With Black History Month upon us, many parents — after a particularly tumultuous 2020 — find themselves looking for better ways to recognize the month. In years past, it may have been enough to teach our kids about Martin Luther King, Jr. or explain how Harriet Tubman helped lead enslaved Africans to freedom.
In 2021, Black History Month means so much more. Last year, society as a whole became a bit more aware of what Black parents have been saying all along; racism is alive and well. We asked several parents why Black History Month is important and what they think parents need to know.
What is Black History Month?
Resources for teaching Black History Month
If you’re seeking resources for teaching Black History Month to your kids, the last year — and in particular the last several weeks — have given us a lot to work with. Modern Black leaders like Vice-President Kamala Harris and poet Amanda Gorman made history this year.
Now may good time to delve into poetry with your kids. Thanks to Gorman, the National Youth Poet Laureate, the written word has been on the forefront of everyone’s mind since the 2021 Inauguration of Joe Biden. Teachers Pay Teachers is an excellent site for inexpensive Black History Month teaching materials on poets. You’ll find resources for Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and countless others.
Consider spending time with your kids learning about Black inventors and their contributions. These Black History Month study cards are a great way to learn about notable Black people throughout history. Incorporate the historical facts with Black History Month crafts for younger children. For example, the three-way traffic light was invented by Garret Morgan. Help young kids remember his name by adding in a fun, hands-on activity like this traffic light craft from the blog, Housing a Forest.
For those who wish to dig a bit further, incorporating history before the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Homeschool Den offers a variety of lessons on Africa, its culture, history, and people that would be of interest to children of all ages.
