The shortest month of the year is also one that’s jam-packed with special seasonal occasions to celebrate in the classroom. 

Of course, we all love to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our students, and most of us enjoy a long weekend to commemorate President’s Day. What I think is truly special, though, is that we get to recognize Black History Month throughout all of February. 

Black History Month Activities

Black History Month is the designated time of year when we direct our focus to the important contributions of African-Americans throughout history. It’s a time to honor their achievements and teach about their unique struggles, triumphs, and accomplishments. 

From slavery to Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation to the Civil Rights Act, from Frederick Douglass to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there is so much rich history and cultural value to be gained from a month of focused study. 

Today there are so many amazing classroom resources, lesson plans, and educational materials available. Just do a Google search for Black History Month lessons, and you’ll be blown away by how many thoughtful and creative ideas there are – you could truly spend a whole school year on these topics! 

My best advice is to reflect on your particular set of students this year, and choose activities and topics that will spark their interest. If you have a lot of artistic kiddos, maybe kick off the month with a block poster activity on Rosa Parks or a color-by-number about the Underground Railroad. 

Have a lot of kinesthetic, gotta-get-moving kiddos? Plan an interactive escape room activity to kick off Black History Month. Do your students love tech? Try a digital escape room that teaches about the Civil Rights movement. 

I have a ton of other resources at Think Tank Teacher you can check out as you plan your curriculum for Black History Month. Let me know how they work for you, and come over to share all your creative ideas with us on Facebook or leave a comment below.