7 Black History Books to Use in Your Classroom

Black History Month is almost over, and so far we’ve touched on some activities that we can do in the classroom based on African American heroes. But we still have five more days to celebrate officially. You should be covering some of this in your gen ed curriculum but anyways. 

In this post Im going to focus on some books that highlight some African American heroes and their stories. The subject matter of some of these books are a little bit heaver in terms of racism and the effects of desegregation, but all tell stories in a really sweet way. They will not only teach your little chickadees some history but also give them great joy in the telling of them.  I really enjoy the books here because they are written to the children’s level and touch on concepts and Black History pretty accurately. I also actually own some of these books from my childhood so those do have some nostalgia for me. Hope you enjoy my recommendations!

Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker

Description: This books chronicles the story of Sarah Walker, also known as Madam CJ Walker who was the first woman to become a self-made millionaire through selling her own line of hair-care products, made specifically for women of color. This book is recommended for third and fourth graders.

What it’s good for: Use this in your social studies unit or literacy unit. It’s a great way to talk about entrepreneurship and business in a simple way. Have your students come up with something to sell – like a class bake sale – and have them organize everything from who will bring what, how to advertise and when it will be. Even better if you let them chose a charity to donate the proceeds to.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

Description: Centered around Ruby Bridges- the six year old African American girl who was on the first to integrate the public school system- tells the story of how faith, determination and perseverance can have big impacts on the world we all share. Best for first grade and up.

What it’s good for: This is great for discussion on racism and prejudice. Have discussions on whether or not it is fair to judge someone based on the color of their skin. Talk about how they can help change things in their community just like Ruby did.

Uncle’s Jed’s Barbershop

Description: Uncle Jed is the only black barber, in the 1920s. Since he doesn’t have a shop, he travels all over to cut people’s hair. He has a dream of opening his own barbershop, but he has many hurdles in front of him including the financial crisis from great depression, racism, and hospital bills of his niece Sarah Jean. Best for 2nd grade and up.

What it’s good for:  Similar to Madam CJ Walker this book is a great way to talk about entrepreneurship and determination. This is a great book to add to your library for leisurely reading or to incorporate into literacy activities.

A band of angels

Description:  Though the story is fiction, it does the tell the real life story of Ella Shepard Moore, who becomes the pianist for the Jubilee Singers of Fisk. Fisk was opened with the intent of educating former slaves and to prevent it from shutting down, the Jubilee singers traveled the country singing. Best for 3rd grade and up.

What it’s good for: The Jubilee Singers are known for their beautiful renditions of spirituals. Incorporate some music into your students day by studying the history behind negro spirituals. The Fisk Jubilee Singers are still around! Go on youtube and see if you can find any videos of their recent performances to share with the class.

Ellen’s Broom

Description: This book focuses on some traditions that slaves created since they did not have many rights of their own. One in particular being jumping the broom which was their way of signifying an official marriage. Ellen’s parents are finally able to get married in a courthouse, during Reconstruction and Ellen brings the broom to seal the deal the family way.  Best for 2nd grade and up.

What it’s good for: This is a great way to talk about the different traditions African Americans have developed over the years and how they gave rights to themselves when no one else would.  Invite students to share rituals/traditions they might have with their own family. It might also be fun to think of some ‘traditions’ or ‘rituals’ you all can make for the class.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip

Description: This book tells the story of George Crum a Native American/ African American man who is credited with inventing the potato chip in 1853. It details the hardships he endures to do so, in a light hearted way. Best for first grade and up.

What it’s good for: This is really good for a fun lesson on cooking! Learn all about the process of making chips and how learn about how they are offered in many different flavors today. If your school allows, bring in all kinds of chips and compare/contrast their flavors!

Granddaddy’s Turn a Trip to the Ballot box

Description: One of the more heart-tugging books on the list tells the story of a boy excitingly watching his granddaddy go to vote legally for the first time. However, granddaddy is turned away after not being able to read, one of the requirements for African Americans to be able to vote. When Michael is finally able to vote, he brings a picture of his granddaddy along with him. Best for first grade and up.

What it’s good for:  Great way to incorporate Black History into your discussion of government. Talk about how African Americans were not always able to vote like everyone else, and when they were finally able too, they were met with tests many weren’t able to pass. Discuss fairness with your class and what it means to be fair.

These are just some of the many books that touch on some aspects of Black History, my personal favorites. I hope you can take some into your class and utilize them.

Do you use any of these books in your class? How do you incorporate them? Do you disagree with my list or want to add more suggestions? Tell me in the comments! 

6 Black History Month Lessons that aren’t about Slavery or Civil Rights (Elementary Grades)

February brings lots of interesting holidays and celebrations. There’s Ground Hog Day (six more weeks of winter- seriously), Valentine’s Day (more on that soon), Presidents Day (more on that too!), and perhaps most notably is that it’s Black History Month. So it’s safe to say that children of all ages will be very busy learning about all these holidays.

Some Fun Facts about Black History Month (in case you’re ever on Jeopardy, or just want to seem smart in front of your friends):

• BHM started out as “Negro History Week” in 1926 by Carter Woodson (the second African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard).
• “Negro History Week” was in the second week of February.
• This week was chosen to honor the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, not because it was the shortest month (though that is a weird coincidence hmm).
• In 1976, Negro History Week was expanded to Black History Month, as we know it, to the entire month of February.
• Each year, Black History Month has a theme. Last year, 2016, was “Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memory”. This year’s theme is “The Crisis in Education.”

I LOVE this year’s theme, it’s an important one at the right time (not to get too political, but look at our new Sec of Ed- enough said). Education, in general, is suffering, and especially when it comes to Black/African American children and other children of color. I can (and probably will) write for ages about this particular topic, however, I will spare you my very strong opinions on this post and stick to the script.

Based on my own experiences in the classroom, as a student, an observer, or co-teacher, teachers often struggle a bit when it comes to Black History Month. They tend to stay to the tied and true- you know- MLK, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and now former President Obama. They probably will touch on slavery a bit too, the civil rights movements, and then touch on Obama and maybe some pop culture icons, but that tends to be it. However, there is so much more to Black History than these leaders (yes, they’re important, but seriously how many times are we going to learn the same facts about them). Black people have contributed so much to society and while we should be incorporating their stories into our general social studies curricula, we should take this month to really celebrate their achievements!

This whole month I will be launching activities, recommending books, and shedding light on some unknown figures all based on Black History Month. I will try to cover Kindergarten through fourth grade!

For your Pre-K/Kindergarten Class:

1. Garrett Morgan:

Garrett Morgan is an African American inventor who invented many things, most notably the Traffic Light in 1923. Though this invention changed the world, when he sold it to General Electric he only received $40,000. This can be a really fun invention to talk about with your little chickadees.

You can start off by talking to them about inventors and how people make things all the time to make living easier. Bring in real life pictures of Morgan and traffic lights and explain how it works.

Then you can have children make their own traffic light art. You can be pretty creative with this. You can cut out red, yellow and green circles out of construction paper and have children glue it onto black paper. You can also have children paint the circles. For kindergarten you can have them write one fact about Garrett Morgan on the bottom.

Also you can teach them how to play the game “Red Light, Green Light” for some movement!

2. Sarah Boone and George Sampson:

                                      

Sarah Boone was awarded a patent for the ironing board in 1892. George Sampson received his patent for the automatic clothes dryer that same year. Sounds like 1892 was a good year for clothes!

These inventions are super easy to incorporate into your lessons. First talk to children about the people who invented them. Remember this is Black History Month so make sure you mention they’re black! (kind of the point here). Bring in pictures of an ironing board and clothes dryer. Explain their purpose (make sure they know ironing requires heat). Reinforce that they should only try to use these with the help of an adult.

Bring in lots of old clothes from home and let children practice washing, drying and ironing clothes. Make a washer and dryer out of cardboard boxes. You can simply use a rectangular block as an iron, or bring in an old one (just don’t plug it in for them)! For extra effect you can bring in empty laundry detergent bottles and dryer sheet boxes. Even more fun if children dress up before hand to make the clothes “dirty”.

For your First/Second Grade Class

3. Jackie Robinson:

He was the first African American to play on a major league baseball team (Brooklyn Dodgers) in 1947. He later went on to be named Rookie of The Year, National League MVP and World Series champ. This is a great achievement to teach because it gets your kids moving!

Talk about sports during circle time and have children share their favorites and then tell them about Jackie Robinson and his achievements. Read the book Young Jackie Robinson to them. After, discuss how that now people can play whatever sports they want no matter what their skin looks like.

Bring in a real baseball and baseball bat and let children hold them and tell them how baseball works. Find a plush baseball and let kids play with it during gym.

Let children make their own baseball craft by cutting out big circles on white paper. Let them draw two curved lines down in red marker and let them paint the red stripes (or cross stitching) across the line with red finger paint!

4. Dr. James McCune Smith

Dr. James McCune Smith was the first African American doctor. He received his medical degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland in 1837. The New York native had to travel so far because no American medical school would admit him. He then became the first African American to open a pharmacy in the United States.

Dr. Smith is a great example to use in doing whatever it takes to achieve your dreams and not letting anyone stop you. Talk about how since no one in American wanted to help him he went all the way to Scotland to chase his dreams.

For Dramatic Play, have white coats, stethoscopes, thermometers, and more to help children explore what doctors do. Beforehand, go over each instrument and what they do. Invite children to share experiences they may have had at the doctors.

For science you can talk about the bones in the body and have children learn about the bones of the body! Cut out some paper body parts and have children paste together a paper skeleton.

Maybe even bring in the game Operation and teach children how to play!

For your Third/Fourth Grade Class

5. Misty Copeland:

Misty Copeland is my personal favorite because she is truly empowering. I highly recommend reading her autobiography on your own! Misty Copeland is the first African American dancer to be promoted to the role of “principal” with the American Ballet Theatre, and only the third African American dancer to earn the role of principal in any major company. Misty Copeland not only breaks color barriers but body type barriers, considering she is not the average ballerina body type.

Talk to your children about Misty Copeland’s story (there are plenty of youtube videos!) Discuss how she was discriminated against for her skin color and body type, and that even today this still happens. Focus on the fact that discrimination shouldn’t deter you from your dreams.

For writing, have children complete any of the following prompts: “Thank you Misty for..” “When I grow up I want to…..” or  “If I could change one thing in the world…” Complete the writing process with these and hang them up on a bulletin board for everyone to see!

Get your third and fourth graders involved in the world of dance! Turn on some music and have a dance party to celebrate Misty’s accomplishment, maybe even play some classical music for a few minutes and examine the style of ballet. You can expand this to other styles too for a broader scope.

6. Guion Bluford Jr. and  Mae Jemison

              

Guion Bluford Jr (fun fact he’s from Philadelphia PA!). and Mae Jemison are the first African American man and woman to travel into space in 1983 and 1992, respectively.

Talk all about space with your children! Have students chose one to research (you can provide pre-selected links to help), and write a one page report on them. After the writing process is complete hang them up on a bulletin.

In science, students can learn all about space travel and some fun facts about space. Watch videos of space shuttles being launched into space. After, have them construct a model of a space shuttle!

I hope these give you some ideas to really make Black History come alive for your students. Remind your students that Black History does NOT end at slavery or civil rights. African Americans are so much more than that, and have contributed- and will continue to contribute- to the world with great talents.

Have any ideas for Black History Month? Do you agree or disagree with the ideas in this post? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!