55 Black History Month Activities for Kids (And Inspirational Learning All Year!)

Black history month activities for kids with Black history facts, Black history figures and heroes, Black History Month science activities, cross-curricular lesson plans and resources, printables and more to honor the history and culture of African Americans. Also good for racial justice / anti racism lesson resources and diversity studies teaching tools throughout the year and for Black history lessons for kindergarten through high school!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES, LESSONS AND RESOURCES FOR LEARNING

Whether you’re looking for Black History Month activities for preschool, ways to celebrate Black History Month, Black History Month classroom activities, or you’re doing history lesson plans, we have something for everyone — Black History Month activities for early years and beyond with these Black History Month lessons and resources! 

What activities can you do for Black History Month?

Inspirational and fun black history month activities ideas:

• Download Black History Month printable activities
• Pick a favorite Black history figure, do a research project and present the findings
• Study lesser known African American heroes and their contribution to American history and world history
• Play Black history games activities to make history lessons fun
• Take a virtual field trip to African American museums around the globe 
• Make a Dr Martin Luther King helping hand craft (great for preschool and kindergarten Black history crafts)
• Explore civil rights freedom posters throughout history for cross-curricular activities art and history studies
• Make a timeline of Black historical events throughout history
• Play Black history trivia or bingo to reinforce what students learn
• Study STEM with inventions of Black scientists
• Watch Black History Month documentaries
• Make your own Black History Month printable book
• Use history stories with pictures of Black history people for writing prompts 

(Don’t miss the full Black History Month for kids ideas below, complete with Black History Month printable activities good for Black History curriculum k-12 studies!)

 

When Is Black History Month?

Black History Month Dates: Saturday, February 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022

 

Before we get to the black history month activities, let’s take a look at black history month facts and about Black History Month…

What Is Black History Month and Why Is It Celebrated?

What is Black History Month and why do we celebrate it?

Black History Month is in February. It starts on February 1st and runs the entire month until the end of February. But, you don’t need to wait for the designated month to add amazing black history month school activities and teach your kids about black history,  There are so many great black history heroes and black history month topics to study starting TODAY — even if it isn’t February!

Before we get to the black history resources and black history month printable activities, let’s take a look at some black history facts and how the month came about.

 

Which is correct: Black History Month or African American History Month?

According to the Library of Congress, the designation of Public Law No. 99-244, 100 Stat. 6 (Feb. 11, 1986) is “To provide for the designation of the month of February, 1986 as National Black (Afro-American) History Month.” So, by designation it is National Black History Month. However, you will also hear it called African-American History Month.

 

CLICK TO GET MORE BLACK HISTORY RESOURCES & CLASSROOM LESSON IDEAS

 

Black History Month Facts

Who came up with Black History Month?

• Black History Month (initially just a week long) was created in 1926 by the Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.
• It was created to spotlight the contributions of black people throughout history.
• The week was initially called “Negro History Week” and was initially celebrated the second week in February because it was the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced African-American history: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
• The week was later expanded to Black History Month in 1976.
• Founder and Harvard scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson was disturbed by the lack of African-Americans documented in American history, so he created the Journal of Negro History.
• Black History Month is also called African American History Month.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture honors the contributions of African Americans.

[source]

 

Black History Month [VIDEOS]

Watch: The History of Black History video to better understand black history leaders, history of the month, facts and more!

 

Black History Month Quotes

Need some inspiration?

Here are black history month quotes for students that will provide inspiration for your learning!

• “You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.” -Frederick Douglass

• “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” -Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

 

• “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.” -Coretta Scott King

 

• “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

• “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” –Booker T. Washington

 

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise.” -Maya Angelou 

 

55 Black History Month Activities, Ideas, and Lessons [UPDATED]

Check out these fantastic black history month activities, printables, theme ideas and more! There are enough different ideas here that you can fill the entire month of February and beyond with black history lessons!

Black History Month Activities for Kids #1: Study Black History Inventors, Black History Figures, and Black History Leaders and Heroes

One of the best ways to incorporate black history month into your studies is to first start with reading books about important black figures and black leaders in history (and even some black superheroes)!

Here are some of our favorite black history books for kids:

Also, incorporate famous African American poems into your learning:

• Watch a video of Maya Angelou deliver her poem, Still I Rise
• Read: Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance
• Read: American Poetry to Read Aloud: A Collection of Diverse Poems

 

Black History Month Activities for Kids #2: Watch Black History Month Movies and Documentaries

Don’t discount watching movies and documentaries to supplement your black history studies.

Check out these black history documentaries, shows, and black history movies:

• African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
• Freedom Riders (Show #8)
• A History Of Black Achievement In America
• Slavery By Another Name
• Eyes on The Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
• Black History Activators
• Black History: A Retrospective

 

Black History Month Activities for Kids #3: Host Black History Month Events

Gather your group of homeschool friends, the homeschool co-op, the church youth group / Black history Sunday school class, etc. and host Black history events!

Here are some ideas:

• Do a study unit on Africa, play black history games activities by learning about Mancala (the African counting game), and then round out the unit with an African or African-American food inspired pitch-in dinner.
• Read relevant black history book (or watch a movie) and hold a book or movie discussion. If you have an older group of kids (middle school, high school or even college or adults), try The Hate U Give.

Also try these children’s books about racism, diversity, and inclusion:

 

• Host a music festival where you learn about black history songs and music including history of blues music and learn about 12-Bar Blues. Also, learn about (and listen to) the importance of music in slavery.

 

Black History Month Activities for Kids #4: Do a Black History Timeline Project

Check out this black history timeline (or grab this awesome book) and recreate a timeline of African American history facts:

• Each person can focus on 10 black history events that interests them.
• Design a timeline and then illustrate the timeline.
• At the end of the event, each kid can explain their timeline and why they chose those events.

(We keep a roll of art paper for projects like this!)

 

Take a virtual tour of a black history museum to get ideas.

Try:

• Crispus Attucks Museum

• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

 

Black History Month Activities for Kids #5: Complete Theme Lessons Based Around Black History

Here are free black history resources for lessons, activities, downloadable history printables and more so that you can compile theme lessons on this topic.

African American History Museum

Ages: Kindergarten – High School

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, take a virtual field trip, as well as read about stories and contributions of African Americans throughout history.

 

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.

 

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.

 

National Archives

Ages: Kindergarten – High School

The National Archives has an extensive collection for African American history studies.

The archives include information for Black history month including:

• Video resources
• Blog posts
• Documents
• Online exhibits
• Lesson plans
• Records
• Additional resources and chronological topics on black history

 

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!

 

ScienceNetLinks

Ages: Kindergarten – High School

We even have black history month science activities!

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!

 

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.

The documentary “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 art black history learning!

 

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.

 

Black History Month Activities for Kids #6: Use Black History Lesson Plans

Use these Black history lessons for learning resources and integrating African American culture and history into lessons (and even create a free African American history curriculum!):

• Rosa Parks On The Bus And Beyond: Lessons For Black History
• Podcasts For Black History Month for Kids and Classroom
• Black Women In History Kids May Not Know (But Should Study!)
• About Juneteenth for Kids and Free Printable Flag for Freedom Day
• Martin Luther King Jr Lessons and MLK Activities for Kids
• Harriet Tubman Lessons, Activities and Projects for Kids
• Kwanzaa for Kids: Holiday Lessons and Activities for Kids

 

Leave your favorite Black History Month activities in the comments so we can add them to our list!