Observing Black History Month With Kids
In the United States, February is Black History Month. If you’re looking for ways to involve your kids, here are a few ideas…
Art & Craft Projects For Black History Month
- Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Learning Lab
- Try an art activity from the California African American Museum’s Workshop series
- Visit the Masters of African American Art Series from the Anyone Can Fly Foundation for artist lesson plans and workshops
- Watch this 10 African-American Artists You Should Know art lesson
- Explore the picture study resource collection from Heritage Mom
- Find a huge collection of Black History Month crafts for little ones from Happy Toddler Playtime
- Find Black artist-inspired projects from Tanya Brown Merriman
- Make a collaged community quilt inspired by the works of Romare Bearden and John Bigger from Dallas Museum of Art
- Explore lesson plans from The Museum of the African Diaspora
- Visit The Betye Saar Art Box project
- Explore the Schomburg Center’s Digital Collections
- Discover a new favorite artist with the Anti-Racist Art Teachers’ Black Artist list
Black History Month Children’s Book Lists
Our Favorite Places to Find Great Reading Recommendations for Kids
- Find a Black History Month picture book recommendation from Here Wee Read (with another list specifically curated for ages 3-5 here)
- Pick out a few new reads from the Black Children’s Books and Authors’ collection 60 Picture Books for Black History Month
- Visit the Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List for Kids
- Browse the Social Justice Books’ Black history book list (with options to sort by age group).
- Check out the Tuskegee Heirs a graphic novel series that’s part history, part sci-fi, and part action adventure (ages 7+)
Celebrating Black Children’s Book Authors: Read-Aloud Videos
Read along to Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews
Read along to The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Read along to Radiant Child: Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
Read along to Firebird by Misty Copeland
Read along to Who Are Your People by Bakari Sellers
Read along to All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Lesson Plans and Educational Resources
- Use the Black History Month Digital Toolkit + Resources from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Download the Joyful ABC Activity Booklet Series from the National Museum of African American History and Culture (for kids under 5)
- Explore K-12 lesson plans from The HistoryMakers
- Find Black History Month resources from the Center for Racial Justice in Education
- Visit Blackpast’s children’s page (created for 7-12 year-olds)
- Celebrate Black leaders with lessons and activity guides from PBS
- Find lesson plans for all grade levels from the National Education Association
- Visit The Zinn Education Project’s library of African-American teaching materials
- Download a Black History Activity Pack from Afrocentric Montessori
Music & Podcasts
Listen to the African Folktales with Miss Jo Jo Podcast (ages 3-8)
Listen and learn about Black history with the Hey Black Child podcast (ages 6+)
Watch Netflix’s Motown Magic animated series
Use TeachRock’s extensive collection of lesson plans (I’ve linked to their R&B set, but there’s much more to find!
Visit Carnegie Hall’s timeline of African American music
Explore resources from Music by Black Composers
Download printable coloring pages from the American Jazz Museum and color while you listen to the Jazz for Kids Series by the Jazz from Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Listen Now
COOKING WITH KIDS
- Teach Black history through African American cuisine
- Cook and read with this list of picture books about soul food and family
- Make a recipe from Recipes for Change by teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt
More Resources
- Watch Sesame Street’s Black History Month playlist together
- Download a free printable A-Z African American Visionaries poster
- Visit Britt Hawthorne’s list of 32 Children’s Activities for Black History Month
Celebrating diversity ALL year
National Black History Month
OBSERVED IN FEBRUARY
National Women’s History Month
OBSERVED IN MARCH
ARAB American Heritage Month
OBSERVED IN APRIL
Asian American Heritage Month
OBSERVED IN MAY
Jewish American Heritage Month
OBSERVED IN MAY
LGBTQ+ History PRIDE Month
OBSERVED IN JUNE
NATIONAL Disability Pride Month
OBSERVED IN JULY
Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
OBSERVED IN SEPTEMBER
Native American Heritage Month
OBSERVED IN NOVEMBER
