Social Studies Black History Month Student Activities

Black History Month is a dedicated time to highlight Black Americans’ achievements and contributions across history (even though you can do it all year long!). Amplify these voices in the classroom and give students a chance to explore history, culture, and leadership through engaging activities.

Use Black History Month student activities and resources to help your classes see the world through different perspectives and connect historical contributions to their experiences today.

Jump to:

• Build engaging Black History Month units for students
• Explore Black arts, culture, and influence the classroom
• Highlight Black athletes and entertainers
• Teach students about Black leadership and influence
• Recognize Black leaders in STEM, business, and education
• Share inspirational quotes from Black leaders to inspire students

[Build engaging Black History Month units for students](id-unit)

Key takeaways:

• Use full or abbreviated units to teach Black history based on your available classroom time.
• Highlight historical events and cultural contributions.
• Connect past achievements to students’ experiences today.

What lessons can teachers include in a complete Black U.S. history unit?

The Newsela Social Studies Black U.S. History unit covers centuries of history, from West Africa to present-day achievements in the United States. These lessons can help students understand historical events, resilience, and cultural influence. Lesson topics include:

• What is Black U.S. History?
• West Africa to North America: Invasion, capture, and resistance (14th Century-1775)
• Independence for Whom? The Black Experience in the Revolutionary Era (1775-1820)
• Fighting for Freedom and Humanity: Legacy of the Civil War (1820-1877)
• Facing Backlash and Violence: The Hardening of Jim Crow (1877-1920)
• Forward or Backward? Black Resilience and Perseverance in a Changing World (1920-1950)
• Illusion of Equality: Course and Consequence of the Civil Rights Movement (1950-1970)
• A Job Unfinished: Fighting Racism and Oppression in the Modern Era (1970-Present)

How can you teach an abbreviated Black history unit?

Don’t have time to cover a full Black history unit over the month of February? Try an abbreviated version of the unit that focuses on topics like:

• Sustaining Black cultures in Colonial America
• Black stories from Antebellum America
• Black cultural renaissance of the 1920s and ‘30s
• Black trailblazing through the 20th century

Why is it essential to connect Black and U.S. history?

Black history and U.S. history are deeply connected. Yet Black contributions may be overlooked in standard stories and narratives. Teach students how these histories intersect to help them understand a more complete picture of the past and present. Share articles on topics like:

• Articles about high school students advocating for more inclusive history education.
• Profiles of Black inventors whose contributions shape everyday life, from agricultural tools to innovative designs.
• Stories of Black artists and curators who have expanded the diversity of art galleries across the country.

How can students connect Black current events and Black history?

Black history is ongoing and continues to shape today’s society. You can help students link historical events to modern-day experiences using resources on topics like:

• The #BlackPantherChallenge, a crowdfunding campaign to send young people to see Marvel’s “Black Panther” in theaters.
• The Tuskegee NEXT program, which provides mentorship and lessons for Black students pursuing careers as pilots.
• A student-curated exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts that represents diverse artists and their experiences.

[Explore Black arts, culture, and influence the classroom](id-art)

Key takeaways:

• Introduce students to influential Black musicians, artists, and writers.
• Connect historical and modern contributions in the arts and culture.
• Highlight empowerment through music, literature, and visual arts.

Who are some notable Black musicians and artists students should know?

Black artists have shaped music and visual culture in many ways. Introduce students to influential figures like:

• Singer Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul.”
• Opera singer Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, who forced white audiences to reconsider what an opera singer looked like.
• Painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, who emerged from New York’s Punk scene to become a well-known Neo-Expressionist artist.

How can students explore music and empowerment through Black culture?

Students can discover how Black music connects to cultural identity and expression. Engage your students with the following resources:

• Lessons on the history of Black music and its historical and cultural significance.
• Profiles of popular artists like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.
• An article on the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

How can students learn about famous Black authors and their books?

Black authors have shaped literature across genres and generations. Introduce students to their works to foster cultural understanding and inspire students. They can explore articles on topics like:

• Author Zora Neale Hurston and how she captured the poetry of Black folklife.
• Maxine Beneba Clark’s children’s book about modern fights for civil rights.
• Marley Dias’s #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign and her work to diversify young people’s reading lists.

What other cultural contributions have Black creatives made to U.S. history?

Beyond music, Black writers, illustrators, and fashion designers influence culture daily. Use Newsela Social Studies resources to show students:

• A visual history of Black hairstyles through the years.
• Historical and modern Black female cartoonists and illustrators.
• How actress Cicely Tyson paved the way for Black actors in entertainment.

[Highlight Black athletes and entertainers](id-sports)

Key takeaways:

• Teach about historical and modern Black athletes in February.
• Encourage discussions on representation and achievement.
• Connect sports lessons to broader historical contexts.

Who were influential Black athletes in history?

Introduce students to barrier-breaking athletes and their impact on sports history:

• Read an essay about why sports history is so important to American history.
• Assign a biography about track and field star Jesse Owens, the first Black athlete to win four gold medals at the Olympic Games.
• Discuss the history of segregated baseball leagues and the impact of Black players on the sport.

Who are notable Black athletes today?

Modern Black athletes continue shaping U.S. sports and culture. Share resources about famous Black athletes of today, like:

• Read boxing great Muhammad Ali’s obituary.
• Discover how tennis star Coco Gauff uses her voice off the court.
• Ask students to debate once and for all who the basketball GOAT is—Michael Jordan or LeBron James.

How does representation in sports and entertainment matter?

Representation inspires students and shapes culture. Teach students about Black actors, performers, and sports stars changing the face of their professions.

• Share an interview with actress Laverne Cox.
• Discover dancer Misty Copeland’s journey to becoming the first Black principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre.
• Learn more about late actor Chadwick Boseman’s legacy and the impact of his work in movies like “Black Panther” on the arts.

[Teach students about Black leadership and influence](id-leadership)

Key takeaways:

• Help students understand the traits and impact of historical and modern leaders.
• Connect lessons on leadership to students’ communities and experiences.
• Explore a variety of leadership examples, including political figures, pioneers, and youth changemakers.

What does leadership look like in Black history?

Students can explore how Black Americans have demonstrated leadership throughout U.S. history. Focus on examples of resilience, determination, and community influence with the following resources:

• Learn about the entrepreneurs who built Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street.”
• Hear stories from some of the first Black students at integrated schools in Virginia about their life-changing experiences.
• Discover the history of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and its significance in Black history, from Martin Luther King Jr. to today’s political climate.

How can you highlight the experiences of Black soldiers?

Black Americans have played an essential part in U.S. military history. Share lessons that help students understand their courage, resilience, and contributions to national defense. Use resources like:

• A biography on Toussaint L’Ouverture, known as Black Spartacus.
• A biography of Cathy Williams, the first documented female Buffalo Soldier.
• An article explaining how Black Americans fought for their right to serve in the country’s military organizations.

Who were key Black leaders, and what were their causes?

Highlight leaders who influenced change and shaped communities, like:

• The creators of “Sesame Street” and how it was designed to include and represent diverse communities.
• Civil rights leaders like Malcolm X and their advocacy for equity and rights.
• Boxer Muhammad Ali’s refusal to go to Vietnam, despite the draft.

How can students explore different types of Black representation in politics?

Political leadership offers another lens to help students explore Black influence and change in the U.S. Students can learn about historical and modern Black politicians who shaped policies and communities, like:

• Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States.
• Condoleezza Rice, the first Black woman secretary of state.
• Kamala Harris and Shirley Chisholm, two Black women who have run for president.

How can you introduce students to Black voices of the future?

Students can connect with emerging Black leaders to see how the next generation is making an impact today. Have them meet:

• Delphine Dauphine, a young entrepreneur who started her own cupcake business.
• Rajah Caruth, a teenager participating in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Development Program.
• National Youth Poet Laureate Patricia Frazier.

[Recognize Black leaders in STEM, business, and education](id-sci)

Key takeaways:

• Introduce students to innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators who have transformed STEM and business fields.
• Highlight the history and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Explore women's and youth contributions to inspire the next generation.

Who are influential Black STEM leaders?

Introduce students to Black pioneers in science, technology, engineering, and math, like:

• Jane Cooke Wright, who invented new chemotherapy methods to treat cancer.
• Granville T. Woods, who registered nearly 60 patents in his lifetime.
• Matthew Henson, an explorer who co-discovered the North Pole.

How have Black entrepreneurs and business leaders shaped industries?

Explore the history and impact of business leaders and innovative companies like:

• Ebony Magazine and the publication’s significance in Black America.
• Berry Gordy Jr., founder of the Motown record label.
• Atlanta’s Black tech scene, a place to recruit top talent in the industry.

Who are some pioneering Black women who have shaped history?

Highlight women whose leadership and achievements have influenced multiple fields, such as:

• Shirley Chisholm, whose historic 1972 presidential campaign made her the first Black woman and Black American overall to seek the office.
• Katherine Johnson, a NASA research mathematician who helped the United States become a contender in the 1960s “Space Race.”
• Josephine Baker, an entertainer and French spy who fought against Nazi Germany and other Axis powers during World War II.

Why was Tulsa’s Black Wall Street significant?

Teach students about the Greenwood District in Tulsa, a historic hub of Black wealth and entrepreneurship. Use the following lesson:

• Read about the historic Greenwood District in Tulsa and its destruction in 1921.
• Assign an article about how other Black Wall Street neighborhoods in America were destroyed.
• Work on a Write-Pair-Share worksheet to have students record and share their thoughts on the topic.

How can students learn about HBCUs?

Students can explore the history, culture, and academic significance of HBCUs with the following Newsela Social Studies lesson:

• Assign students an opinion article on how HBCUs have helped shape the education of Black female leaders.
• Have students read about the HBCUs in Atlanta, Georgia, and their role in the history of Black higher education.
• Extend the lesson by inviting students to research the HBCU of their choice and share what they’ve learned about the education and student life at that school.

[Share inspirational quotes from Black leaders to inspire students](id-quote)

Key takeaways:

• Start lessons with quotes that encourage reflection and discussion.
• Connect historical perspectives with modern-day leadership lessons.
• Use quotes as a daily tool to highlight perseverance, creativity, and courage.

How can you use quotes from Black leaders in class?

Choose quotes from Black leaders that inspire students while providing context on that leader’s historical or cultural impact. Choose quotes from eras like:

• The Antebellum Period, with quotes from Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth.
• The Progressive Era, with quotes from Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois.
• The Great Depression and Civil Rights Movement eras, with quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisy Bates.
• Modern-day Black leaders like former President Barack Obama and Shirley Chisholm.

Extend your Black History Month lessons with Newsela Social Studies

The resources we shared provide both windows and mirrors for students to explore Black history, culture, and leadership. But the lessons don’t have to stop here.

If you’re not a Newsela customer, sign up for Newsela Lite for free and start your 45-day trial of our premium content to access everything you need to teach about nearly any Heritage Month or historical event in your classroom.