8 classroom activities to celebrate Black History Month in school (2024)

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson sparked a movement by establishing Negro History Week, a dedicated time to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked history, lives, and contributions of Black Americans. Fast forward to 1976, and this week-long celebration expanded into the entire month of February, officially becoming Black History Month as we know it today.

Black History Month is like a colorful quilt woven with amazing achievements, challenges, and victories of African Americans. As educators, embracing Black History Month means opening doors to inclusivity, offering a powerful platform for learning, and incorporating the rich narratives of Black history into every student’s education.

In this blog, we will share Black History Month project ideas that you can incorporate into your classroom activities. These engaging activities will help you promote inclusivity and enrich the educational experience for your students. So let’s begin!

1. Assign a person of the day

You can take a transformative approach to Black History Month by dedicating time to spotlight Black influencers and their remarkable accomplishments. The “Person of the Day” strategy allows students to explore the lives of impactful Black figures across various categories.

Each day can unwind a new story, ranging from actors and artists to writers, athletes, activists, musicians, politicians, filmmakers, historical figures, and even unsung heroes. This method will help broaden their understanding by showcasing the diverse talents that have shaped history.

Encourage students to explore categories like scientists and mathematicians, highlighting the groundbreaking contributions of individuals often overlooked in traditional curricula. Emphasize the importance of looking beyond well-known historical figures and celebrities to introduce students to lesser-known but equally influential Black contributors.

2. Decorate the classroom with posters and infographics

Transforming your classroom into an engaging hub for Black History Month becomes even more exciting when you involve students in creating posters and infographics. Encourage students to dive into researching significant figures. As they gather information, guide them in selecting powerful quotes and images of these personalities and their contributions.

For instance, a poster featuring Martin Luther King Jr. could include a memorable quote from his “I Have a Dream” speech and images capturing moments from the Civil Rights Movement. This approach will help students create content that communicates the importance of Black history in an accessible and visually appealing way.
Use the user-friendly platform PosterMyWall to design visuals that showcase key facts, impactful quotes, and images related to Black history. There is a huge variety of black history month flyer templates that you can choose and edit, instead of starting from scratch.

3. Explore African American history

Assigning research projects on influential Black personalities offers students a hands-on opportunity to explore the impactful lives of historical figures. This activity can also help enhance students’ research and presentation skills.

You can start by discussing pivotal events, like the Civil Rights Movement, shedding light on key figures such as Rosa Parks, who sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader advocating for racial equality. These discussions aim to offer a comprehensive view, going beyond well-known narratives to highlight lesser-known stories that contribute to a more detailed understanding of history.

To make the learning experience more engaging, use multimedia resources, documentaries, or virtual guest speakers. Incorporate videos, audio clips, or interactive presentations that provide a visual and auditory dimension to the topics you’re covering. Select Black History month programs from Youtube or Netflix that align with your curriculum and showcase diverse perspectives on Black history.

4. Create timeline collages

Another cool Black History Month school activity is constructing a timeline collage to understand the significant events and key milestones of Black history. Provide students with a list of pivotal moments, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights Act, or the election of Barack Obama. Then, divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific period or theme.

Encourage students to research and select images or illustrations that represent their assigned events or figures. Once the research is done, have each group create a timeline collage on a large poster board. This collaborative effort allows students to share knowledge, discuss the importance of each event, and piece together a comprehensive timeline that captures the essence of Black history.

5. Organize literature circles

Literature circles are an effective way to immerse students in the powerful narratives of African American authors, promoting critical thinking and cultural understanding. For instance, consider introducing Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” This autobiographical masterpiece describes Angelou’s experiences as a young Black girl growing up in the racially-segregated South.

This Black History Month school project lets students gain insight into the challenges faced by African Americans during that era. They can engage in meaningful discussions, sharing perspectives and exploring the complexities of the Black experience. Encourage students to analyze characters’ motivations, societal challenges portrayed, and the broader impact of these works.

Here are a few impactful reads by African American authors that you can incorporate into literature circles for Black History Month:

• “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
• “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston
• “Kindred” by Octavia Butler

6. Host quizzes and games

Introducing interactive quizzes and games focused on Black history is an exciting way to infuse energy and enthusiasm into the learning environment. You can structure the questions to cover a range of topics, from influential figures to key events.
These quizzes are an effective method to reinforce students’ knowledge while keeping them actively engaged. For example, you can create questions that prompt students to match historical events with the correct dates, identify significant individuals based on their accomplishments, or even solve puzzles related to important milestones in Black history. This way, you can cater to different learning styles, ensuring a well-rounded and enjoyable learning experience.

7. Visit museums

Organizing a museum visit, whether in-person or virtual, is a great way to involve students in the rich history of African Americans. Take advantage of local museums or arrange a virtual tour to places like the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Virtual tours can bring the museum experience directly to the classroom, allowing students to explore artifacts, exhibits, and stories that vividly depict the struggles of the Black community.

During these visits, students can learn about influential personalities who have left a mark on history. For instance, exploring the exhibits may lead them to discover the powerful legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., the groundbreaking contributions of scientist George Washington Carver, or the artistic brilliance of painter and collagist Romare Bearden.

This immersive activity provides a unique opportunity to make historical events and figures more relatable. Students get to engage with the real stories behind the struggles for civil rights and the resilience of the Black community. The museum visit becomes a powerful educational tool, making history come alive before their eyes. Here are a few museums students can visit during Black History month:

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) – Washington, D.C.

A comprehensive exploration of African American history and culture, with exhibits covering topics from slavery and the Civil Rights Movement to the achievements and contributions of Black Americans in various fields.

The National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis, Tennessee

A profound journey through the American civil rights movement, including the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated.

The Legacy Museum – Montgomery, Alabama

An examination of the history of slavery, lynching, and racial segregation in America, emphasizing the impact of these injustices on the present-day criminal justice system.

8. Read and write poetry

Introduce your students to the powerful world of poetry by immersing them in the works of influential Black poets like Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Nikki Giovanni. Start by reading and discussing a selection of their poems, highlighting the unique themes and emotions woven into their words. Break down the verses, discussing the historical and emotional context behind each piece.

This Black History Month school activity can also encourage your students to start their own poetic journey. Provide them with prompts that invite personal reflection and expression, allowing them to draw inspiration from the themes explored by the poets. For example, students might write about their own roots, experiences, or aspirations. This creative exercise will also enhance language skills and be a therapeutic outlet for self-expression.

Celebrating Black History Month in the Classroom

Incorporating Black history in your classroom projects ensures that every student has the opportunity to connect with and celebrate the contributions made by African Americans. These engaging ideas shared above will help you make the learning experience more exciting for your students.

Consider incorporating PosterMyWall to simplify the design process and also empower students to express their creativity, ensuring that the projects highlighting Black history are both informative and visually engaging. The user-friendly features make it easier to create visually appealing posters, infographics, and other visual materials.