Black History Month Activities for Kids

February is known as Black History Month in the United States and beyond, and while of course Black people should be learned about and honored in our curriculum throughout the year, it gives us an opportunity to be more conscious about presenting Black stories (and hopefully some stories beyond the few people whose stories are always told) in the classroom.

For the youngest kids, reading books and doing crafts around figures in Black history are great places to start. The book ABC Black History and Me by Queenbe Monyei, for example, is an adorable little board book that presents the alphabet with words and famous figures from Black history (B is for brave and features Rosa Parks, Y is for youth and has a drawing of several young people, including Amanda Gorman, for example). The book includes a timeline at the back that names all the people and events shown in the book if you want to learn more.

No Time for Flashcards has a great art project for little kids inspired by Alma Thomas, a Black artist who used vibrant colors to represent the world around her. Older kids can learn about the work of folk artist William H. Johnson and make their own art like his. Check out the post at Art Projects for Kids to learn more. (There are also coloring pages and a printable tutorial here that would work for younger kids too.)

Speaking of coloring pages, these pages with quotes from Mrs. Merry can get kids talking about and thinking about these historical figures and why they are important to all Americans. There are many more Black History Month coloring pages at Coloring Only.

Of course older kids can research and learn about different figures from Black history. You can start with the people mentioned on this free printable Black History Month poster from Adventure in a Box (or this paid set of posters from Teacher Jeanell) or have kids find their own figures to study.

While it’s great to learn about Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, George Washington Carver and the like, it’s also great to delve into some of the lesser-known figures of Black history. How about Carter G. Woodson, the scholar whose dedication to Black history eventually led to the establishment of Black History Month? Or Garret Morgan, an inventor whose innovations led to the modern traffic light?

Black History Bingo Cards

Black History Month Puzzle Pieces

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities for Kids

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Summer Reading Printables and Tips for Parents

I volunteer at my local library pulling holds for children’s books, and the other day someone was looking for Over and Under the Snow, a lovely picture book about animals that hibernate and those who don’t.

It reminded me that now would be a good time to talk about hibernation in the classroom, and what animals do to survive the winter more generally.

Did you know that technically only warm-blooded animals hibernate? When cold-blooded animals do it, it’s called brumation, and insects experience diapause. Whatever you call it, it’s a slowing down of bodily functions that allows animals to lower their body temperatures and slow their metabolism so much they don’t need to eat.

We Are Teachers has a great page about different animals that hibernate (or brumate, or diapause) and you can enter your email address to get a set of free worksheets perfect for middle grades. Education.com also has a downloadable worksheet about hibernation, and you can find many more (including the migrate or hibernate worksheet above) from Worksheeto.

Little Bins for Little Hands has a great free printable pack about hibernation and hibernating animals. There’s a good list of animals that hibernate in the post, as well as some FAQs about hibernation.

Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds has lots of great ideas for planning a hibernation theme, including making a cave in the classroom, painting on ice, and lots of ideas for dramatic play, writing and other activities (and there are lots of freebies linked there).

Little ones will love these bear hibernation hat printables form Books and Giggles that include facts about hibernation.

STEMHax has collected a bunch of lesson planning resources about animals in winter, based on the book Animals in Winter. You’ll find links to videos about different animals featured in the book that you can use when talking about the book or more broadly in a winter animal unit study.

The Wolfe Pack Den has a free printable unit study and ideas for books to read and other things to do (with a particular emphasis on hedgehogs, if you’re into that).

And to bring in one more book recommendation from when my girl was little, Bear Snores On is another fun one, and you can read that one and bring out all your fun bear activities, like this adorable hibernating bear craft from Krokotak.

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