Study Skill 14.9 Celebrating Black History Month in the Elementary Classroom (2022)

Black History Month 2022 banner

The above images were created by Mizzou Education scholar, N'ya Fritz. Ms. Fritz is a Mizzou junior majoring in secondary education – English and minoring in Black Studies. These images are part of Mizzou’s Black History Month celebration.

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness.

"The theme of Black History Month 2022, Black Health and Wellness, acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, healers, etc.) throughout the African continent and African diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well (Mizzou, College of Arts and Science, 2022)."

Happy Black History Month! The 2022 theme of Black Health and Wellness is as important in the kindergarten classroom as it is in the college classroom. This resource is a celebration of Black History Month. It aims to bring attention to mental health, wellness, and joy. Through these lessons we want to give scholars, particularly Black youth and children from historically marginalized backgrounds, bright, celebratory mirror books and activities. When young people are seen, affirmed, and celebrated, they are better equipped to tap into their genius. Diverse and representative literature and activities are preconditions for classrooms rich in belonging, inclusion, and justice.

This resource offers a starter list of activities, beloved books, and links for celebrating Black History Month and exploring the 2022 theme with young scholars. Our hope is that these activities stir in your classrooms a commitment to celebrate and affirm Black History all year round.

About the theme: https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/
About Black History Month: https://www.npr.org/

This teaching resource was lovingly prepared by Lisa DeCastro, Dr. Adrian Clifton, and Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver.

Lesson Plans

This resource is aligned with Mizzou Academy's core value of inclusion.

Belief

Diversity, inclusion, equity, and representation are vital to effective school communities.

Guiding Question

How can we cultivate a safe space and center a multiplicity of perspectives?

Mizzou Academy is committed to continued, intentional development of inclusive, culturally sustaining, and antiracist practices, curriculum, and instruction. Our design process and professional learning draws on wisdom and examples from many different cultural and identity backgrounds, including, but not limited to, youth voices, people of color, women, indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and multilingual scholars. We practice intentionality in the language we use (e.g., non-gendered and people-first); the messages sent by images, stories, and examples; and the ways we honor home language.

The following lessons focus on the following key terms: Black Joy, Healing, Ancestors, Mindfulness.

Click on each of the following headings to open the lesson plan for each topic.

YOU are Every Good Thing
Book Study on Being an Upstander, Caring, and Mattering

Resources:

I Am Every Good Thing

Author: Derrick Barnes

Illustrator: Gordon C. James

Author Video:

Video: Derrick Barnes/ I Am Every Good Thing

Activity Description: Read aloud and book page creation

Gordon C. James’ illustrations are stunning.Take a picture walk through the book before reading. Ask students what they notice in the art and what predictions they have about the story.

Then read the book together. Pause to ask students if they can relate to the pages. There are many opportunities for connection as Barnes talks about sports, music, swimming, family, science, and learning.

Upstander. The author writes, “Although I am something like a superhero, every now and then, I am afraid. I am not what they might call me, and I will not answer to any name that is not my own.” Unpack this page with kids.

What might the author be talking about?
When are times you have felt afraid?
When are times you have felt proud?
Why is it hurtful to call someone a name or something they are not?
What could you do if you saw bullying happening on the playground, online, or in your neighborhood?

Care. The author writes, “I am tight hugs, a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on–if you have to. I hope you never have to. I am here.”

How does the child on this page take care of others?
What kinds of care do you appreciate when you are sad?
How can you take care of others when they are sad?

Mattering. The last page of the book reads, “And without a shadow of a doubt, I am worthy to be loved. I am worthy to be loved.” Read this page over and over until students have it memorized and then recite it together.

Once you have read and discussed the book, give students paper and art materials to create their own book page beginning with the words “I am…” With older students you can also explore Barnes’ use of simile and metaphor. Once complete, put the book pages together to form a new class book. Read the book together. You might title it, “Worthy to be Loved.”

To close, tell the students we will get to hear from the author about why he wrote this book. Play the video linked above. Answer any questions students might have from the short video. Share that Barnes said he believed he had a moral obligation to write this book because these stories weren’t being told. What other stories aren’t being told? What books will you write out of love?

Connection to the 2022 theme: There are many important layers to this book related directly to Black Health and Wellness. In fact, I teach this text to seniors in my college ethics class. At its heart this is a book about childhood, Black joy, representation, and mattering. Barnes opens with a dedication to Black boys who have been killed by police violence and to his son. All children are worthy to be loved and deserve a beautiful childhood painted in bright colors. May we teach, learn, and love in a way that safeguards childhood, affirms dignity, and celebrates Black joy.

The Year We Learned to Fly
Book Study on Meditation, Healing, Ancestry, and Empowerment

Resources:

The Year We Learned to Fly

Written by Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrations by Rafael Lopez

Listen to a CBS interview with Jacqueline Woodson who explains the purpose behind writing the book and why she incorporates African Ancestry into the story: The Year We Learned to Fly:

Video: Author Jacqueline Woodson

Activity Description: Read Aloud, Dialogue, and Meditation Demonstration.

Before reading, spend time taking a picture walk. Ask students what they can tell you about the story through the colorful illustrations of Rafael Lopez.

Read the story aloud to the students. To make connections afterwards discuss the following:

Boredom. Sister and Brother had to stay inside the house because of a thunderstorm. They began feeling bored.

Have you ever been bored? Describe how it felt.
Think about a time when you had to stay inside your home. Maybe it was because of a thunderstorm, a snowstorm, or Covid-19. How did you feel? What did you do to pass the time?

Anger. Sister and Brother could not stop arguing. They argued about everything from whose turn it was to clean the house, to who needed to feed the dog. They fought and frowned.

Have you ever felt mad? Describe how it felt. What caused you to feel that way?
Do you have a sibling or friend that you fuss with?

Loneliness. When moving to a new school, Brother and Sister felt like they didn't fit in with the other kids.

Have you ever moved to a new school?
Have you ever felt lonely or like you didn't fit in?

Ancestors.The author wrote, “My grandma had learned to fly from the people who came before. They were aunts and uncles and cousins who were brought here in huge ships…”

People who have come before you are known as your ancestors. Think of something you have learned from your grandmother, grandfather, aunt, or uncle.
Describe a cultural practice or tradition that your ancestor(s) passed down to your family.

Meditation. Grandmother tells her grandchildren to “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours...Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing.”

What Grandmother is describing is Meditation. Meditation was passed down by her Ancestors. When we are feeling bored or trapped inside a situation, Grandma’s advice is to “use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours...Lift your arms, close your eyes and take a deep breath.” Ask students to join you as you take deep breaths and lift your arms together.
Choose one of the following videos or one of your choice to further guide students in meditation together.

In closing, talk to your students about how beautiful and brilliant their minds are. They are powerful enough to empower not only themselves but the world around them.

Possible Extension Activities:

Art. Grandmother said, “Nobody can even cuff your beautiful and brilliant mind.” Raphael Lopez chose to paint a bird flying with broken shackles as a way to depict breaking free. Close your eyes and imagine “Breaking Free” from something. What do you see? Think about what “Freedom” looks like to you. Paint your own picture.

Science. The story begins with a picture of a cocoon. It goes on to depict a beautiful butterfly flying in the sky. Use the following link from National Geographic Kids to explore the lifecycle of a butterfly with your students.

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/butterfly-life-cycle/

Connection to the 2022 theme:

Children are living in a difficult time right now. Social media and Covid-19 have made it even more difficult for kids to be kids. Boredom, loneliness, and anxiety are some of the emotions our children are experiencing today. What better way to honor Black History Month in the classroom than to practice what our ancestors have taught us: how to cultivate peace, release trauma, and empower ourselves through meditation.

Sulwe
Book Study on Identity, Strength, and Beauty

Resources:

Sulwe

Written by Lupita Nyong'o

Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Book Read Aloud by the Author:

Video: Lupita Nyong'o Reads "Sulwe"

Listen to the author’s story behind writing the book: Lupita Nyong'o shares powerful story behind new children's book, 'Sulwe'

Activity Description: Read aloud and dialogue.

Before reading, spend a few minutes looking at and observing the front cover of the book. Ask students what they notice about the character in the picture.

Introduce this quotation from the book: “Real beauty comes from your mind and your heart.”

Read the book aloud to the students. Pause as needed to check for understanding or ask students to retell story events in their own words.

Ask the following questions to engage the students and help them make connections to the text:

How is Sulwe the same or different from her family and friends?

How does Sulwe try to change her skin color? What did you feel when she tried to do this?

How are the characters “Day” and “Night” the same or different? How are their pet names different and why does that matter?

After reading the book, invite students to share their comments or questions. Ask the following questions:

What does Sulwe learn from her dream about the two sisters, Day and Night?

How does Sulwe feel about her dark skin at the beginning of the book? Does she feel the same at the end of the book? Explain how and why Sulwe changes.

What lessons did you learn from the story?

Help students discover the importance of feeling strong and beautiful from the inside out.

Remind students that our identity is a combination of what we look like on the outside and the values and personalities from our heart and mind.

Possible extension activities with scholars:

Self-Portraits—If possible, distribute mirrors to the class. Ask students to hold up the mirror to themselves to notice features they love about themselves (e.g. the curl of their, the brown twinkle in their eyes, the dimple on their right cheek, their missing tooth spot, etc.). If mirrors aren't available, brainstorm specific characteristics of their appearance (skin color; hair texture, color and style; eye shape and color; shape of face; body shape or size; and other characteristics like birth marks, freckles, etc.). Using a variety of art supplies (i.e., crayons, markers, paint—making sure that you have colors that represent all children’s hair, complexion, eye colors, etc.), invite students to create self-portraits. When the self-portraits are complete, display them in a gallery in the classroom. Invite students to share what makes their self-portrait (or their friend’s) unique and beautiful.

Name stories—We learn in the story that Sulwe’s name means star. Encourage students to ask their families about their name story and to write about it. Compile the students’ name stories in a class book.

Friends and Allies—In the beginning of the book, Sulwe shares that she doesn’t have many friends at school and is given pet names, like Blackie, Darkie, and Night, that make her feel good about herself. Ask students to share how they can help be a friend or ally to someone who is being teased. What can they say or do to help someone like Sulwe? Record a list of words or actions that friends and allies can do to stand up to name-calling or bullying

Connection to the 2022 theme:

Living up to other people’s expectations or standards of beauty is difficult to do especially as a child. This book spoke to me because as a child there were no characters in books or movies who looked like me or my family. The story of Sulwe is powerful because it teaches children of all ages to search and find their own inner beauty, confidence, and shine from within. Growing up with a sense of identity is connected to our wellbeing and emotional wellness.

Bonus resources: the Oscar-winning short by Matthew A. Cherry

Video: Hair Love

Pass the Love with Waffles and Mochi
Health, Food Insecurity, and Access

Resources

https://www.wafflesandmochi.org/—a collaboration between Michelle Obama, a Partnership for a Healthier America, and Waffles + Mochi
Video with Michelle Obama: "Creating Food Equity through Pass the Love w/ Waffles + Mochi"

Video: Creating Food Equity through Pass the Love w/ Waffles + Mochi

Activity Description:

Food insecurity became an even bigger issue when the pandemic impacted families’ lives in 2020. Most of the activities can be explored at home with adult supervision or even in the classroom during a health or science class.

Students can explore new ingredients to make healthier meals and earn badges through completing badge challenges.
There are also easy recipes to engage students in healthy cooking and meals.
Activities can be connected to the video read aloud: Rainbow Stew by Catherine Falwell.

Connection to the 2022 theme:

Food insecurity is a racial justice issue, and the pandemic has only exacerbated hunger and poverty in many communities of color. African American households experience food insecurity at higher rates than other communities across the United States. Former First Lady Michelle Obama helped launch the Pass the Love with Waffles and Mochi campaign. She is an active spokesperson for healthy eating and ensuring that families of all income levels have access to healthy and fresh food. With increased food security comes improved public health and wellness, especially for our Black communities.

Black Artist Spotlight: Alma Thomas

Alma Thomas painting

Image source and article on Alma Thomas

Resources

Introductory Video for Students on Alma Thomas: Alma Thomas
https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/alma-thomas

Activity Description: Abstract Art in the Style of Alma Thomas

Key words to introduce or review throughout the class discussion: abstract art, lines, colors, shapes, and repeat/repetition

Introduce Alma Thomas to the students. Alma Thomas was an African-American artist and teacher known for her colorful, abstract paintings.

Show students some examples of paintings by Alma Thomas on the following website, https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/alma-thomas, and click on the “Online Gallery.”

Invite students to share observations and comments about the art. Consider asking the following questions:

What colors, lines, shapes, or patterns do you notice?

How do you feel when you look at her paintings? What emotions come up for you?

What does the art remind you of?

Set up the materials needed (per student) for the art activity: white construction paper, an assortment of tempera paint, paintbrushes, paper plate to use as a palette for paint colors, small cup of water to rinse paint brush between colors.

Invite students to create their own art in the style of Alma Thomas. Ask them to think or talk about their favorite landscape or natural places as inspiration for their own art. Encourage them to think about the colors, shapes, and patterns they can use in their art.

Encourage students to try vertical or horizontal lines or a circular format for their abstract art. Remind them that Alma Thomas used small or dashed lines to create her art, rather than long brush strokes, and would fill the entire paper with colors. It may be helpful to display some of Alms Thomas’s art for students to be inspired for their own painting.

Connection to the 2022 theme

Representation matters everywhere, including in literature, science, leadership, and art. Through this lesson, scholars will learn more about a famous Black artist and create their own art which has been linked to positive social emotional learning and wellbeing.

Book Lists
Publisher Descriptions and Bonus Resources

Dr. Rudine SIms Bishop (1990) wrote, "Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. But if the light is right, the window becomes a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience”

To learn more about the "mother of multicultural literature," check out this feature from the Ohio State University.

With this in mind, below are a few of our favorite children's books that we have taught, read, loved, and passed along to our own children. We hope they find a beloved place in your classrooms.

Click each grade level below to open the corresponding book list.

Grades K-2

Mae Among the Stars—Roda Ahmed

A beautiful picture book for sharing and marking special occasions such as graduation, inspired by the life of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. An Amazon Best Book of the Month! A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts.

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination.

Video Read Aloud Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mfdqyBqT8

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race—Margot Lee Shetterly and Laura Freeman

Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers!

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good.

They participated in some of NASA's greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America's first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as "colored computers," and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.

"Finally, the extraordinary lives of four African American women who helped NASA put the first men in space is available for picture book readers," proclaims Brightly in their article "18 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018." "Will inspire girls and boys alike to love math, believe in themselves, and reach for the stars."

Jabari Jumps—Gaia Cornwell

Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash.

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.

Bigmama’s—Donald Crews

Donald Crews, the Caldecott Honor artist and award-winning creator of Freight Train, Truck, and many other classic picture books for young children, writes of his own childhood experiences visiting his grandparents in Florida. Share this book at home or in the classroom. Everyone will enjoy the memories of a perfect day in the country, exploring and playing, and the connections among family members across generations.

Four children travel with their mother, and when the train arrives in Cottondale, Florida, the summer at Bigmama's house begins! Donald Crews brilliantly evokes the sights, sounds, and emotions of a memorable childhood experience.

Beautifully and richly illustrated, this is a wonderful choice for family reading and classroom sharing. "A very special book by a superb artist and storyteller."—The Horn Book

A fun read-aloud, it also helps children ages 3 to 6 learn about how to share details of place in storytelling. Celebrate the bonds of family over generations with Donald Crews's evocative picture books Bigmama's and its companion, Shortcut.

WIlma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman —Kathleen Krull

This award-winning true story of Black Olympic runner Wilma Rudolph, who overcame childhood polio and eventually went on to win three gold medals, is illustrated by Caldecott medal–winning artist David Diaz.

Before Wilma Rudolph was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she'd run. And she did run—all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single Olympiad. This dramatic and inspiring true story is illustrated in bold watercolor and acrylic paintings by David Diaz.

Grades 3-5

Stuntboy In the Meantime—Jason Reynolds

A Schneider Family Award Honor Book for Middle Grade. From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you’ve never heard of, filled with illustrations by Raúl the Third!

Portico Reeves’s superpower is making sure all the other superheroes—like his parents and two best friends—stay super. And safe. Super safe. And he does this all in secret. No one in his civilian life knows he’s actually…Stuntboy!

But his regular Portico identity is pretty cool, too. He lives in the biggest house on the block, maybe in the whole city, which basically makes it a castle. His mom calls where they live an apartment building. But a building with fifty doors just in the hallways is definitely a castle. And behind those fifty doors live a bunch of different people who Stuntboy saves all the time. In fact, he’s the only reason the cat, New Name Every Day, has nine lives.

All this is swell except for Portico’s other secret, his not-so-super secret. His parents are fighting all the time. They’re trying to hide it by repeatedly telling Portico to go check on a neighbor “in the meantime.” But Portico knows “meantime” means his parents are heading into the Mean Time which means they’re about to get into it, and well, Portico’s superhero responsibility is to save them, too—as soon as he figures out how.

Only, all these secrets give Portico the worry wiggles, the frets, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis who is determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963—Christopher Paul Curtis

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree about an unforgettable family on a road-trip during one of the most important times in the civil rights movement.

When the Watson family—ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron—sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don’t realize that they’re heading toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history. The Watsons’ journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything.

The Story of Ruby Bridges—Robert Coles

The inspirational true story of Ruby Bridges.

The year is 1960, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her family have recently moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in search of a better life. When a judge orders Ruby to attend first grade at William Frantz Elementary, an all-white school, Ruby must face angry mobs of parents who refuse to send their children to school with her. Told with Robert Coles' powerful narrative and dramatically illustrated by George Ford, Ruby's story of courage, faith, and hope continues to resonate more than 60 years later.

The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA—Brenda Woods

The Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author tells the moving story of the friendship between a young white boy and a Black WWII veteran who has recently returned to the unwelcoming Jim Crow South.

For Gabriel Haberlin, life seems pretty close to perfect in the small southern town of Birdsong, USA. But on his twelfth birthday, his point of view begins to change. It all starts when he comes face-to-face with one of the worst drivers in town while riding his new bicycle--an accident that would have been tragic if Mr. Meriwether Hunter hadn't been around to push him out of harm's way.

After the accident, Gabriel and Meriwether become friends when they both start working at Gabriel's dad's auto shop, and Meriwether lets a secret slip: He served in the army's all-black 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. Soon Gabriel learns why it's so dangerous for Meriwether to talk about his heroism in front of white people, and Gabriel's eyes are finally opened to the hard truth about Birdsong--and his understanding of what it means to be a hero will never be the same.

Grade 6 and up

Take Back the Block—Chrystal D. Giles

Brand-new kicks, ripped denim shorts, Supreme tee—Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That—and hanging out with his crew (his best friends since little-kid days) and playing video games—is what he wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to.

But when a real estate developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks, the neighborhood Wes has lived his whole life, everything changes. The grownups are supposed to have all the answers, but all they're doing is arguing. Even Wes's best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn't about to give up the only home he's ever known. Wes has always been good at puzzles, and he knows there has to be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it . . . before it's too late?

Exploring community, gentrification, justice, and friendship, Take Back the Block introduces an irresistible 6th grader and asks what it means to belong—to a place and a movement—and to fight for what you believe in.

Look Both Ways—Jason Reynolds

From National Book Award finalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all the different directions kids’ walks home can take. This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy—

Talking about boogers.

Stealing pocket change.

Skateboarding.

Wiping out.

Braving up.

Executing complicated handshakes.

Planning an escape.

Making jokes.

Lotioning up.

Finding comfort.

But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.

Additional Teaching Resources

40 Black History Books to Read with Kids (Elementary)

Link: https://tinybeans.com/black-history-books-for-kids/slide/1

Celebrating Black Leaders (Elementary)

Link: https://www.pbs.org/parents/black-history-month

Short description: Diverse resources for Elementary school teachers and parents to use with their students. Videos, books, discussion starters, activities, and more!

Ten Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About (all grades)

Link: https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/ten-black-scientists-that-science-teachers-should-know-about-and-free-resources

Short description: Short profiles on Black Scientists and their contributions. Links are provided to lesson plans for multiple grade levels.

Black History Month - Teaching Articles on Ed Week

Link: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-black-history-month-should-mean-a-collection

Short: Description: Essays for teachers edited by Dr. LaGarrett J. King

“When translating Black history content knowledge into teaching practices that love and honor the humanity of Black people, we need also to rethink how we celebrate Black History Month. The original intent was less about creating space for Black history learning than enhancing already established Black history spaces (KIng, 2022).”

Study Skill 14.9 Celebrating Black History Month in the Elementary Classroom (2022)

YOU are Every Good ThingBook Study on Being an Upstander, Caring, and Mattering

Video: Derrick Barnes/ I Am Every Good Thing

The Year We Learned to Fly Book Study on Meditation, Healing, Ancestry, and Empowerment

Video: Author Jacqueline Woodson

Sulwe Book Study on Identity, Strength, and Beauty

Video: Lupita Nyong'o Reads "Sulwe"

Video: Hair Love

Pass the Love with Waffles and Mochi Health, Food Insecurity, and Access

Video: Creating Food Equity through Pass the Love w/ Waffles + Mochi

Black Artist Spotlight: Alma Thomas

YOU are Every Good Thing
Book Study on Being an Upstander, Caring, and Mattering

The Year We Learned to Fly
Book Study on Meditation, Healing, Ancestry, and Empowerment

Sulwe
Book Study on Identity, Strength, and Beauty

Pass the Love with Waffles and Mochi
Health, Food Insecurity, and Access