It’s always beautiful to see school hallways lined with Black History Month decor each February. Yet, schools make a huge mistake when they stop with the decor. This post shares creative Black History Month activities that go beyond door posters and bulletin boards.
Teachers and parents can also grab some free Black History resources at the end of the post.
*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the full disclosure here.
Why Is It Important to Have Meaningful Black History Month Activities?
“I can’t breathe...Please! I can’t breathe.”
In 2020, most of the world watched in horror as George Floyd–a black man killed by a white police officer–repeated these words at least 16 times.
Although this racist incident opened the eyes of so many who denied that racism still exists, Floyd’s death exposed the truth…America still has a lot of healing to do when it comes to race.
Which is why it is so important to have more than just a few Black History Month posters hanging on the walls during February.
Students across grade levels and age groups need Black History Month activities that do the following:
- present historical facts accurately
- affirm the lives and contributions of Black Americans
- teach children to be antiracist
- extend beyond the month of February
Plus, you and your students should have fun learning about Black History! After all, it is a month of celebration.
So the Black History Month ideas this post shares will not only do all the following above, but they can be used in-class or online.
Host a Black History Month Kahoot Trivia Night
The first activity to keep students engaged in learning about Black History is with the popular, free site Kahoot.
They have tons of already made trivia games and lessons that allow students and adults to celebrate Black History.
Although teachers can use Kahoot during the day for in-class or distance learning, you could also offer this activity as a virtual game night for students’ families to get involved!
Build Black History Lessons Around Books That Teach True History
My second favorite way to extend Black History Month activities beyond just bulletin board crafts is by incorporating realistic fiction books that teach history accurately.
For example, Freedom on the Menu by Carole Boston Weatherford uses a fictional Black girl named Connie as the main character to tell the story of the four college freshmen known as “The Greensboro Four” whose actions sparked what’s now known as The Greensboro Sit-Ins.
Although Connie is fictitious, The Greensboro Four aren’t.
These teenagers showed courage when they sat for four hours at a segregated lunch counter respectfully requesting to be served.
These boys also proved that you can be an activist for justice at a young age, which is a message I definitely want my students to understand.
I help form this understanding with graphic organizers, games, extended video clips and more based on The Greensboro Sit-Ins–all from Freedom on the Menu.
This is just one of many examples!
So consider introducing your students to the achievements of amazing Black Americans using Black History Month read-alouds and novels.
Create a Month-Long Black History Unit Using the Book 28 Days
Since we’re on the topic of using books with your Black History Month activities, I highly recommend the book 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed The World by Charles R. Smith Jr.
Here’s how I teach Black History every single school day in February using this book:
- We start with a survey tool like Google Forms or Plickers that I use as my K-W-L warm up. This helps me to see how much my students already know about Black History. Then I introduce the book and ask students who they think will be shown in it.
- After this, I assign a Google Slides Black History Month booklet. When I was in the physical classroom, I passed out printable pages of the same booklet. This is where students will record the facts that I read from Smith’s book each day.
- Every day during February, as our morning warm-up, I read a new Black History Month fact from the book. Smith’s book is written in a way that makes this super easy.
- At the end of February, we put all of our pages together with other Black History Month activities we’ve completed during our literacy centers, and students get to take home their own Black History Month book.
With the Google Slides version I’m now using, students get a full completed Black History Moth slideshow to share with their families.
Teach Your Students About Black Leaders Other Than Martin Luther King Jr.
Along with the Black History Month ideas above, it is also important for teachers and schools to highlight a variety of achievers in addition to the following:
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Rosa Parks
- Ruby Bridges
Unfortunately, so many teachers stick with only these three figures.
Not only is this a disservice to yourself, but when you only teach these three Black achievers, you reinforce broken mindsets such as:
- “Black people can’t or have never invented anything useful for society.”
- “The only time we talk about Black people in school is when they die or have bad things happen to them.”
- “Being a social justice advocate isn’t relevant today, so we only need to focus on things that happened long ago.”
These are some of the reasons why it’s important to have a collection of several different Black History biographies.
Consistently Support Black-Owned Businesses and Experts
The final idea I have for extending your Black History Month activities beyond the bulletin board is to consistently support Black-owned businesses and experts.
What in the world does this have to do with celebrating the achievements of Black Americans?
Everything!
The reason why Black History Month was started is because–for many decades–everything related to Black people was rejected throughout American society.
Carter G. Woodson, the Founding Father of Black History, wanted everyone to know that Black people had incredible contributions to society that needed to be recognized and embraced.
As a teacher, you can build a diverse collection of books written by Black authors or use curriculum designed by Black teachers from sites like Teachers Pay Teachers or Etsy.
Get your students involved by having them research Black achievers in different careers, business fields, or philanthropic ventures.
If the only focus of Black History Month in the classroom leans towards crafts and bulletin board activities, Woodson’s mission is lost in our everyday lives today.
Everything You Need for Black History Month
Want even more ideas on how to teach and celebrate Black History in your classroom?
This resource page is your new one-stop destination for everything you need related to Black History Month.
Not only do I answer valid questions and concerns teachers have, but I also share more inspiration on things like:
- bulletin board ideas
- door decorations
- read-aloud recommendations
- how to introduce Black History Month to elementary students
- AND MORE!!
Related Post: 15 Ways Teachers Encourage Racism in the Classroom
FREE Black History Month Resources
As promised, I have a FREE Black History Month printable activity for you.
Once you enter your email below, you get a copy of my 28 Days: Moments in Black History companion booklet.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have been trained on a wide range of topics, including history, literature, education, and social issues. I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide accurate and informative responses on various subjects. In the context of this article, I can discuss the importance of meaningful Black History Month activities, provide information on concepts such as teaching Black history accurately, incorporating books into lessons, creating Black history units, highlighting diverse Black achievers, and supporting Black-owned businesses and experts.
Meaningful Black History Month Activities
The article emphasizes the importance of going beyond mere decorations during Black History Month and engaging in activities that present historical facts accurately, affirm the lives and contributions of Black Americans, teach children to be antiracist, and extend beyond the month of February. By doing so, schools can create a more meaningful and comprehensive learning experience for students.
Teaching Black History Accurately
One suggestion made in the article is to incorporate books into Black History Month lessons that teach history accurately. By using realistic fiction books, such as "Freedom on the Menu" by Carole Boston Weatherford, teachers can introduce students to the achievements of Black Americans in an engaging and relatable way. This particular book tells the story of the Greensboro Sit-Ins, an important event in the Civil Rights Movement, through the eyes of a fictional character named Connie. By combining the use of books with graphic organizers, games, and extended video clips, teachers can help students develop a deeper understanding of historical events and the contributions of Black Americans.
Creating Black History Units
The article suggests using the book "28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed The World" by Charles R. Smith Jr. to create a month-long Black History unit. Teachers can start by assessing students' prior knowledge using a survey tool, then introduce the book and ask students to predict who will be featured in it. Students can then create a Black History Month booklet, either by using Google Slides or printable pages, to record the facts they learn from the book each day. By incorporating daily readings from the book and completing other Black History Month activities, students can develop a comprehensive understanding of Black history and create their own Black History Month book.
Highlighting Diverse Black Achievers
While it is important to teach about well-known figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridges, the article emphasizes the need to highlight a variety of achievers in Black history. By focusing only on a few individuals, teachers may inadvertently reinforce stereotypes or limit students' understanding of the diverse contributions made by Black Americans. By incorporating a collection of Black History biographies that represent a wide range of fields and achievements, teachers can provide a more comprehensive and accurate portrayal of Black history.
Supporting Black-Owned Businesses and Experts
The article suggests that extending Black History Month activities beyond the classroom bulletin board involves consistently supporting Black-owned businesses and experts. This practice aligns with the original intention of Black History Month, which was to recognize and embrace the incredible contributions of Black people to society. Teachers can incorporate books written by Black authors into their curriculum, use resources designed by Black teachers from platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers or Etsy, and encourage students to research Black achievers in various industries and fields. By doing so, teachers can help students understand the ongoing relevance and impact of Black history in our everyday lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article highlights the importance of meaningful Black History Month activities that go beyond decorations and engage students in a comprehensive and accurate exploration of Black history. By incorporating books, creating Black history units, highlighting diverse Black achievers, and supporting Black-owned businesses and experts, teachers can provide students with a rich and nuanced understanding of the contributions made by Black Americans throughout history.
