Black history month is every February, but you don’t need to wait for the designated month to add amazing people to your lessons and studies. There are so many great black history heroes to study!
Finding resources (for any theme lesson) can be overwhelming!
But, no worries!
If you’re looking for black history resources, we’ve put together a great list of activities and lesson plan ideas.
Check them out!
Black History Facts: Did you know that Black History Month “…was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be ‘NegroHistory Week'”?
9 Free & Unique Resources for Black History Lessons, Activities, and Info
1. African American History Museum
Ages: All
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is an interesting place to start.
On the site you can explore different African American cultural exhibits, as well as read about stories throughout history.
2. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
The J. Paul Getty Museum website has an amazing “Resources for the Classroom” section.
There are complete lesson plans including art, science, history, ESL, women in history and so much more that you may find helpful for black history.
The downloads are free, but there are links to resources you can purchase in the online store to enhance the learning.
3. Library of Congress
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
The Library of Congress has a great selection of teacher, classroom and student lessons, eBooks and information on a variety of topics related to historical happenings in the United States, including black history.
You can also sort the information by Common Core standards, state regulations, and by organizations.
4. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Ages: Mainly 5th Grade – High School
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History provides historical information by eras and by categories.
Examples of themes include:
• African American History
• Native American History
• Economics
• Film
• Government
• Women’s History
• Religion
& MORE!
Not all areas have lesson plans, but look in the sidebar menu for “Teacher’s Resources” (like in this example for Women of World War II).
The site is free, but you do need to register as an educator, student, or school.
You have access to the site while you are being approved.
(NOTE: When I registered as a homeschooler, I immediately received a login email. I’m not sure there is an approval process beyond registering.)
5. Federal Registry for Educational Excellence
Ages: Kindergaren – High School
The Federal Registry for Educational Excellence was a website from the federal government that listed 2,000 learning resources and new sites were added regularly.
The portal was retired in 2015, but it still has some pages available.
There is a great page for Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights, as well as activities.
6. National Park Service
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
Who would’ve thought you can find lesson plans from the National Park Service, right?
However, they have amazing lesson plans and information called “Teaching with Historic Places” that is centered around teaching about history, events, and people from the standpoint of the location.
For example, check out Discover Colonel Young’s Protest Ride for Equality and Country: A Lightning Lesson from Teaching with Historic Places, featuring the historic Colonel Charles Young House. It will fit perfectly with your black history studies.
Pretty cool!
7. ScienceNetLinks
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
ScienceNetLinks.com has a ton of resources for Science-based learning on anatomy, environment, math, chemistry, engineering, technology and so much more.
There are even lessons on science-based careers.
Don’t miss the entire section on black history that includes a ton of different resources and information!
8. National Gallery of Art
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
From the National Gallery of Art, each lesson plan focuses on one piece of art.
Lesson plans can cover shape, form, texture, color, and more.
They also have audio and video prompts and information.
Don’t miss the section on Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People. It “investigates black portrait photographers and artists who have profoundly reshaped the image of contemporary and historic African Americans, and continue to do so. ”
Great art additions for black history learning!
9. Smithsonian Heritage Resources
Ages: Kindergarten – High School
From the Smithsonian Institute, you have access to a wealth of information on heritage, culture, and background, including black history, women’s history, Asian Pacific heritage, Native American heritage, Hispanic heritage.
It’s another portal that I felt like I could get lost in (in a totally good way).
Once you access a heritage area, you are given lists of additional information from other Smithsonian sites.
Good stuff!
ADDITIONAL BLACK HISTORY and RELATED RESOURCES: READ THESE NEXT!
34 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES
FAMOUS WOMEN IN HISTORY BOOKS FOR KIDS
11 WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES
HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Please refer to our DISCLOSURE STATEMENT.
[…] of our favorite books that we read each year during this time (for MLK Day or Black History Month) is Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, […]