Learning about Garrett Morgan

It’s Black History Month, and it’s a great time to learn about people who might not be as well known but who definitely deserve a place in the history books.

Example: Garrett Morgan. His inventions included a revamped sewing machine, hair-straightening oil, a breathing device used to develop gas masks during World War I and, most famously, an innovation that led to the modern traffic light.

After witnessing a carriage accident, he developed a signal that let drivers know they would need to stop soon, which preceded the three-color light we have today.

Check out biography.com to read all about his life and many inventions. No Time for Flashcards has a fun traffic light activity for preschoolers as a way to introduce Morgan to younger kids. Add a game of red light, green light (and throw in yellow light in Morgan’s honor!) to make the learning even more fun.

[Photo: No Time for Flashcards.]

Looking for more coloring matching activities? Check out these Color Matching flash cards.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year (because it celebrates the time period when several countries gained their independence) and it’s a great time to bring in some Hispanic inspired crafts and foods. For an overview on the celebration, the difference between Hispanic and Latino and the importance of the holiday, as well as a look at Latino art and famous Latinos and Latinas, check out this post and related information from the National Museum of the American Latino.

Spanish Playground has a great collection of craft ideas that you can do in Spanish class or with kids in any class or at home. It includes things like weaving, making mola (folk art from Panama; learn more at Kid World Citizen), doing an artist study of a Hispanic artist and more.

Crafty Chica has a great collection of crafts, coloring pages and printables for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with kids. I love this coloring page inspired by Amante bark painting, but there are also folk art stamps, corn husk dolls, tile painting ideas and more.

Papel picado is a classic folk art from Mexico that will feel familiar if you’ve ever made a paper snowflake. Learn how to make them from tissue paper with this video from Hispanic Society Museum and Library.

Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, get recipes and crafts from PBS Kids. I love this Peruvian siku flute, which can be made with old markers or paper straws.

While not exactly a craft, playing loteria (a Spanish language bingo game) is a fun thing to do with a group of kids. Free Kids Crafts has printable bingo cards with basic Spanish vocabulary and images for people who don’t already know these words.

And if you need a little snack when you’re done crafting, try these no bake mini tres leches cakes from Inspired by Family. They’re made with purchased pound cake so they’re pretty fast and easy.

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