Educational Resources
Welcome to our Black History Month Columbus resources page.
Here, you will find a variety of resources for families and educators looking to learn more about and celebrate Black history and culture in our community. Whether you are a parent looking for activities to do with your children, or an educator searching for lesson plans and materials, this page has something for everyone. Additionally, we have included a section dedicated to mental health resources that also highlights Black and African American contributions to the mental health movement. We hope that these resources will help to promote understanding, appreciation, and celebration of the contributions and experiences of Black people in America.
General
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10 Ideas for Teaching Black History Month
As we celebrate and commemorate Black History Month, it is important to engage students in activities that get them to think broadly and critically about the Black experience in all of its complexity. Instruction should incorporate history, point of view, politics, struggle, first-person experience, art, literature and data. Here are ten ideas for teaching about Black History Month.
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Black History Month Lessons & Resources
All people, regardless of race or place, deserve the same rights and freedoms. For too long, Black and brown people in America have been denied equality because of the color of their skin. To help students understand the reality of Black people's experiences in American history, their impact on American culture, and to celebrate their achievements, we've compiled a selection of lesson plans that cover a variety subjects and that can be adapted to fit multiple grade levels.
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Black Lives Matter Resource Pack
Black History Month Resources
Black Lives Matter Books
Book recommendations for Young Children, Teens, and Adults
Women
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Trailblazing Black Women
By participating in this lesson, you will be able to:
Discover and identify Black women who have made a real impact on music, social justice, women’s rights, politics, and more.
Listen to the message of a young Black woman today and reflect on it in your own words.
Extend what you know about these women by researching, writing, and even broadcasting about their impact.
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Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement
In this lesson, you will learn about:
the lives of Black women who fought for equality in the United States justice system.
Black female artists and entertainers who broke racial barriers.
Rosa Parks, the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” and other Black female activists.
what Black women did to help desegregate the educational system.
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Irish Fortune
Calisha Yates-Clark is a Columbus East graduate who has played professionally in North America and Europe. This winter, she led the Phoenix Rockets to Ireland's League Cup Championship, her first championship. Yates-Clark played for Mel Good and Danny Brown at East, graduating in 2005.
Music
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Black Music Sets the Beat
In this lesson, you will learn about:
African Americans who composed, performed, and recorded jazz, blues, and gospel music.
how phonographs, movies, and radio spread Black music.
how jazz, blues, and gospel music changed over the years.
how jazz, blues, and gospel influenced each other and helped create new forms of popular music.
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Moments from Black Pop Culture
In this lesson, you’ll learn about:
the beginnings of modern Black pop culture in radio.
how Black radio personalities engage the Black community.
how civil rights leaders used radio to advocate for social justice and gender equality.
Sports & Art
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Meet Some of the Black Athletes Who Shaped Sports
In this lesson, you will learn about:
the history of the participation of Black athletes in American sports.
how Black athletes have been remembered and honored.
the challenges Black male and female athletes have faced.
specific Black athletes that changed the course of American sports.
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Arts As Activism
In this lesson, you will learn about:
the diverse styles of African American artists from the 1920s to the present.
the ways in which Black artists document the lives of Black people.
how Black artists use their art to honor their heritage, affirm their identity, and change their communities.
Military
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African American Soldiers
Grade level: Middle school through high school
Estimated time: Four to five class periods
Specific Topic: African American involvement in the Civil War; contributions and hardships; government policy and propaganda
Subtopic: American Civil War
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African-American Roles in the Armed Forces During World War 2
Using critical thinking and observation skills as well as prior knowledge, students will gain familiarity or reinforce knowledge of African-American’s and the role they played in the armed forces during World War 2.
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Science
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African American Scientist Fair
Objective:
Identify the accomplishments of mathematics or scientists of African descent and their impact on American life
Research an invention or technology advancement by a mathematician or scientist of African descent.
Create a poster board with reports on the mathematician/scientist, one of his/her inventions along with a model of the invention.
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Ten Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About
Helping your students see the possibilities of careers in STEM fields means providing them with diverse role models. Black History Month provides teachers with an opportunity to feature the stories and voices of black scientists, engineers and mathematicians in the context of their science instruction. We have made a list of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors and mathematicians, along with media resources to help you bring their work—and stories—into your classroom.
Health
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Black History Month: Mental Health Resources
Black Lives Matter: Black Mental Health Matters. We stand in solidarity with the Black community. We are committed to working towards a world that enables equitable access to vital resources and support for all communities. Check the link below for specific mental health support & resources for the Black community.
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Mental Health America & Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, MHC member Mental Health America are highlighting Black and African American contributions to the mental health movement because they are oftentimes overlooked. Without recognizing the lack of representation of Black and African American people in the mental health movement, we do a disservice and continue to inflict harm.
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