Inside: Discover ways to celebrate Black History Month in your school by diving deep into the stories behind iconic figures. Activities and resources inside.
Celebrate Black History Month by Connecting Students to Heritage and Humanity
February is Black History Month. But it isn’t just a time to honor the achievements, culture, and heritage of Black individuals- but an opportunity to help our students connect with the humanity behind the history.
It’s about helping our kids understand the struggles, celebrate the triumphs, and feel the heartbeat of the stories that shaped these remarkable individuals.
Don’t let February pass with just another lesson about Black History. Use it as a chance to weave empathy, respect, and inspiration into your students’ lives. Present students with the context and nuance that makes history come alive.
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Changing the Narrative of Black History in Classrooms: From Figures to Stories
I’m willing to bet your students know a thing or two about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
And Rosa Parks.
And Frederick Douglass.
And Harriet Tubman.
Don’t get me wrong- these influential individuals are an important part of American history and should be celebrated and learned about. But what about other, lesser-known Black individuals who made important contributions to our society?
Explore ways to celebrate Black History Month that allow your students to learn about a wide variety of influential Black individuals. Provide students with a chance to choose one or more people from the past or present to learn about. When students can learn about a topic they’ve selected for themselves they become more invested, engaged, and better able to absorb information.
If your students have never completed a research project before, you’ll want to structure the activity and offer support and guidance every step of the way. Be sure to check out my blog post, How to Teach Informative Writing and Launch Your First Research Project, which takes you through the process.
Encourage your students to move beyond dates and accomplishments to explore the personal stories of these historical figures. Understanding their lives, emotions, fears, dreams, and experiences helps to humanize them, allowing students to connect on a deeper level.
Use everything at your disposal – biographies, documentaries, guest speakers, and even virtual field trips. Help your students see these historical figures as people they could know and admire. Challenge them to see how these stories resonate with their own lives.
By connecting with these stories on a personal level, students don’t just learn about history; they feel it. This connection can transform a lesson from a simple memorization exercise into an inspiring and memorable experience that lasts far beyond the classroom.
Engaging and Informative Learning with a Black History Research Project
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the idea of starting a research project on influential Black individuals with your students, you’ll want to check out my Research Report Pennants for Black History Month. This resource is designed to guide your students as they research and write about up to 123 different remarkable people, and it’s so easy to use!
Want to take a peek at the pennant pages? Grab this awesome freebie, which includes sample report pennants from all five of my Heritage and History Research Report Pennant resources.
And if you want to be all set for Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, and Black History Month- then you should definitely check out my huge Influential People Informative Writing Research Project Pennant Bundle!
The idea is simple but powerful: Have your students pick a figure, dive into research, and create a report pennant. Add some class presentations into the mix, and you’ve got a comprehensive, engaging learning experience. When finished, you can display the pennants to create an incredible display on your bulletin board, classroom door, or around your classroom.
These Black History Report pennants are more than just a fun activity; they promote essential research and writing skills while making history come alive in your classroom. It’s one of my favorite ways to Celebrate Black History Month with my students.
Beyond February: Ways to Celebrate Black History Throughout the Year
Teaching about influential Black individuals shouldn’t be confined to February. While Black History Month is a dedicated time for this focus, there’s so much history, culture, and achievement that deserves to be learned, explored, and celebrated. Incorporating Black History into your curriculum throughout the year can deepen your students’ understanding and appreciation.
Here’s how you can integrate Black History into your everyday teaching:
- Read Aloud with Picture Books: Find picture books that feature Black characters and/or are written by Black authors. Use these books as read-alouds to introduce various aspects of Black history, culture, and everyday life.
- Music and Dance Integration: Explore different styles of music and dance within Black culture. Allow students to listen, move, and express themselves through these art forms.
- Community Connections: Invite Black community leaders, artists, musicians, or authors to your class (virtually or in person) to share their experiences and talents with students.
- Simple Biographies: Create simple, child-friendly biographies of influential Black individuals. Include images and easy-to-understand facts that can be shared as part of daily or weekly readings.
- Cultural Celebration Days: Host cultural celebration days where students can learn about different aspects of Black history and culture through interactive stations, crafts, and games.
- Collaborative Classroom Quilt: Create a collaborative classroom “quilt” where each student decorates a square inspired by something they have learned about Black history and culture. Assemble the squares into a large quilt display.
Remember, Black History is American History, and weaving it throughout your teaching helps create a more inclusive and rich educational experience! Your students will benefit from a broader understanding of the many voices and stories that have shaped our nation.
Use Research Report Pennants to Enhance Black History Month Celebrations
The free report pennant templates are part of a broader TPT bundle that celebrates various heritages.
It’s versatile, inclusive, and perfect for celebrating different history and heritage months.
Consider using this bundle for group projects, classroom discussions, or thematic months. The possibilities are endless, fostering an inclusive classroom environment that celebrates diversity.
Check out the free sample right now!
Heritage and History All Year Long
Learning about various heritages throughout the year can create a more inclusive classroom environment and can spark creativity, engagement, and understanding. My Influential People Informative Writing Research Project Pennant Bundle is the perfect toolkit for helping teachers like you cultivate a deep respect for diversity.
With this bundle, you get:
- Comprehensive Coverage: The bundle includes 5 different pennant resources, encompassing numerous influential people across various heritages and history months, offering a wide-ranging perspective on history.
- Adaptability Across Grade Levels: The product is suitable for grade levels ranging from 1st grade and up, allowing for flexibility and adaptation in different classroom settings.
- Research, Write, Create: The templates guide students through researching, writing, and creating a visual representation of influential people, supporting literacy, critical thinking, and creativity.
- Ready-to-Use: Everything needed is provided in the bundle, including step-by-step directions, project trackers, differentiated research pages, two versions of pennant report pages, and a full-color digital version for Google Slides, making it easy to implement in the classroom.
- Aligned with Educational Standards: The resource aligns with standards for informative writing, making it relevant and supportive of standard educational goals.
- Culturally Diverse Selection: The bundle is inclusive of various heritages and significant figures, fostering a greater understanding and respect for diverse cultures and histories.
- Bulletin Board Ready: These pennants can be used to create an engaging bulletin board, encouraging a visual display of learning throughout the school year.
Click here to learn more about this awesome resource and take the first step in turning your classroom into a celebration of humanity’s rich heritage.
Ways to Celebrate Black History Month: Empathy and Understanding Matter
History comes alive when we make it personal, diverse, and engaging. When we explore the lives, emotions, and experiences of influential Black individuals we aren’t just teaching facts- we’re nurturing empathy and understanding.
This is no small undertaking and my Influential People Informative Writing Research Project Pennant Bundle is here to help you. Whether you want new ways to celebrate Black History Month more deeply or celebrate various heritages throughout the year, this resource is designed to make your journey easy and inspiring. Don’t miss the chance to transform your classroom into a vibrant space of learning and inclusion! Download the freebie to grab a sample, or grab the entire bundle today to unlock the full potential of this dynamic teaching resource. Your students’ view of history will never be the same again!
For more great ideas on ways to celebrate Black History Month, check out my blog post, 7 Black History Month Classroom Activities You Need to Try with Your Students.
