to modern-day systemic issues. Through leadership programs, community service and elevating their voices on critical issues, young people are inspired to build a world where everyone can thrive.
Meaningful Black History Month Activities for Kids
Here are some ideas for how to celebrate Black History Month that go beyond the textbook and get kids thinking about Black history.
Need some quick ideas to get your Black History Month celebrations started? Check out our lightning-round list of age-appropriate activities:
Black History Month Activities for Toddlers and Younger Children
- Incorporate great books on Black history into your reading time – for toddlers, they don’t need to be history-related, but look to add books to your shelf that showcase the everyday lived experiences of Black kids and families.
- Lots of museums, libraries and authors also offer readings of children’s books locally and on YouTube .
Black History Month Activities for Elementary Students and Middle Schoolers
- Make a “Who Am I?” bulletin board featuring photos of historic Black Americans that open or flip to information about each person – shoutout to Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin for this great idea!
- Get kids moving with this quick YouTube intro to beginner step. Step dance or stepping originates from African dance and can get active learners on their feet.
- Have students make colorful mosaics inspired by artist Alma Thomas .
Black History Month Activities for High School Students
- Have teens select a historic poem, song or speech by a Black icon and rewrite it for modern day.
- Watch a film that highlights the vital role of Black Americans in history – such as “Hidden Figures” – and have a discussion afterward.
- Black history evokes the fight for human rights and voting rights. Teach young people about the importance of casting their ballot and planning to register to vote when they turn 18.
- Research local community plans for celebrating Black History Month and see how your teen can help support efforts.
This February and year-round, join us as we honor the contributions of Black people in this nation and champion the opportunities, access and dreams for generations to come.
Join the Club
Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides safe places, caring mentors and life-enhancing programs to millions of kids and teens annually. Join us on our mission of helping all young people reach their full potential:
Please confirm you are human by typing the text you see in this image:
STAY INFORMED WITH NEWS & UPDATES
- Finding My Voice & So Much More: How the Club Helped Me Unlock My Potential
- Youth Right Now: The State of Kids in America
- Denzel Washington, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Spokesperson, to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
- The Strengths, Struggles and Storytelling of a People – Club Teens Learn to Navigate Black History
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Youth
- Our Mission
- Find a Club
- Vendor Opportunities
- Ways to Give
- Child Safety
- Club Impact
- Annual Report
- Shop Our Store
- Donor Privacy
- Privacy Policy
The Official Site of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
© Boys & Girls Clubs of America. All Rights Reserved.
BGCA is a 501(c)3 (nonprofit) organization and donations are tax deductible.
The URL GreatFutures.org is generously donated by Vision Link
We use cookies to enhance your experience. Learn More.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America uses cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Read about cookies in our privacy policy . By closing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device in accordance with our policy unless you have disabled them.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Assign one of these activities from Creative Child, or get students to: Write a story Make a video or podcast Create visual art or crafts 8. Use relevant media There’s so much good media out there to help you teach Black history — use it to your advantage!
34 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond Honor our shared history with activities for the entire classroom. Tamara Moore on February 1, 2022 We know that Black history is American history and needs to be embedded into your classroom experiences year-round.
Commemorate Black History Month in your classroom with lesson plans and resources that cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons...
PBS Black History Lesson Plans These lesson plans and resources cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms. National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
Black History Worksheets for Grades 9-12 These creative resources are designed to enhance students' understanding of Black history and culture through the influence of music. Activities include lessons with song lyrics, reading passages, and math in jazz. Black Lives Matter E-Book: A Movement for Racial Justice
Black History Month activities for high school Below we’ve compiled some classroom resources for educators who want to offer a more inclusive and complete discussion of the country’s history. The Largest Civil Rights Protest You’ve Never Heard Of (Rethinking Schools) Black Past Teach Reconstruction Campaign (The Zinn Education Project)
Black History Month Activities for High School Students Have teens select a historic poem, song or speech by a Black icon and rewrite it for modern day. Watch a film that highlights the vital role of Black Americans in history – such as “Hidden Figures” – and have a discussion afterward.