Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

Books:

• Black History Month: A library collection of all our resources that relate to Black History Month. This collection now includes links to all the resources listed below as well.

• Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement Outside the South: This is a reading list of books and other resources that educators can use to supplement their lessons. Note: some titles and materials are for adults.

Websites:

• The A&E History Channel - Black History Month: Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

• Library of Congress - Black History Month: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

• Mr. Donn's Black History Month: Lesson Plans & Activities

• National Geographic Kids - Black History Month: Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of Black History Month.

• National Museum of African American History & Culture - Smithsonian: Celebrating Black History Month: 

• NPR - Here's the Story behind Black History Month: and why it's celebrated in February.

• Sundown Town Map: A map of known and probable sundown towns in the United States by James W. Loewen, author of Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism (2006). In the book the author shares his extensive research about towns in which Black people had to leave by sundown or face arrest and violence - which he has documented largely in the Midwest and other Northern locales. Loewen and those who took over his research after his death created an interactive map of likley sundown towns across the country, which students and teachers can use to examine the history of segregation in their own cities and towns.

Teaching Resources:

These resources are available from The Sparkling Librarian:

• Black History Month Interactive Posters & 4 Square Activity

• Leland Melvin - Choice Board

• The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read & Mary Walker Timeline Activity

STEAM:

In honor of Black History Month, we aim to recognize notable scientific thinkers and engineers who made significant contributions to STEAM-driven enterprises: science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. The resources below provide links to valuable content for honoring some of the many Black Americans whose work in STEAM changed the trajectory of the modern world.

Teaching Resources for recognizing notable Black Americans in STEAM professions:

• 10 Black Innovators Who Have Made an Impact in STEM

• 16 Black STEM Innovators Who Have Defined Our Modern World: In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to highlight some of the individuals, past and present, who should be routinely recognized for their achievements.

• 17 Black Scientists, Engineers, & Leaders in STEM to Honor During Black History Month: From as early as the 1700s, Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and other professionals have made incredible contributions to STEM-related fields that still affect our lives today.

• Learn More About these 35 Scientists for Black History Month: February is Black History Month. Learn more about some of the many African American scientists and engineers who have made important contributions to science history.

• Making History: African American Pioneers of Science: Learn about these inspiring men and women.

• NSTA: Recognizing the Many Contributions of African Americans: From the invention of the three-light traffic light to the first moon-based observatory, African American mathematicians, scientists, and inventors have contributed extensively to our nation’s greatness.

• Ten Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About: ...And Some Free Classroom Resources for Your Instruction

Teaching Materials:

• 14 STEAM Classroom Activities to Celebrate Black History Month: February is a great time to celebrate the influence of African Americans in the STEAM fields in your classroom. These 14 activities can be applied to different grade levels and subjects depending on your needs. Together, they’re also a great idea board for integrating lessons about African American culture, milestones, and accomplishments into your year-round STEAM curriculum.  

• 16 Black History Month STEM Activities: Our modern world has been shaped by so many Black scientists, mathematicians, doctors, inventors, and other trailblazers in STEM. This Black History Month, let’s honor their achievements, reflect on their legacies, and celebrate those creating the future.

• Black American Pioneers of STEAM

Additional Resources:

• Hidden Figures: The untold story about three brilliant female African American NASA mathematicians who helped win the Space Race. An inspiring movie and an engaging implementation idea. Both the film and the book are available in the library

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: an eye-opening documentary about bioethics.