Black History Month

February is a great month to be a teacher.  I love teaching my students about the importance of Black History Month and all of the amazing people we celebrate.  Above all, teaching our students about the civil rights movement and the that time period is essential.  We reflect on the struggles, accomplishments, and defeats.  And we celebrate a big win for civil rights.
Black History Month activities are a great way to bring learning and history into the classroom.

Black History Month was first recognized in 1976 to celebrate the contributions and significance of African-Americans in U.S history.  My students love these black history month activities and we have a great discussion on civil rights.  February is a short month, therefore it’s important to pack in as much content as possible, while still keeping your students engaged.  That’s why I made it easy for you.  I created a resource that has a ton of information and engaging materials.  I have broken down each part of the resource below to give you a better idea of what you’re getting.

Black History Month Readings

I like to start the month of February with some readings about figures that my students may be familiar with.  One reading that is great to begin Black History Month is about Barack Obama.  Most students are familiar with our former president and love getting to know him.  We talk about his childhood, his education, and his career as a young lawyer and politician.  There are 6 readings about different famous African-American figures.  The readings include; Ruby Bridges, Frederick Douglas, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and of course, Barack Obama.  Each reading also includes a graphic organizer to help students organize information about each individual.

Then and Now

This is one of my student’s favorite activities.  The worksheet shows a picture from the time period of the civil rights movement.  Students examine the photo and have a discussion about how it is different from something they would see in the present time.  It is so great to hear student’s ideas and opinions.  They are shocked about what they see and really start to understand how this made people feel during segregation.

Timeline with Activity

Learning about the events that led up to the Civil Rights Movement are important to understand the state of the America during this time.  Students really get an understanding for what was taking place during this time.  The worksheet included in this Black History Month Activities packet helps students examine these events.

Black History Month Research Project and Biography

One of my favorite projects we do in the upper grades is the Black History Month Research Project and Biography.  Students choose an individual to study and examine.  They research their chosen individual and complete the pieces of the lapbook to create a fun and complete research project.

Your students will love these activities and I’m sure you will too!  They are engaging, educational, and creative.  Don’t forget to check out this Hispanic Heritage Month resource!  Read about it here.