Introducing “trickier” sensitive topics to your childcare setting can often be a bit of a challenge. This could be due to:
- Concerns regarding the use of the correct terminology
- Facing resistance from parents
- A lack of appropriate activity ideas
- Or just generally not having the education to communicate this to the younger generation.
Topics related to diversity and inclusion quite often fall into this bracket. Some educators have expressed difficulty in appropriately incorporating them into their classroom or early years setting. However, it is important, now more than ever, to shine a spotlight on these important topics. Thus ensuring that we educate the next generation appropriately to provide a better future for us all.
Black History Month
Black History Month in the UK is celebrated in October and has been for the past 30 years. During this month (and continuing throughout the rest of the year) attention is raised towards notable figures. These may be individuals who have otherwise been overlooked within history lessons.
In this blog, we suggest 5 activity ideas for you to introduce into your setting. These are designed to celebrate some of the achievements of notable black community figures both historic and more recent. Our activities have been carefully selected to not only take the stress out of these trickier subjects but also provide you with activities of educational value. This will give you and your children a number of discussion points surrounding diversity and Black History Month to improve their understanding of the world.
5 Black History Month Activities to try…
Traffic Light Game
This activity is in honour of Garrett Morgan. An inventor responsible for the addition of the third amber colour in our traffic lights.
Teacher’s notes:
The three-light traffic light system was first invented by Garrett Morgan back in 1923! It all began after Garrett Morgan witnessed a car accident and suggested the amber “wait” light as a simple solution. This suggestion has come to be the standard traffic light system we use almost 100 years later!
To celebrate this invention why not play the traffic light game? The idea is simple and can be used for a fun group activity. Ask the children to line up at one end of a room or one end of the playground and stand at the other end. Using a coloured card to signal stop (red) or go (green), challenge children to try and get across the room as quickly as they can without getting caught moving through the red light.
Why not then repeat the game with an additional amber-coloured card to signal children to wait and see what a difference this makes!
The telephone game
The telephone game is a great way to not only develop children’s listening and speaking skills but it provides an opportunity for children to learn about and celebrate Lewis Latimer’s contribution to the invention of the telephone!
Teacher’s notes:
The telephone was famously invented by Alexander Graham Bell. But did you know that working alongside him was American inventor Lewis Latimer? As well as his work on the telephone in 1876 he also worked on lightbulb filaments, competing against Thomas Edison!
To play the telephone game, ask your children to sit in a circle. Start by telling one child a sentence or a story and ask them to pass it on by whispering into the next person’s ear. Continue this until the story or sentence gets to the last child in the circle and see what nonsensical phrase this has likely become along the way!
Water gun boat race
Why not explore the force of different water streams in this fun water play activity to celebrate the invention of Lonnie Johnson
Teacher’s notes:
Aerospace NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson found himself experimenting with a new type of fridge system when he discovered a way to propel a powerful stream of water across a room. This accidental discovery resulted in the commonly known water gun that is used worldwide!
The idea is simple – get your boat from one side of the tuff tray to the other by firing water streams using a water gun or pipette. You will need a tuff tray or tub filled with water, some small boats (we made our own using sponges) and a water gun or pipette.
Children will be able to explore the impact of the different strengths of water streams on the movement of the boats in this fun race!
Ice cream scoop race
This activity is not only a fun way for children to develop their fine motor skills and coordination, but it is also a great way to spark a discussion about Alfred Cralle and his ice cream scoop invention!
Teacher’s notes:
Whilst working in a hotel, Alfred Cralle, an American businessman and inventor became aware of servers struggling to scoop ice cream onto the cone as it was sticking to the spoons and required multiple utensils to get the ice cream onto the cone. From this he was inspired to create the famous mechanical ice cream scoop! This 1897 idea is yet another invention that we still use now.
You will need:
- Two bowls
- A selection of pom poms
- A spoon
- A scoop
Start by filling one bowl with pom poms and place the second bowl further away. Next, ask children to transfer the pom poms from the first bowl to the second using the spoon and time them. Then ask them to repeat the process using a scoop and see what the time difference is. Which way did they find more difficult?
Explore Space
It’s time to blast off into space just like Mae Jemison – the first female black astronaut!
Teacher’s notes:
Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician and former NASA astronaut. She became the first black women to be admitted into the NASA astronaut training programme. Eventually she became the first black women to travel into space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992!
To celebrate this huge day in history why not try one (or several) of these activities:
- Create your own spaceship using cardboard boxes and a bit of imagination
- Create your very own solar system and rockets from various materials like paper and polystyrene balls
- Use a rocket launcher to see how far your little one can make their rocket fly into the air
The activities suggested in this blog are to celebrate a few of many notable achievements not typically taught in school. For further reading or information about Black History then please visit the Black Curriculum or the Black Nursery Manager on social media. Here you will find a wealth of useful resources and information to share with your little ones.
Our favourite resources
Below are just a handful of some of our favourite resources that can be used to effectively educate children about diversity and Black History month!
