The Color of Us - Celebrating Diversity

February is Black History Month, and provides an opportunity to speak with our children about the value of diversity as well as the countless famous African Americans in our history who were very influential in the way we live today. This is a time where we should be helping to raise the voices of famous African Americans, past and present, and teach our children about the richness in their culture.

EXTRAS:

Enjoy the wonderful read aloud "I am Enough" written and read by Grace Byers below

At the End of the Craft-a-long

Poetry by Amanda Gorman
Mini books from Education.com
Dancing with Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Read aloud - "I Am Enough" read by Grace Byers (Author)

Step by Step

First you will need to print the craft-a-long sheet. We have a pre-colored and a blank version so you can choose where to start
You will also need crayons/markers/pencil, Scissors something to make holes in the paper and some ribbon/yarn or string
If you have them the Crayola Colors of the World Crayons/Markers/Pencils make this craft even more of an opportunity to discuss diversity and how special we all are.

Next Steps

This craft is simplicity itself, a chance to talk and make at the same time, or enjoy the story/learn from the PBS presentation.

Color and then cut out your shapes or the other way round like we did here.
Use a hole punch or sharp pencil and eraser to make holes in the 'hands'

3. Using a piece of ribbon/yarn/floss feed through the holes.

Make and decorate as many as you like and string them together so they are holding hands.

If you have any doilies, glitter, stickers etc you can add more detail to your characters.

Keep learning and making - Extras

Take learning further:

Read and create a mini-book - Mae Jemison and Misty Copeland
Listen to Amanda Gorman - The Miracle of Morning
Learn more about Race and Racism - PBS - https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism
Dance Stepping and South African Gumboot Dancing with SPAC - https://www.spaclearninglibrary.org/celebrate-black-history-month

Amanda Gorman reads her poem, ‘The Miracle of Morning’

Thank you to Mrs Maggy White and her son Nick White (1st grade) for help realizing and creating this Craft-a-long

More Crafts are coming your way soon, keep your eye out and we will have more ways to collect craft-a-long packets and more in store to help you through this special year.

If you didn't collect all our Summer Craft-a-longs please visit the Craft-a-long section on the site and if you have any ideas for future activities please contact changoartsined@gmail.com or join us for one of our virtual PTA meetings