Black History Month Activities for Kids

Black History Month is a time to learn about and celebrate the achievements, history and culture of Black people. In the United States and Canada it's celebrated in February, and in the UK and Ireland in October. These activities help children learn in age-appropriate ways and can be used all year round.

Why it matters

Black History Month helps children:

• Learn about inspiring people who changed history, science, the arts and sport.
• Understand fairness, courage and standing up for what's right.
• See the contributions of Black people as a vital part of history, not a side note.
• Celebrate diversity and the richness of different cultures.

Black history is history. The month is a starting point, not the only time to learn.

People to learn about

Choose a few people and learn about their lives. Some examples:

• Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and helped many others to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
• Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat in 1955 helped spark the Montgomery bus boycott.
• Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the civil rights movement famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech.
• Ruby Bridges, who at six years old was one of the first Black children to attend an all-white school in the American South.
• Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts into space.
• Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space.
• George Washington Carver, a scientist and inventor known for his work with peanuts and crops.
• Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-born nurse who cared for soldiers in the Crimean War.
• Maya Angelou, a poet and writer.

Activities

1. Biography posters. Children choose one person, draw a portrait and write three facts about them.
2. Timeline. Make a class or family timeline of important events and people.
3. "I have a dream" writing. Children write and illustrate their own dreams for a fairer world.
4. Science and inventions. Learn about Black inventors and scientists and try a related experiment. See STEM activities at home.
5. Space connection. Learn about Katherine Johnson and Mae Jemison and color space pages.
6. Art. Explore the work of Black artists and create art inspired by their style.
7. Music. Listen to music from different eras, such as jazz, blues, gospel, soul and hip hop, and talk about how they connect.
8. Read together. Choose picture books and biographies written by Black authors and featuring Black characters.
9. Who am I? game. Give clues about a historical figure and let others guess.
10. Kindness and fairness. Talk about fairness, then make kindness posters. See diversity and inclusion activities.

Talking about difficult history

Children may ask about slavery, segregation and racism. Answer honestly and at their level:

• Younger children: focus on fairness. "A long time ago, some laws were very unfair, and brave people worked hard to change them."
• Older children: share more history and talk about how these events still affect people today.

It's okay to say "I don't know, let's find out together."

Ideas by age

Ages 4–6: picture books, simple biographies, fairness discussions and art.

Ages 7–9: biography posters, timelines, "I have a dream" writing and Who am I? games.

Ages 10–12: research projects, discussing civil rights in more depth, exploring music history and local history.

Beyond February (or October)

• Include diverse books on your shelves all year.
• Learn about local Black history in your town or city.
• Celebrate Black achievements in science, art and sport whenever they come up.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Only talking about the same two or three people. Explore a wider range of stories.
• Focusing only on struggle. Celebrate joy, culture and achievement too.
• Treating it as a one-month topic. Weave it into learning all year.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black History Month?

February in the United States and Canada; October in the UK and Ireland.

How do I explain racism to a young child?

Keep it simple: "Some people were treated unfairly because of the color of their skin. That's wrong, and people worked hard to change it."

What are good books for Black History Month?

Look for picture books and biographies written by Black authors, and ask your librarian for recommendations for your child's age.

A four-week plan

Week 1: changemakers. Read about Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. Talk about courage and fairness, and make a "brave choices" poster.

Week 2: science and space. Learn about Katherine Johnson, Mae Jemison and George Washington Carver. Try a simple experiment and color a space page.

Week 3: arts and music. Listen to jazz, blues and gospel. Read a poem by a Black poet and create art inspired by a Black artist.

Week 4: our community. Find out about local Black history, interview a community member if you can, and present biography posters to the family or class.

How do I choose age-appropriate books?

Ask your librarian, look for award lists for children's books by Black authors, and read books yourself first so you can prepare for questions.