Although February is Black History Month, it is important to note that we shouldn’t contain the teaching of Black history in just one month. These resources and Black History Month printable activities can help you integrate this rich history into your lessons all throughout the school year. Learn about six famous figures in Black history with our free unit study found at the end of this post.
Why do we celebrate Black History Month?
The purpose of Black History Month is to celebrate the achievements and contributions African-Americans have made to the country. Until 1926, black history was left entirely out of school/history books.
In this year, historian and journalist Carter G. Woodson started a week of recognizing black history. This week eventually expanded to a month. However, that month-long celebration wasn’t decided on until 1976.
Studying African-American history is also teaching America’s history. Because of the significant history of African–Americans in the United States, studying the evolution of their freedom and contribution to our country as we know it is critical.
Integrating black history throughout your other lessons is important to the achievements as anyone else in our history. American history and black history can never be separated one from the other.
Last year, I saw a movie with my 13-year-old daughter. It changed us. The biography changed her and opened her eyes to a part of history that I failed to tell her about.
I was pretty ashamed that I never talked to my daughter about the crucial black history that made such an impact on the American people.
Hidden Figures
The movie was called Hidden Figures. It is a biographical drama based on a non-fiction book written by Margot Lee Shetterly. This intriguing movie is set in the 1950s and 1960s, and it follows the lives of 3 African-American women.
The women were hired on to NASA as ‘human computers’ based in the Langley Research Center. The women were: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. They participated in the initial days of a program made to send American astronauts to outer space.
Even though these three women produced quality and reputable work, they still faced discrimination. Their treatment was despicable. As the tears flowed down my daughter’s face, I knew she would have questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.
The movie prompted my daughter and me to dive into the history of African-Americans in the country. To learn of the horrific ideology of racism in our country and others.
Compassion isn’t something that people innately have. Yet, studying this history has developed an understanding in my daughter. It has formed an empathy for what people went through.
I am unsure why I waited this long to talk to my daughter about this. Don’t let a movie be the only reason why your child comes to know the history of African-Americans. It is a need-to-know and a necessary part of our country that we all should acknowledge. Without, our children won’t understand the gravity of what it means to fight for what is right.
The year 2020 marked a significant year for Black History Month. 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment (women’s right to vote) and the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment (black males were granted the right to vote).
Resources to Celebrate Black History:
Take this month of February to start your studies on Black History and weave the history throughout your school year.
Allow your children the opportunity to examine black literature, art, innovations, and customs. These have all significantly shaped our American and even world culture. Most texts date black history only back to the slave trade. However, African history goes way beyond this.
Informational and Educational Resources for Black History Month
Learn more about the history of Black History month and famous African-Americans with Black History Month printable activities. There are lots of ideas and resources on how to teach the facts. Keep your kids engaged with the large variety of activities and ideas.
Black History Month: Teaching Beyond Slavery – These Black History Month printable activities will help you teach the hard history, not only about slavery, but about the civil rights movement, culture and more.
Black History Facts – Learn some fun facts about famous African Americans and their contributions to U.S. History.
53 Black History Month Writing Ideas – Get your students to journal about what black history month really means with these free writing prompts.
37 Powerful Black History Month Activities for Kids – This is a great list of resources for all ages and grade levels to learn about black history in a hands-on way.
Unique Ways to Celebrate Black History Month – Lots of resources and hands-on Black History Month printable activities.
Black History Month Coloring Pages
Martin Luther King, Jr. Worksheets & Coloring Pages – This is a huge list of worksheets, Black History Month printable activities, and coloring pages about Martin Luther King Jr.
Black History Month Coloring Pages – We love adding coloring pages to our history notebooks. There are lots of nice coloring pages for many famous African Americans.
Printable Black History Month Coloring Pages – You’ll find all sorts of coloring pages that celebrate Black History Month. Print off coloring pages for famous black people from history.
Famous Black People Coloring Pages – Tons of Black History Month coloring pages on famous people: Benjamin Banneker, Harriet Tubman, Biddy Mason, Martin Luther King Jr., Ruby Bridges, Thurgood Marshall, Booker T. Washington, and more.
Budget Friendly Black History Month Resources:
These resources are not free, however they are very good resources. Includes lots of information, lessons, Black History Month printable activities, and more. All at an affordable price.
Black History Month {Foldable Facts}– Foldable books are a lot of fun for kids and they will enjoying creating this fact book. There is just something about learning with hands-on activities that helps them retain the information.
Ruby Bridges NO PREP Printables – These no prep printables will help your kids with reading comprehension, vocabulary and deep thinking skills as they learn about
Black History Women Venn Diagrams – Printable worksheets and venn diagrams that will have your students compare and contrast their lives with 15 famous women of history.
Mae Among the Stars Build a Rocket STEM Activity– Learn about Mae Jemison and rockets with this printable open and go read aloud STEM activity. Perfect for Black History month and learning about space.
Black History Month Activities – 80 page educational activity pack that will teach your students about 12 African American Heroes.
Celebrating Black History Month Lesson Plans – These lesson plans have book lists, writing and activity center ideas and come with a free download.
Free Printables for Black History Month:
Discover some fun Black History Month printable activities from our list below. There are black history worksheets, printable cards, printable packs on civil rights, writing activities and more.
Free Black History Month Worksheet + A Reading List – Learn about iconic figures with these printables and book lists just in time for Black History month.
Civil Rights Printable Pack – Adorable coloring pages, and printable activities to learn about civil rights issues.
Black History Abolitionists – Printable black history month cards on the Abolitionists.
Free Black History Month Trading Cards – Learn about MLK and Rosa Parks with these printable cards and reading comprehension activities.
Children’s Civil Rights Walk Class Activity – This free pdf activity goes along with the Let Freedom Sing book and gives suggestions on how to do a civil rights walk for the lesson.
Writing Activities for Black History Month – These writing activities are fun because they use printable graphic organizers to teach your kids how to organize their thoughts.
Famous African Americans:
Learn about contributions of African-Americans that have helped to shape and contribute to make America a better place with these Black History Month printable activities.
Sojourner Truth Biography Report Organizers – Lots of free printables for your students to put together their own report on the biography of Sojourner Truth.
Ruby Bridges Activities and Printables for Black History Month – Learn all about Ruby Bridges with these free Black History Month printables.
Harriett Tubman Biography Activities – Learn about this famous African American who saved many lives with this free PowerPoint presentation and printable activities.
Harriet Tubman Unit Study and Free Printable – This printable pack and unit study will have your kids learning about a famous slave who saved others through the underground railroad.
Famous Black Americans Game – Learn about famous black Americans with this fun printable game.
Ruby Bridges Character Traits Free Activity – Talk about 3 character traits that Ruby Bridges has and fill them in on the graphic organizer as you are talking about her life.
Young Frederick Douglass – Free reading comprehension passage with questions to learn more about Frederick Douglass.
African American Firsts Cheat Sheets – Help your kids learn about 125 moments in History by finding out who the first African American missionary was, and who the first African American was to practice medicine, sing at Carnegie Hall and more. This is a fun printable pack of facts.
Tips to Incorporate Black History into Your Studies:
- Make books with African-American authors or illustrators a part of your child’s permanent book collection.
- Ensure your children read a book that has a diverse community represented.
- Start with February during Black History Month. Make sure many different races/ethnicities are included in your reading and history lessons.
- Have your children watch historical movies like Hidden Treasures that shed some light on how the era might have been.
- Do not be shy to discuss racism with your children.
- Make every effort to emphasize that although there are different ethnicities, there is only ONE race, and that is the human race.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The world means everyone in it.
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We should learn to take this approach when educating our kids from home.
Free Black History Unit Study
Instant Download from WriteBonnieRose: Learn about six famous figures in Black history with this FREE unit. Students can learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.; Coretta Scott King; Constance Baker Motley; Charles Drew; Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.; and Benjamin Banneker through short reading units, print and cursive copywork of key facts from the reading, and coloring pages.
