🌳 Let’s Grow Curiosity: Black History Month

Big Question 🧐

How have Black leaders, creators, innovators, and everyday heroes shaped our world—past and present?

Black History Month is a time to explore stories of resilience, creativity, courage, and impact. These resources are designed to help K–8 students learn through stories, games, videos, art, and hands-on activities, meeting learners where they are and encouraging meaningful conversations at home.

Read-Alouds, Books & Stories

Stories are one of the most powerful ways for students to connect with history.

Great for:

• Building empathy and understanding

• Introducing important historical figures

• Family discussions and reflection

Ideas for families:

• Listen to a read-aloud together

• Pause to talk about challenges and choices

• Ask: What would you have done?

Free Read-Aloud Videos (YouTube):

• The Story of Ruby Bridges by George Ford | Children's Read Aloud Book

• Mae Among the Stars 🚀 Kids Book Black History Month Mae Jemison Astronaut Read Aloud Story

• Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad - Read Along for Black History Month

• I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes/ Reading with Mr. Ramos/ Read Aloud

Picture books are perfect for younger students, while biographies and historical fiction work well for upper elementary and middle school learners.

Check out this collection on Epic Books:

https://www.getepic.com/collection/179187/black-history-month?utm_source=t2t&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=collection&share=54091114794

Educational Videos & Resources

Great for:

• Visual and auditory learners

• Introducing new topics

• Reinforcing learning through storytelling

Resources:

• Black History Month | National Geographic Kids

• Celebrating Black History & Culture | Celebrating Black History & Culture | PBS LearningMedia

Pair videos with a quick drawing, journal response, or discussion question to deepen learning.

🖼️ Explore History Through Art & Culture

Google Arts & Culture offers interactive exhibits focused on Black history, artists, inventors, musicians, and civil rights leaders.

Students can:

• Explore museum collections

• Learn about influential Black artists

• Discover historical moments through photos and artifacts

Virtual Exhibits:

• Black History Month Collection Black History Month | PBS KIDS for Parents

• Black Artists and Creators: Search — Google Arts & Culture

• Black History, Black Voices | Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Historical Society shares powerful stories, videos, and primary sources that center Black voices and lived experiences. This free resource helps students explore history through personal narratives, making Black history meaningful, authentic, and engaging for upper elementary and middle school learners.

• Kid-Friendly Ideas for Celebrating Black History Month - Minnesota Children's Museum from the Children's Museum of Manhattan offers creative, age-appropriate activities that help kids learn through art, play, and conversation. This free resource provides simple ways for families to explore Black history together in meaningful, hands-on ways.

This is a great way to blend art, history, and cultural appreciation into one experience.

🎮 Online Educational Games & Interactives

Learning through play helps students engage with history in a meaningful way.

Great for:

• Timeline exploration

• Civil rights movement learning

• Problem-solving and critical thinking

Interactive & Inquiry-Based Ideas:

• Build a timeline of key events

• Explore cause-and-effect decisions during the Civil Rights Movement

• Research an inventor, artist, or leader and present findings creatively

Resources:

• National Museum of African American History & Culture – Timeline

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories Students can explore key moments in Black history through an interactive timeline that highlights people, movements, and cultural milestones.

• iCivics – Civil Rights & Civic Action Games

Teachers | iCivics While not Black-history-only, these games help students understand fairness, laws, protest, and civic decision-making—perfect for Civil Rights learning connections.

• Mission US – Interactive Historical Role-Playing Students step into the shoes of young people in historical moments, making choices and seeing how decisions affect outcomes. Excellent for empathy and critical thinking. No Turning Back - MissionUS

🧠 Articles & Informational Texts

Reading real-world articles helps students practice comprehension while learning about important people and events.

Great for:

• Upper elementary and middle school students

• Research and discussion

• Connecting past events to present-day impact

Free Educational Articles:

• National Geographic Kids – Black History Month https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-history-month

• Smithsonian Learning Lab – Black History Collections Students explore curated collections and answer guiding questions, making this ideal for inquiry-based learning and mini research projects. Search | Everything | Smithsonian Learning Lab

Encourage students to:

• Highlight key ideas

• Write one thing they learned

• Ask a follow-up question

🎧 Learning Through Video Platforms

Platforms like YouTube host many educator-created channels focused on Black history for kids.

Helpful tip: Preview content ahead of time and choose age-appropriate videos that encourage understanding, not fear.

Search ideas:

• “Black History for Kids” https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=black+history+for+kids

• “Black Inventors for Kids” https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=black+inventors+for+kids

🌱 Black History Is American History

Black History Month isn’t just about the past—it’s about understanding how history continues to shape our world today.

Students can explore:

• Courage in the face of injustice

• Creativity through art, music, and innovation

• Leadership, perseverance, and hope

  
  

Learning happens best when curiosity leads the way.

🌿 Let Curiosity Lead the Way

Whether your student learns through stories, videos, art, discussion, or play, Black History Month offers meaningful opportunities to grow understanding and appreciation.

Learning can happen anywhere. And these stories are always worth exploring.