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40 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond

Celebrate and inspire with these Black history lesson ideas.

We know that Black history is American history and needs to be embedded into your classroom experiences year-round. At the same time, Black History Month provides the necessary opportunity to dig deeper with students. Every February, we can support students as they learn more, discover cultural impacts, and follow social movements from the past to the present day. These Black History Month lessons and activities cannot be isolated or one-off classroom experiences. Think of how you can connect these topics to what you’re already doing and make it authentic. And most important, do not just focus on oppression: Focus on the joy too!

Since 1928, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History has provided a theme for Black History Month. In 2024, the theme is African Americans and the Arts .

1. Learn the basics about Black History Month

Watch an introductory video about Black History Month. Then ask students to write their questions about Black history and use those to curate your resources and lessons for the month.

2. Re-create civil rights freedom posters

The Civil Rights Movement Veterans site offers powerful examples of freedom movement posters, as does the Civil Rights Digital Library . Review them with your students, and then have them get into groups and create their own to share.

3. Explore Black history through primary sources from the National Archives

Primary sources are great discussion starters to talk about Black experiences. Choose from thousands of resources , including this 1970s photo series of Chicago.

4. Learn about famous Black artists

Future Jacob Lawrences and Elizabeth Catletts will appreciate learning more about artists and expanding their own talents. Plus, check out these other Black artists .

5. Watch a Black History Month video

Get more specific information or do a deep dive into an area of Black history with a video about civil rights, slavery, accomplished Black Americans, and more.

Check out this list of Black history videos for students in every grade level.

6. Learn about Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter site explains the group’s history while books like Dear Martin and  The Hate U Give explore the movement from a fictional perspective.

7. Learn about the inventor of the traffic light

Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light and patented the three-position traffic signal. Teach students about his achievements as an example of how Black Americans impact our everyday experiences. Watch a video about Morgan and talk about what inspired his invention and how being an African American impacted him as an inventor.

Buy it: Garrett Morgan Activity Pack at Amazon

8. Create a newsletter or magazine with content from Black authors

Have your students generate their own newsletter or literacy magazine to distribute to parents. Include poems and short stories by Black authors, as well as student-generated writings and images that center on Black History Month.

9. Read a Black History Month poem

To enhance our conversations this month, we’ve put together this list of powerful Black History Month poems for kids of all ages.

10. Listen to young poet Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman is another accomplished Black American and a great introduction to Black poetry. Watch the poem she read at Barack Obama’s inauguration, read her book Change Sings , and learn about her at Poets.org.

Buy it: Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem at Amazon

11. Turn your classroom (or school!) into a history museum

Have your students choose a notable Black pioneer they’d like to know more about, such as voting rights and women’s rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, dancer Alvin Ailey, or Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest full-time national parks ranger . Then, host a living museum right in your classroom.

12. Decorate your classroom door for Black History Month

Turn your classroom door into an educational experience. Check out how these teachers decorated their classroom doors in amazing ways to showcase Black History Month, and review this video with ideas.

13. Read books with Black characters in honor of Marley Dias

Dias is a young activist who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign as a sixth grader. She has compiled an excellent guide to books with Black girl characters . Check out WeAreTeachers’ list of books with Black protagonists as well.

14. Learn the story of the Henrietta Marie

The Henrietta Marie was a slave ship that sunk off the coast of Florida. Learn about the ship, its journey, and the underwater memorial that honors African slaves. Get more information about the Henrietta Marie at National Geographic.

15. Experience the I Have a Dream speech from multiple perspectives

Read A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein. Then, watch the I Have a Dream Speech online, and explore resources about the speech at National Geographic . Engage students in discussing why this speech is so important in American history and why it continues to resonate today.

Buy it: A Place to Land at Amazon

16. Meet Oprah

Oprah Winfrey is a name every student knows, learn more about this influential Black American in this interview:

17. Read Black History Month books

If you’re looking for more reading activities, these picture books help celebrate Black History Month and educate your students on how these influential Black people helped shape history.

18. Learn the art of stepping

Stepping is a form of dancing in which the body itself is used to create unique rhythms and sounds. The website Step Afrika!  has videos and information about the history of stepping.

19. Take a virtual field trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

The digital collections of the Schomburg Center, located in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, feature some amazing online exhibits, interviews, and podcasts.

20. Virtually visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

You can browse the collection online by topic, date, or place.

21. Host a poetry reading featuring works by Black poets

Have students choose a poem by a Black poet to learn and recite for the class. Choose a student to serve as the emcee, write up a program, and set the tone with dimmed lights and jazz music played between performances. The Poetry Foundation has excellent resources that can help get you started.

Here’s inspiration with Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise:

22. Check out online Black history exhibits

Educating yourself and your students with these shows is one more way to understand Black history and the current moment.

23. Dive into Georgia Stories: Black History Collection on PBS

As a state, Georgia played a huge role in the 2020 presidential election, and its Black history dates back to the earliest days of slavery in the colony.

24. Discuss implicit bias, systemic racism, and social justice

Start a much-needed discussion around implicit bias and systemic racism with these resources that can empower students to fight for justice in our society.

25. Read and discuss Freedom in Congo Square

The award-winning picture book Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie is a nonfiction children’s book that describes the tyranny of slavery to help young readers understand how jubilant Sundays were for slaves.

Buy it: Freedom in Congo Square at Amazon

26. Watch Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History

Kevin Hart highlights the fascinating contributions of Black history’s unsung heroes in this entertaining—and educational—comedy special.

27. Recognize Black visionaries

This great poster featuring activists, artists, authors, and revolutionaries will highlight Black changemakers in your classroom. Use companion activities to deepen understanding by researching several of the visionaries and asking students to write a story or create their own poster about what they’ve learned.

28. Review a timeline of Black history

Why is Black History Month in February? How long ago was it founded, and who started it? Find the answers to these questions and learn more with this timeline .

29. Explore the music of Black artists

This lesson traces the long history of how Black artists have used music as a vehicle for communicating beliefs, aspirations, observations, joy, despair, resistance, and more across U.S. history.

30. Sample Black-founded snack brands

Honor Black History Month with delicious snacks from Black-founded brands delivered to your classroom—5% of proceeds are donated to the Equal Justice Initiative and one meal is donated to Feeding America for every box delivered.

31. Understand the role of Black women in NASA’s history

How much do your students know about Black contributions to space exploration? Rent the film Hidden Figures and watch with your students to remember, honor, and share the incredible accomplishments of three Black women working on NASA’s space flight program. Before watching the movie, research the liberties the film took in telling the story and discuss with your students the function of the choices. Did the filmmakers make the right choices?

Watch it: Hidden Figures at Amazon

32. Support local Black-owned businesses

Research your city’s Black-owned businesses and see if you can purchase a sample of their products, invite some of the entrepreneurs to speak to your class, or book a field trip!

33. Stream Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices on Netflix

“ Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices is a live-action collection of 12 five-minute episodes featuring prominent Black celebrities and artists reading children’s books from Black authors that highlight the Black experience.”

34. Celebrate the “Black Lives Matter at School” movement

“Black Lives Matter at School” is a national coalition organized for racial justice in education. It encourages all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join an annual week of action during the first week of February each year.​ For a variety of Black History Month activities, visit their website to learn more about their campaign .

35. Watch a historic moment

When Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, it was a monumental day for Black History. Watch his inauguration and discuss what this meant for American history.

36. Analyze Hair Love

You can approach the book Hair Love by Matthew Cherry in a few ways. Talk about the importance of representation in picture books and media, have students share their connections with the story, or analyze the book as a story about modern Black families.

Buy it: Hair Love at Amazon

37. Study the Underground Railroad

Examine the Underground Railroad using various sources, like the picture book biography Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome. National Geographic has a collection of resources about the Underground Railroad . And you can take a virtual tour of the Harriet Tubman museum.

Buy it: Before She Was Harriet at Amazon

38. Research Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the freedom of enslaved people. Learn about Juneteenth , how it came about, and what it means to Black Americans with these National Geographic resources.

39. Listen to musician Rhiannon Giddens

As she was trying to understand and make sense of violence against Black Americans in 2020, folk musician Rhiannon Giddens wrote and released the song “Build a House.” The song came out on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth. The song, which was made into a picture book, captures 400 years of Black history in a lyrical and thoughtful way. Use Giddens’ book either to introduce or wrap up a month on Black history.

Read an essay about the song , and watch the video.

Buy it: Build a House at Amazon

40. Study the pivotal court case Loving v. Virginia

Loving v. Virginia, decided in 1967, made marriage between people of different races legal. Learn about the Loving decision and why it’s important at National Geographic.

Plus, get inspiration from these Black History Month bulletin boards for your classroom .

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Free Black History Month Activities for Your Classroom

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the Black community and learn about its history – throughout the month of February, it’s especially important to bring this celebration into the classroom by teaching students Black history, and this collection of Black History Month activities can help you do so.

By integrating explorations of American history through the perspectives of Black Americans and discussions about racial bias and privilege into your curriculum, you can help your students learn about and commemorate influential Black figures throughout history and trace movements for racial equality to the present day. 

These Black History Month activities include worksheets, research opportunities, and projects that explore Black American history, all while integrating core skills that you’re already teaching, such as reading comprehension and critical thinking. 

Plus, check out our new collection of poems to celebrate Black History Month and our list of books by Black authors for each grade level to boost your students’ ELA skills even more!

Black History Month Activities for Elementary School

The following Black History Month activities for kids allow younger students to learn about Black history while staying engaged and exploring their creativity.

1. Biography in a Bag Project

This assignment is simple yet engaging, giving students an opportunity to do their own independent research while integrating their own creativity. It’s a great way to start teaching kids Black history!

Following the assignment prompt, students are assigned a notable individual in Black history who they then research. Their final project is to decorate a paper bag with imagery and information about that individual and fill the bag with items of importance to that individual’s life. Students then present their projects, allowing them to demonstrate their creativity, resourcefulness, and (most importantly) their newfound knowledge of this influential figure.

You can adjust this project to include prominent Black figures throughout history, including individuals in the arts and/or sciences, or important figures in a specific time period, such as before/during/after the Civil War or civil rights activists from the early-to-mid 20th century. In doing so, you can tailor the assignment to whatever curriculum you have already been teaching.

Created and made available for free download by Neeti Gregg .

2. Black Heroes Coloring & Information Pages

Another creative activity, these coloring pages of significant figures in Black history are paired with information pages that can be handed out or distributed digitally. From civil rights activists to athletes and individuals in the arts, these figures contributed greatly to American history, sports, and entertainment and are monumental in Black history and representation.

Created and made available for free download by Teaching the Whole Child Store .

3. Black Women in History Coloring & Information Pages

A similar activity to the above is these coloring pages that showcase significant Black women throughout history – celebrating both Black History Month and International Women’s Month, this activity is perfect for the last few days of February or first few days of March.

This art style engages students in a different way than the above activity, and the information about each woman is embedded on the page, making the finished products from students perfect to hang up around the classroom.

Created and made available for free download by The Mindful Maestra .

4. Martin Luther King Jr. Activities

The activity also gives teachers an opportunity to let students write about another individual (of their choosing, or one they have been assigned) and form a biography page about them. The exercises allow students to practice their reading comprehension and writing skills while learning about civil rights activism.

Created and made available for free download by Ryan Monche .

Black History Month Activities for Middle and High School

Learning about Black history becomes more complex and comprehensive for students as they age into secondary education – the following Black History Month activities dive deeper into specific movements, individuals, and events, all while remaining engaging for students.

1. Black History Quotes Activity

Words can be incredibly powerful. In this activity, students are given an assortment of famous quotes from influential Black leaders, from activists to politicians to inventors, and tasked to analyze one of them – both for its structure and diction as well as its application in both the leader’s society and the society the student lives in today. 

This activity lets students sharpen their reading comprehension and writing skills in understanding a quote itself, as well as their history and critical thinking skills in placing the quote into an American sociopolitical context.

Created and made available for free download by Teaching on Lemon Lane .

2. Black History Month Research Activities

These Black History Month activities are a collection of lesson plans that teachers can choose from to find what works best for their classroom! These activities dive deeper into specific issues the Black community has faced and currently faces, including environmental racism, representation, displacement, migration, and assimilation. 

Each page focuses on a specific topic and comes with a lesson plan including a warm-up, lecture, resources, and two activities an instructor or students may choose from. Some pages focus on issues of race in Canada and can be modified to fit the US, or even a specific US state. 

This activity is a great way to make a classroom’s education on and commemoration for Black History Month more intersectional and complex by introducing issues students may not have learned about before. It also contains several opportunities to enhance specific skills for students, such as reading comprehension, research, writing, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

Created and made available for free download by SJE with Saskteaches .

3. Musicians of the Civil Rights Movement

The arts have always been essential to any struggle for change, and the civil rights movement is no exception. This resource is a virtual music history exploration that highlights several musicians who had an impact on the civil rights movement. It emphasizes the importance of involvement in social change, especially for those that have influence on society and culture.

Each page dives into a musician’s background, music, connection to the civil rights movement, and legacy. After learning about these artists, students can be formed into groups and assigned to do a research project on one of the artists. Alternatively, students can use this resource as inspiration for a research project on a different musician with an impact on social change.

Created and made available for free download by Newman Music Academy .

Black History Month Reading Comprehension Questions by Piqosity  

W.E.B. Du Bois is one of the most widely studied authors and civil rights activists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a founding member of the NAACP, and his writings discussed the experience of Black Americans during and after reconstruction, focusing heavily on education. He believed that Black children deserve an equal quality of education to White children, including a well-rounded liberal arts education.

The following excerpt is from one of his most well-known books, The Souls of Black Folk . The Piqosity team has written three reading comprehension questions about the excerpt, each more difficult than the last and covering a distinct subtopic, to quiz the ELA knowledge of students and introduce them to (or remind them of) an exceptional writer and brilliant mind in Black history.

Excerpt from The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois  

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Which of the following types of figurative language does the author use most frequently in the passage?

A. Similes. B. Metaphors. C. Understatement. D. Personification.

2. Based on the passage, which phenomenon did schools in the South not experience?

A. A shortage of teachers. B. Segregation. C. Inadequate Schoolhouses. D. Education for teachers.

3. What does the “veil” symbolize?

A. The pathway to equitable opportunities for the speaker. B. The division between White and Black Americans’ perspectives. C. The laws that oppress Black Americans. D. The differences between the North and the South.

Passage Answer Key and Explanations

Personification is the correct answer choice – if you look at the figurative language used, there is only personification. This includes lines such as “…the white, hot roads lazily rise and fall and wind before me…” (lines 25-26) and “The road ran down the bed of a stream; the sun laughed and the water jingled…” (lines 43-44).

“ A shortage of teachers ” is correct. The passage describes how the narrator struggled to find a teaching position everywhere he went for a long time – “There came a day when all the teachers left the Institute and began the hunt for schools… I feel my heart sink heavily as I hear again and again, ‘Got a teacher? Yes.’ So I walked on and on…” (lines 18-30). All of the schools already had teachers, so there was no shortage of them. Further, the passage does show how schooling in this time and region contained the remaining answer choices. It was segregated, as the speaker travelled with another prospective teacher looking to teach at a “white school” (lines 42-43); teachers were educated, as the speaker went to the Teachers’ Institute (described in lines 11-15), which was also segregated; and the schoolhouses were inadequate, based on his descriptions in the last paragraph – “The schoolhouse was a log hut…furniture was scarce… my desk was made of three boards, reinforced at critical points… they had the one virtue of making naps dangerous, – possibly fatal, for the floor was not to be trusted,” (lines 50-66).

To understand the role of the veil, reread each part of the text in which it is mentioned. In lines 4-8: “I was a Fisk student then, and all Fisk men thought that Tennessee – beyond the Veil – was theirs alone, and in vacation time they sallied forth in lusty bands to meet the county school commissioners.” In lines 45-49: “‘Come in’, said the commissioner, – ‘come in. Have a seat. Yes, that certificate will do. Stay to dinner. What do you want a month?’ ‘Oh,’ thought I, ‘this is lucky’; but even then fell the awful shadow of the Veil, for they ate first, then I – alone.” This second instance gives the most context to understand the “veil”. In that quote, the narrator describes the way he finds an opportunity to teach from the school commissioner, who seems kind. Despite inviting the narrator to dinner, the commissioner eats first and makes him eat alone. The narrator writes that this exchange about eating triggered the Veil to fall.  We can infer from the fact that the commissioner eats first and makes the narrator eat alone that the commissioner looks down on him, despite giving him an opportunity to teach. This hints that the Veil is a concept that signals racial inequality.  This also demonstrates which answer choices are incorrect. “The pathway to equitable opportunities for the speaker.” is incorrect because the veil is described as “awful” and falls in a context when the narrator is disrespected. “The laws that oppress Black Americans.” is incorrect because the narrator faces no trouble with the law nor oppression due to a certain law in this passage. “The differences between the North and the South.” is also incorrect because this quote has nothing to do with the geo-social differences in the United States. The correct answer choice is “The division between White and Black Americans’ perspectives.” The veil falls when the narrator realizes the commissioner (who you can infer based on the passage to be White) sees him as a lesser being, when he had to eat dinner alone after him, showing how his perspective changed when he saw the commissioner treat him unequally. The veil falling is a Black American realizing he is being treated unfairly because of a circumstance out of his control – race.

Find More ELA Resources Like These at Piqosity! 

We hope you found these Black History Month activities insightful and resourceful for your classroom, both in their historical and sociopolitical significance and in the opportunities to sharpen key ELA skills for students. 

Among Piqosity’s regular offerings, of particular relevance is our newest ELA course, designed for 11th Grade English Language Arts instruction. This course includes an entire unit focused on Frederick Douglass’ memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave . Teachers looking for a month-long text-based unit will find this perfect for their needs, as it includes unique questions on every chapter, as well as focused question sets on critical excerpts. 

You can also find more (non-themed) ELA lessons with questions of similar difficulty levels to the above questions in our ELA courses! These are complete courses available online through our app and can be purchased separately or received for free when bundled with our ISEE test prep courses !

• 5th Grade ELA Course  
• 6th Grade ELA Course
• 8th Grade ELA Course
• 11th Grade ELA Course

For your convenience, we have outlined lessons relevant to or at the same difficulty level as the above passages and accompanying questions. These can be found below.  

Related ELA Lessons by Piqosity  Lessons related to question #1: ELA 5 – Figurative Language ELA 6 – Figurative Language ELA 8 – Figurative Language ELA 11 –  Rhetorical Analysis Lessons related to question #2: ELA 5 – Main Idea ELA 5 – Supporting Ideas ELA 6 – Main Idea ELA 6 – Supporting Ideas ELA 8 – Main Idea ELA 8 – Supporting Ideas ELA 11 – Main Idea ELA 11 – Supporting Ideas Lessons related to question #3: ELA 5 – Main Idea ELA 5 – Figurative Language ELA 6 – Main Idea ELA 6 – Figurative Language ELA 8 – Main Idea ELA 8 – Figurative Language ELA 11 – Main Idea ELA 11 – Rhetorical Analysis

Thank You, and Piqosity wishes you an empowered Black History Month! 

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10 Inspiring Black History Month Activities for Students

Written by Laney Kennedy

• Teacher Resources
• Teaching Activities

7 Black History Month topic ideas

Guidelines for teaching during black history month, 10 black history month activities for your students.

February is Black History Month : the celebration of African American history, contributions, and achievements that’s recognized annually across the United States and Canada. 

For teachers, it’s a great opportunity to teach with intention, honoring the tradition and showing students its importance, along with the importance of Black history and culture. 

And this year, it's more important than ever to uphold this tradition and celebrate Black history — no matter where your students are learning.

Use these 10 activity ideas to teach Black history all month and keep your students engaged, whether they're in-class or online!

Typically, teachers tend to stick with the same few topics during Black History Month: civil rights, historical Black leaders or celebrities, and important milestones.

While these are still great topics to explore, there are also plenty of other important concepts you should consider introducing to your students this year, such as: 

• Current Black political issues
• The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
• Stereotypes and microaggressions
• The history and impact of Black culture
• The history of hip hop 
• African Americans and the Vote
• Black Health and Wellness (this year's Black History Month theme!)

For Black History Month 2022, this year's theme is Black Health and Wellness. People are encouraged to explore how North American healthcare has underserved the black community and recognize the contributions to medicine and healthcare by black people.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Firsties♥️Ms. Salamak (@fur_babies_and_firsties)

When teaching Black history, remember to: 

• Follow the  do’s and dont’s
• Always promote  diversity in your classroom
• Remind students that  Black history  is  American history
• Leverage Black voices as much as you can (use relevant media, invite guest speakers etc.)

P.S. If you want to help parents talk about Black history and racial issues with their kids at home, use these 8 tips for parents as a helpful resource to start with — including additional resources for anyone who wants to learn more.

Use these activities throughout the month (and the rest of the year) to keep Black history at the forefront of your lessons and encourage your students to keep learning more.

1. Quote or fact of the day

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Maya Angelou

Every morning, greet your students with a new quote or fact that’s relevant to Black history. 

Say them aloud during your lesson, add them to your bulletin board or send them in an online message (or all of the above, if you’re feeling ambitious). After this, you can open a discussion with your class about the relevance of each quote or fact.

Your students will love looking forward to what each day brings!

Try these: 

• Black history facts
• 15 Inspiring quotes
• 5 Black history quote posters
• Black history quotes - mini posters

2. Person of the day or week 

Take time to talk about Black influencers and their accomplishments. Highlight a different person every day or week and center your lessons around them!

Explore categories like:

• Politicians
• Historical figures
• Heroes and iconic leaders
• Scientists and mathematicians

Tip: Try to look beyond typical historical figures and popular celebrities. There are plenty of Black contributors students may not have even heard of yet — use this chance to introduce them! 

3. Black history trivia & games

Bring some fun (and maybe a little competition) into your lessons this month! Find trivia and games that focus on Black history, or repurpose other classroom games to incorporate Black History Month questions and answers.

• Black history multiplication - true or false
• Black history quizzes (these online quizzes are perfect for remote learning!)

4. Worksheet activities

Teach students about Black history while they work on fun activities at their own pace. Send worksheets to students online or print them out for independent classroom learning.

• Black history coloring pages
• Barack Obama crossword and trivia

5. Virtual events

Classroom learning is great, but there’s so much students can learn from their own experiences! 

This year especially, there are plenty of online activities and events celebrating Black History Month. So why not choose a youth-appropriate one your class can participate in?

• National Museum of African American History: Classroom Connections
• Black History Every Month: Virtual Events That Inspire Action, Education, and Connection

6. Timeline activity

Provide more context on important events in Black history with a bit of chronology.

Have students put together their own timelines, whether individually or in groups, that focus on specific historical events or people. They’ll have fun putting all the events together and learn lots along the way!

7. Study (and create) art

Art in the Black community carries so much historical and cultural significance that can inspire some great, illuminative lessons.

Assign one of these activities from Creative Child , or get students to:

• Write a story 
• Make a video or podcast
• Create visual art or crafts

8. Use relevant media

There’s so much good media out there to help you teach Black history — use it to your advantage!

Read books or watch videos with your class, then discuss the themes and lessons of each piece of media. After this, you can assign work based on them.

Try these books:

• All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

9. Host thought activities

Strengthen collaboration skills with various thought activities during February. These will get students thinking and help them learn new ideas and perspectives from each other. 

Start by posing a relevant question to your class, like: 

• Why do we celebrate?
• What does Black History Month mean to you?
• How can we fight intolerance in our everyday lives?

Encourage plenty of participation, then discuss everyone’s answers together! 

10. Assign a  class project

Give your class a larger assignment they can work on for the entire month, like a collaborative media project or group presentation — like this one from The Core Coaches on Teachers Pay Teachers .

These bigger projects let students build on what they’re learning and work together towards something they can be proud of!

Additional resources

Get inspired by these extra resources to help you even more:

• Black History milestones
• Black History in the National Archives
• Teaching tools for Black History Month
• Black History in America teaching guide
• Black History Month resources and lessons
• 10 Picture book biographies to celebrate Black History Month
• 20 Important lessons to teach kids about Black History Month

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Black History Month Activities & Resources

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month. Help your students learn about and celebrate the important Black contributions to the American and global story with our cross-curricular lesson plans, worksheets, projects, quizzes, and activities below.

Why Do We Teach Black History Month?

As with any number of topics, approaches to teaching Black history have evolved and changed over the years. While it's roots go back to the early 20th century, Black History Month as a national observance was created as a way to focus attention on the contributions of Black Americans that had been overlooked, marginalized, and outright ignored as part of conventional American history lessons. As President Ford said when announcing the month-long observance in 1976, “In celebrating Black History Month, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

For the most part, this led to a fairly "traditional" look at Black historical figures in the classroom - with a heavy emphasis on inspirational people and stories, but little context around the "hard history," as Black educator Rann Miller calls it, of the Black experience. "I was told of Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. I heard very little of Malcolm X, the FBI’s campaign against civil rights leaders...I was taught about the marches and firehoses in Alabama, but I had to teach myself about the acts of terrorism committed against Black people in Rosewood, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Wilmington, North Carolina," says Miller in a widely-read and influential essay .

Over the past several years, as high-profile events like the murder of George Floyd have forced a reckoning look at systemic racism and inequality in the United States, the teaching of Black history has become more contextual and less personality-driven. It's still important to highlight the considerable achievements of Black Americans for students - but many teachers are also using Black History Month to "explore the impact of racism in the Black experience," as Miller puts it. 

What to Teach for Black History Month

These TeacherVision resources were commissioned or curated to give teachers a wide selection of approaches to integrating Black History Month into existing curriculum. You'll find lesson plans, student choice activities, printables, videos, and more for all of the major curriculum areas - Social Studies, Reading, Math, and Science. 

Choice Boards and Projects

Black History Month Project - Black Pioneers in Medicine

Black History Month Choice Board for Middle School

Educational Videos & Activities

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos & Activities
• Slavery & The Civil War Videos & Activities

Technology Resources

• African Storytellers
• African-American Heroes
• Hour of Code: Code a Slideshow for Black History Month

Black History Worksheets for Grades K-5

• Black History Month Profile: Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron
• Black History Month Profile: Young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman
• Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
• Cultures Day Project Ideas

The Civil Rights Movement

• "I Have a Dream" Little Book
• Jackie Robinson Biography & Activities

Black History Worksheets for Grades 6-8

• Black History Month Profiles: Great African American Poets from Across the Generations
• The Underground Railroad Matching Activity
• The Life and Accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Fever 1793 Teacher's Guide
• I Have a Dream
• The Harlem Renaissance Activities
• Sarah Boone Coloring Page

Black History Worksheets for Grades 9-12

• Black Lives Matter E-Book: A Movement for Racial Justice

Billie Holiday's Song "Strange Fruit"

Defining Jazz Music

Visualizing Jazz Scenes of the Harlem Renaissance

Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations

Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations

• African-American Gospel Music
• Black History Word Search

Black History Month Lesson Plans for Grades K-5

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Leader
• Triangular Trade in the Atlantic Ocean
• Write a Letter to Jesse Owens
• Activities for African Folk Tales
• Percussion Performance and Culture
• Influencing Others in Our World

Black History Month Lesson Plans for Grades 6-8

• The Underground Railroad
• The Struggle Against Segregation
• Jackie Robinson and Civil Rights
• Interactive Timeline
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Receives the Nobel Peace Prize

Black History Resources

• African Folk Tales: Background Information

A Raisin in the Sun

Maniac Magee Literature Guide

• Jackie Robinson Coloring Page
• Rosa Parks Coloring Page
• Civil Rights Movement Playlist

EDITOR'S COLLECTIONS

• Top 10 Children's Books for Black History Month
• Top 10 Martin Luther King Activities
• 20 Black History Month Activities
• Kwanzaa Activities (Grades K-8)
• Coloring Book of African-Americans Slideshow
• Civil Rights Quiz
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Quiz
• ABC Order -- Famous Black Americans
• Kwanzaa Facts Quiz
• Black History Month Quiz
• Kwanzaa Word Problems
• Coretta Scott King Award Winners
• Dwight D. Eisenhower's Little Rock Response
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life
• Assassinations and Attempts in U.S. Since 1865
• Amendments to the Constitution of the United States
• Amendments to the Constitution: Voting
• Harriet Tubman Biography

Music & Drama Activities

• A Jazz Talk Show
• Learning through The Duke
• Exhibit Scoring Guide
• Assessment of Learning Through "The Duke" Lesson

Language Arts Activities

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

• Historical Fiction Reading Warm-Up: Rosa Parks
• Harriet Tubman Writing Activity
• Juneteenth - African Americans Word search

Recommended Black History Month Resources

LESSON PLANS

African-American Scientists: A Comprehensive Social Media Account Project

BOOK GUIDES

The Hate U Give Teaching Guide

Black History Month: Modern Influencers – Reading Comprehension Activities

CHOICE BOARDS

Black History Month Writing Choice Board for Middle School

Grade 3 Holiday Math and Literacy Kit

Notable African-American Women Quiz

EDITOR'S COLLECTIONS

Martin Luther King, Jr. & Black History Month Activities Packet

Langston Hughes, an Everyday Poet

Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos & Activities

Kente Cloth

Dr. Mae Jemison Coloring Page

Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

Black History Month Worksheets

Please use any of the printable worksheets about Black History Month in your classroom or at home. Just click on the worksheet title to view details about the PDF and print or download to your computer. All worksheets are free to print and to make multiple copies for your student or child.

African American Freedom Fighters Word Search

Honor the activists of the historic abolition and civil rights movement with this word search puzzle.

Ride the Bus With Rosa Parks

Your youngster can join civil rights leader Rosa Parks on her historic bus ride in this fun maze puzzle.

Underground Railroad: On To Freedom

Students read facts about the Underground Railroad and color the picture below.

African American Inventors: Elijah McCoy

Comprehension is strengthend through practice. Here is a worksheet about Elijah McCoy for students to read and answer the questions.

African American Inventors: Granville T. Woods

Granville Woods died in 1910. He contributed much to the electrical world with his inventions, ideas, and devices. Students will read about his life and answer questions in this comprehension activity.

African American Inventors: Lewis Latimer

Students can learn about African American inventor Lewis Latimer with this worksheet. First, they will read an excerpt and then answer questions to test comprehension.

African American Inventors: Patricia Bath

Here is a reading activity for students to learn about Patricia Bath. Following the reading, students will answer a few questions to help comprehension.

Freedom Crossword Puzzle

This crossword puzzle is full of words about freedom for Black History Month.

Song of Freedom: Go Down Moses

A wonderful freedom song, the song Go Down, Moses was sung by slaves in the U.S. south. In this activity, students read words to the song and answer related questions.

1850: My Letter to the Editor

Your student will write a persuasive argument about slavery in a letter to an 1850 newspaper.

Writing Prompt: Today’s Civil Rights Hero

In this writing prompt, students select someone they think is a civil rights hero living in modern times.

Booker T. Washington: Up From Slavery

This reading comprehension worksheet focuses on a passage from Booker T. Washington’s autobiography, “Up From Slavery.”

Her Story: Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York around 1797, escaping to freedmom 1825. In this activity, students read the passage and answer related questions.

Reading Comprehension: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

In this activity, students read an excerpt from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and answer related questions.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin: George’s Speech

This reading comprehension worksheet on a passage from “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is a great activity for Black History Month.

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45 Black History Month Resources for Homeschoolers

Each year during Black History Month, I search high and low for resources that will help me teach my kids about their culture and history. Although we talk about it often in our home, there’s just nothing quite like reading an account of our forefathers’ struggles and successes, watching a video, then creating a lapbook about it all.  These kinds of hands-on activities make learning about our heritage come alive for us.

After a few years of scouring the web for ideas, I’ve finally found a few tested, tried, and true Black History Month resources that actually work for us. Among these resources are printables, documentaries, video and audio clips, apps, and curriculum.

If you are looking for some ideas about what to teach your kids during Black History Month this year, you should have a nice jump-start with fresh ideas for bringing Black History Month resources into your homeschool.

TV Series and Documentaries 

Here are interviews and historical footage, documenting the lives of African Americans.

• Ted Talks to celebrate Black History Month
• Eyes on the Prize
• Many Rivers to Cross
• America: The Story of Us
• Blacks in Latin America
• The Legacy of President Obama

Worksheets & Printables

• Black History Month worksheets at Education.com
• Black History Word Search Game
• Black History Month Famous First Printables
• George Washington Carver coloring and activity book
• Coloring Book of Prominent African Americans
• Black History Month Printables

Lists with Focus on Black Inventors

• Major Inventions by African-Americans
• Famous Black Inventors
• Black Scientists & Inventors

Book Selection Recommendations for Black History Month

• Colours Of Us
• Top 10 Children’s Books for Black History Month
• Coretta Scott King Award Winners

Educational Audio and Video Clips

• Teacher Vision- Martin Luther King videos and activities
• Slavery and the Civil War videos and activities
• Frederick Douglass Video
• Wilt Chamberlain Video
• Quincy Jones video
• Rosa Parks video
• Harriet Tubman biography video
• Harlem Renaissance video for kids
• Madame CJ Walker video
• Civil Rights movement video for kids
• The ABC’s of Black inventors – a Children’s Guide
• The ABC’s of Black History – a Children’s Guide
• Black History Month by Reed College

Apps & Online Games

• Black History Month Trivia Game
• F reeCell game featuring Civil Rights Activists

Curriculum + Online Learning Resources

• A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources by Belinda Bullard
• Flocabulary Civil Rights Movement lesson plan, songs and videos
• Black History Month theme units and lessons
• National Education Association
• Celebrate African American heritage
• A Preschool Black History Theme
• Timeline and Resources
• Black history in America – Culture and Change
• Literature Based Unit studies on African American History
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• A list of museums focused on African American Culture

So, there you go – 45 resources to help you uncover much of the history of African Americans.

I hope this is super helpful to you in planning your black history month resources this February. Let us know if you use any of these materials, and how it’s working for you!

Demetria Zinga

About the author

Demetria is a homeschool mom and "mompreneur" who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband, two daughters, and a dog named Shaggy. She currently runs two podcasts, blogs, writes music, and spends lots of time at coffee shops.

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Inventors are a mysterious bunch and learning about them can be a great addition to your homeschool lessons. Here are some ideas!

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Ready to learn about the 50 states with your kids? There are many curriculums, unit studies, and books to guide you through the United States. This post contains affiliate links to products you might like. You may find those quickly get mundane, and your kids lose their focus, though. If you want to make geography

Emily Allison

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This is a needed teaching tool for all students. We at Solid Rock Christian Fellowship Baptist Church could definitely use All levels. We try to introduce our young people to who they are.

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Free Black History Month Printable Worksheets & Activities

Published: February 3, 2020

Contributor: Jeannette Tuionetoa

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Although February is Black History Month, it is important to note that we shouldn’t contain the teaching of Black history in just one month. These resources and Black History Month printable activities can help you integrate this rich history into your lessons all throughout the school year. Learn about six famous figures in Black history with our free unit study found at the end of this post. 

Why do we celebrate Black History Month?

The purpose of Black History Month is to celebrate the achievements and contributions African-Americans have made to the country. Until 1926, black history was left entirely out of school/history books.

In this year, historian and journalist Carter G. Woodson started a week of recognizing black history. This week eventually expanded to a month. However, that month-long celebration wasn’t decided on until 1976.

Studying African-American history is also teaching America’s history. Because of the significant history of African–Americans in the United States, studying the evolution of their freedom and contribution to our country as we know it is critical.

Integrating black history throughout your other lessons is important to the achievements as anyone else in our history. American history and black history can never be separated one from the other.

Last year, I saw a movie with my 13-year-old daughter. It changed us. The biography changed her and opened her eyes to a part of history that I failed to tell her about.

I was pretty ashamed that I never talked to my daughter about the crucial black history that made such an impact on the American people.

Hidden Figures

The movie was called Hidden Figures . It is a biographical drama based on a non-fiction book written by Margot Lee Shetterly. This intriguing movie is set in the 1950s and 1960s, and it follows the lives of 3 African-American women.

The women were hired on to NASA as ‘human computers’ based in the Langley Research Center. The women were: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. They participated in the initial days of a program made to send American astronauts to outer space.

Even though these three women produced quality and reputable work, they still faced discrimination. Their treatment was despicable. As the tears flowed down my daughter’s face, I knew she would have questions I wasn’t prepared to answer.

The movie prompted my daughter and me to dive into the history of African-Americans in the country. To learn of the horrific ideology of racism in our country and others.

Compassion isn’t something that people innately have. Yet, studying this history has developed an understanding in my daughter. It has formed an empathy for what people went through.

I am unsure why I waited this long to talk to my daughter about this. Don’t let a movie be the only reason why your child comes to know the history of African-Americans. It is a need-to-know and a necessary part of our country that we all should acknowledge. Without, our children won’t understand the gravity of what it means to fight for what is right.

The year 2020 marked a significant year for Black History Month. 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the 19 th Amendment (women’s right to vote) and the 150th anniversary of the 15 th Amendment (black males were granted the right to vote).

Resources to Celebrate Black History:

Take this month of February to start your studies on Black History and weave the history throughout your school year.

Allow your children the opportunity to examine black literature, art, innovations, and customs. These have all significantly shaped our American and even world culture. Most texts date black history only back to the slave trade. However, African history goes way beyond this.

Informational and Educational Resources for Black History Month

Learn more about the history of Black History month and famous African-Americans with Black History Month printable activities. There are lots of ideas and resources on how to teach the facts. Keep your kids engaged with the large variety of activities and ideas.

Black History Month: Teaching Beyond Slavery – These Black History Month printable activities will help you teach the hard history, not only about slavery, but about the civil rights movement, culture and more.

Black History Facts – Learn some fun facts about famous African Americans and their contributions to U.S. History.

53 Black History Month Writing Ideas – Get your students to journal about what black history month really means with these free writing prompts.

37 Powerful Black History Month Activities for Kids – This is a great list of resources for all ages and grade levels to learn about black history in a hands-on way.

Unique Ways to Celebrate Black History Month – Lots of resources and hands-on Black History Month printable activities.

Black History Month Coloring Pages

Martin Luther King, Jr. Worksheets & Coloring Pages – This is a huge list of worksheets, Black History Month printable activities, and coloring pages about Martin Luther King Jr.

Black History Month Coloring Pages – We love adding coloring pages to our history notebooks. There are lots of nice coloring pages for many famous African Americans.

Printable Black History Month Coloring Pages – You’ll find all sorts of coloring pages that celebrate Black History Month. Print off coloring pages for famous black people from history.

Famous Black People Coloring Pages – Tons of Black History Month coloring pages on famous people: Benjamin Banneker, Harriet Tubman, Biddy Mason, Martin Luther King Jr., Ruby Bridges, Thurgood Marshall, Booker T. Washington, and more. 

Budget Friendly Black History Month Resources:

These resources are not free, however they are very good resources. Includes lots of information, lessons, Black History Month printable activities, and more. All at an affordable price.

Black History Month {Foldable Facts} – Foldable books are a lot of fun for kids and they will enjoying creating this fact book. There is just something about learning with hands-on activities that helps them retain the information. 

Ruby Bridges NO PREP Printables – These no prep printables will help your kids with reading comprehension, vocabulary and deep thinking skills as they learn about 

Black History Women Venn Diagrams   – Printable worksheets and venn diagrams that will have your students compare and contrast their lives with 15 famous women of history.

Mae Among the Stars Build a Rocket STEM Activity  – Learn about Mae Jemison and rockets with this printable open and go read aloud STEM activity. Perfect for Black History month and learning about space. 

Black History Month Activities – 80 page educational activity pack that will teach your students about 12 African American Heroes. 

Celebrating Black History Month Lesson Plans – These lesson plans have book lists, writing and activity center ideas and come with a free download.

Free Printables for Black History Month:

Discover some fun Black History Month printable activities from our list below. There are black history worksheets , printable cards, printable packs on civil rights, writing activities and more. 

Free Black History Month Worksheet + A Reading List – Learn about iconic figures with these printables and book lists just in time for Black History month.

Civil Rights Printable Pack – Adorable coloring pages, and printable activities to learn about civil rights issues.

Black History Abolitionists – Printable black history month cards on the Abolitionists.

Free Black History Month Trading Cards – Learn about MLK and Rosa Parks with these printable cards and reading comprehension activities.

Children’s Civil Rights Walk Class Activity  – This free pdf activity goes along with the Let Freedom Sing book and gives suggestions on how to do a civil rights walk for the lesson.

Writing Activities for Black History Month  – These writing activities are fun because they use printable graphic organizers to teach your kids how to organize their thoughts.

Famous African Americans:

Learn about contributions of African-Americans that have helped to shape and contribute to make America a better place with these Black History Month printable activities.

Sojourner Truth Biography Report Organizers – Lots of free printables for your students to put together their own report on the biography of Sojourner Truth.

Ruby Bridges Activities and Printables for Black History Month – Learn all about Ruby Bridges with these free Black History Month printables. 

Harriett Tubman Biography Activities – Learn about this famous African American who saved many lives with this free PowerPoint presentation and printable activities. 

Harriet Tubman Unit Study and Free Printable – This printable pack and unit study will have your kids learning about a famous slave who saved others through the underground railroad.

Famous Black Americans Game – Learn about famous black Americans with this fun printable game.

Ruby Bridges Character Traits Free Activity – Talk about 3 character traits that Ruby Bridges has and fill them in on the graphic organizer as you are talking about her life. 

Young Frederick Douglass – Free reading comprehension passage with questions to learn more about Frederick Douglass.

African American Firsts Cheat Sheets – Help your kids learn about 125 moments in History by finding out who the first African American missionary was, and who the first African American was to practice medicine, sing at Carnegie Hall and more. This is a fun printable pack of facts.

Tips to Incorporate Black History into Your Studies:

• Make books with African-American authors or illustrators a part of your child’s permanent book collection.
• Ensure your children read a book that has a diverse community represented.
• Start with February during Black History Month. Make sure many different races/ethnicities are included in your reading and history lessons.
• Have your children watch historical movies like Hidden Treasures that shed some light on how the era might have been.
• Do not be shy to discuss racism with your children.
• Make every effort to emphasize that although there are different ethnicities, there is only ONE race, and that is the human race .

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The world means everyone in it.

Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We should learn to take this approach when educating our kids from home.

Free Black History Unit Study

Instant Download from WriteBonnieRose : Learn about six famous figures in Black history with this FREE unit. Students can learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.; Coretta Scott King; Constance Baker Motley; Charles Drew; Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.; and Benjamin Banneker through short reading units, print and cursive copywork of key facts from the reading, and coloring pages. 

Jeannette Tuionetoa

Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!

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51 Creative Black History Project Ideas for Students [2024]

As Black History Month gains more attention, people are starting to see why it’s so important, especially for students. 

It’s a chance for them to learn more about the struggles and successes of Black people throughout history. 

Doing projects about Black history helps students learn in a fun way and also teaches them to understand and appreciate different cultures.

In this blog, we’ll share many black history project ideas for students to explore and enjoy Black history. 

Whether it’s making presentations, doing research, or getting creative with art, our goal is to give students the tools they need to learn about and celebrate the impact of Black history. 

Come along as we discover and honor the amazing contributions of the Black community together.

A Look At Black History

Table of Contents

Black History encompasses the stories, struggles, and achievements of Black individuals throughout time. From enduring the hardships of slavery to leading movements for civil rights and social justice.

However, Black History is a testament to resilience, creativity, and perseverance in the face of adversity. It highlights the contributions of Black leaders, artists, scientists, and activists who have shaped culture, politics, and society worldwide. 

Exploring Black History offers valuable insights into the complexities of race, identity, and power dynamics, fostering greater understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the diverse experiences of Black people.

List of Black History Project Ideas for Students

Here’s a list of Black History project ideas suitable for elementary to high school students:

Black History Project Ideas for Elementary School Students

1. Black History Storybook

Have students collaborate to create a storybook featuring notable Black figures and their achievements, illustrated by the class.

2. Interactive Timeline

Construct a classroom timeline showcasing important events in Black History, with students adding illustrations and descriptions.

3. Art Showcase

Host an art exhibition where students create paintings or drawings inspired by influential Black artists or historical events.

4. Music Performance

Organize a music recital where students sing or play songs by Black musicians, accompanied by brief explanations of their significance.

5. Community Mural

Collaborate on a mural project depicting scenes from Black History, with each student contributing a portion of the artwork.

6. Role-Playing Skits

Write and perform short skits based on significant moments in Black History, allowing students to step into historical roles.

7. Biography Presentations

Assign each student a notable Black figure to research and present to the class, sharing key facts and accomplishments.

8. Cultural Food Fair

Host a food fair featuring dishes from different African and African-American traditions, with students and families contributing homemade recipes.

9. Inventors Exhibition

Create a classroom exhibit showcasing inventions by Black inventors, with students presenting models or demonstrations of selected inventions.

10. Storytelling Circle

Arrange a storytelling session where students share stories passed down from their families or communities, focusing on Black culture and heritage.

11. Black History Storybook

Collaborate on creating a storybook featuring notable Black figures and their achievements, with each student illustrating a page.

12. Timeline of Black History

Construct a classroom timeline highlighting key events and figures in Black History, allowing students to research and add important dates.

13. Artistic Portraits

Have students create portraits of famous Black leaders, artists, and activists using various art mediums like paint, collage, or drawing.

14. Musical Tribute

Organize a musical performance where students sing or play songs by Black musicians, accompanied by short explanations of their significance.

15. Community Mural Project

Collaborate on painting a mural depicting scenes from Black History, with each student contributing a part of the artwork.

16. Biographical Presentations

Assign each student a notable Black figure to research and present, sharing their life story, contributions, and impact on history.

17. Cultural Cuisine Showcase

Host a food fair featuring dishes from different African and African-American cultures, allowing students to share recipes and sample food.

Black History Project Ideas for Middle School Students

18. Civil Rights Timeline

Create a timeline highlighting key events of the Civil Rights Movement, accompanied by illustrations and explanations.

19. Biographical Sketches

Research and present biographical sketches of significant figures in Black History, exploring their contributions and impact.

20. Freedom Fighter Posters

Design posters honoring prominent civil rights activists like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. , and Malcolm X.

21. Civil Rights Debate

Host a debate on pivotal civil rights issues, such as school desegregation or voting rights, with students arguing different perspectives.

22. Civil Rights Documentary

Produce a documentary film examining the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement, interviewing local activists if possible.

23. Civil Rights Art Exhibition

Curate an art exhibition featuring student-created pieces inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, expressing themes of equality and justice.

24. Civil Rights Poetry Slam

Organize a poetry slam where students perform original poems inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, exploring themes of empowerment and resilience.

25. Freedom March Reenactment

Stage a reenactment of a historic civil rights march, allowing students to experience the passion and courage of activists.

26. Civil Rights Museum Tour

Plan a field trip to a local museum with exhibits on the Civil Rights Movement, followed by group discussions and reflections.

27. Civil Rights Panel Discussion

Invite guest speakers or community members to participate in a panel discussion on the legacy and relevance of the Civil Rights Movement today.

28. Civil Rights Newspaper

Create a classroom newspaper featuring articles, editorials, and interviews related to the Civil Rights Movement and its impact.

29. Civil Rights Podcast Series

Produce a series of podcast episodes exploring different aspects of the Civil Rights Movement, interviewing experts, and discussing key events.

30. Civil Rights Research Project

Assign students to research and present on a specific aspect of the Civil Rights Movement, such as sit-ins, boycotts, or landmark court cases.

31. Civil Rights Artifacts Exhibition

Organize an exhibition displaying replicas or photographs of artifacts from the Civil Rights era, with students providing historical context for each item.

32. Civil Rights Songwriting Workshop

Host a workshop where students write and perform original songs inspired by the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement.

33. Civil Rights Role-Playing Game

Develop a role-playing game set during the Civil Rights era, allowing students to experience the challenges faced by activists and leaders.

34. Civil Rights Film Festival

Screen films or documentaries about the Civil Rights Movement, followed by discussions on the themes and messages portrayed.

Black History Project Ideas for High School Students

35. Black History Research Symposium

Host a symposium where students present research papers on various topics in Black History, fostering scholarly discussion.

36. Civil Rights Documentary Film

Produce a documentary film exploring the Civil Rights Movement, featuring interviews with activists, historians, and community members.

37. Black History Art Exhibition

Curate an art exhibition showcasing student-created pieces inspired by Black History, addressing themes of identity, resilience, and social justice.

38. Black History Oral History Project

Interview local community members to collect oral histories related to Black experiences, creating a multimedia archive for future generations.

39. Black History Podcast Series

Produce a series of podcast episodes delving into different aspects of Black History, featuring interviews, storytelling, and analysis.

40. Black History Debate Tournament

Organize a debate tournament where students argue topics related to Black History, such as reparations, affirmative action, or representation in media.

41. Black History Literary Magazine

Create a literary magazine featuring poetry, prose, and artwork celebrating Black voices, experiences, and perspectives.

42. Black History Community Engagement Project

Plan and implement a community engagement project focused on addressing contemporary issues facing the Black community, such as police brutality or educational inequity.

43. Black History Multimedia Presentation

Develop a multimedia presentation exploring a specific theme or time period in Black History, incorporating images, videos, and music.

44. Black History Cultural Festival

Organize a cultural festival celebrating the diversity and richness of Black culture through music, dance, food, and art, inviting participation from the wider community.

45. Black History Play Production

Collaborate on writing and staging a play or theatrical production that highlights significant events or figures in Black History.

46. Black History Research Project

Conduct in-depth research on a specific aspect of Black History, culminating in a comprehensive research paper or presentation.

47. Black History Social Media Campaign

Create a social media campaign to raise awareness about lesser-known aspects of Black History, sharing facts, stories, and resources.

48. Black History Documentary Screening

Organize a screening event featuring documentaries or films about Black History, followed by discussions and reflections on the content.

49. Black History Panel Discussion

Host a panel discussion with guest speakers, scholars, and community leaders to explore contemporary issues within the context of Black History.

50. Black History Cultural Exchange Program

Partner with schools or organizations in predominantly Black communities for a cultural exchange program, fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

51. Black History Community Art Project

Collaborate on a public art installation or mural that celebrates Black History and promotes unity and diversity within the community.

These project ideas can be adapted and tailored to suit different grade levels and learning objectives, providing students with engaging opportunities to explore and learn about Black history.

Also Read: Pottery Project Ideas

Importance of Black History Project Ideas and Its Impact on the Present

Black History projects are important for several reasons, and their impact extends beyond the classroom to shape our understanding of the present in significant ways:

• Cultural Preservation: Black History projects help preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Black individuals and communities.
• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: These projects promote diversity and inclusion by highlighting the experiences and achievements of marginalized groups.
• Educational Enrichment: Black History projects offer valuable learning opportunities, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and understanding of historical injustices and struggles.
• Empowerment: By acknowledging and honoring Black History, these projects empower individuals to take pride in their heritage and inspire future generations to advocate for equality and social justice.
• Addressing Inequities: Black History projects shed light on systemic inequities and injustices, fostering dialogue and action towards creating a more just and equitable society.

Tips for the Implementation of Black History Projects

Implementing Black History projects effectively requires careful planning and consideration to ensure students engage meaningfully with the subject matter. Here are some tips for successful implementation:

• Thematic Focus: Choose a specific theme or aspect of Black History to provide clarity and direction for the project.
• Research Resources: Give students access to diverse and reliable resources, including books, articles, documentaries, and online archives.
• Critical Thinking: Encourage critical analysis and interpretation of historical events, challenging students to consider multiple perspectives and draw conclusions.
• Community Engagement: Connect local communities and organizations to enrich learning experiences and promote civic engagement.
• Creativity: Encourage students to express themselves creatively through various mediums, such as art, music, drama, and multimedia presentations.
• Reflection: Facilitate opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and personal connections to Black History, fostering empathy and understanding.
• Collaboration: Promote collaboration among students, allowing them to share ideas, resources, and perspectives to enhance their projects.
• Feedback and Evaluation: Provide constructive feedback throughout the project process and establish clear criteria for assessment to ensure accountability and growth.
• Celebration: Celebrate students’ achievements and contributions to Black History projects, recognizing their efforts to honor and commemorate the legacy of Black individuals and communities.
• Continued Learning: Encourage ongoing exploration and discussion of Black History beyond the project timeline, fostering a lifelong commitment to learning and advocacy for social justice.

By following these tips, educators can create engaging and meaningful Black History project ideas that empower students to explore, learn, and appreciate the rich and diverse history of Black communities.

Final Thoughts

Studying Black history is essential for understanding the complexities of our society and promoting inclusivity and equity. 

By learning about Black individuals and communities’ struggles, achievements, and contributions, we gain insights into the ongoing fight for justice and equality. 

Today, more than ever, it’s crucial to recognize the significance of Black heritage and its relevance to contemporary issues. 

I encourage students to engage in meaningful projects that honor and celebrate Black history, fostering empathy, understanding, and a commitment to creating a more just and inclusive world for all. Together, let’s continue to learn, advocate, and celebrate Black heritage every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. why is black history month celebrated in february.

February was chosen to honor the birthdays of two iconic figures in Black history: Frederick Douglass (February 5th) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12th). However, it’s crucial to remember that Black history is significant year-round.

2. How can I learn more about Black history beyond Black History Month?

There are numerous resources available, including museums, documentaries, books, websites, and educational initiatives. Engaging with the Black community directly through conversations and events can also be extremely enriching.

3. What are some common misconceptions about Black history?

Unfortunately, many misconceptions persist, such as portraying slavery as the entirety of the Black experience or overlooking the significant contributions of Black people in various fields throughout history.

4. What are some ways I can actively support the Black community?

Support Black-owned businesses, advocate for racial justice initiatives, educate yourself and others about systemic racism, and amplify the voices of Black creators and influencers.

5. What are some inspiring figures in Black history that I can learn about?

The list is vast and diverse! Consider exploring individuals like Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Madam C.J. Walker, George Washington Carver, Shirley Chisholm, and countless others who made significant contributions.

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