In this article
Despite what seemed to be on the collective minds of the country, the end of 2020 did not magically bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, much of what we will see in the new year will be similar to what we've been experiencing all along. While some schools across the country are still in session, many will be going back to online distance learning after the winter break as COVID-19 cases rise. With the new year right around the corner and Black History Month on the horizon, families with kids at home may be wondering how to celebrate Black History Month while distance learning.
The origins of Black History Month date back to 1915 when Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland sought to recognize notable achievements from African-Americans and individuals of African Descent. They chose the second week of February to coincide with Frederick Douglass's birthday. Since 1976, Black History Month has been recognized each year, by every president.
Woodson and Moorland's organization, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, (ASALH) will celebrate Black History Month virtually in 2021. If you're looking for other ways to celebrate Black History Month while distance learning, here are 6 socially distant ideas for your family.
Create your own virtual Black History Month learning unit study
1. Discover notable people in Black history with these printable matching game cards for kids.
They include information about notable people in Black history like Arthur Ashe, Katherine Johnson, and Bessie Coleman, as well as several black inventors and civil rights leaders.
"What I've been planning for our homeschool is for my bigger three [kids] to research and teach us about a black innovator in the areas they're interested in," homeschooling mom Kylie Wiser told Mom.com. "So for my oldest, that would be presenting on someone in tech/gaming, his brother on an inventor, and my daughter on probably an athlete."
2. Enroll your kids in an online distance learning course.
Here's a great option from homeschooling mom De-Shaun Silas Jordan: her "Let the Children March, The Civil Rights Movement Through the Eyes of Children," Unit Study. Jordan offers several virtual courses, many that celebrate the Black Experience throughout the school year.
Choose books for young children that celebrate the Black Experience
Include a variety of books celebrating historical Black leaders and stories with Black protagonists for your children. Diverse books on your bookshelves promote a sense of cultural awareness in children and is the key to raising an empathetic child — aware of and accepting of other cultures.
3. Incorporate a poetry tea time each week to celebrate Black voices.
Poetry tea time is a fun way to spend family time while introducing poetry to your child. Simply set out some tea or lemonade, snacks, and some poetry books and just enjoy the read-aloud time together. Suggested books: Hey, Black Child, by Useni Eugene Perkins is geared toward preschoolers and toddlers. For older children, Poetry for Young People, Langston Hughes features a variety of Black history and experience poems.
4. Be sure to add, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History to your family library.
This book introduces many inspiring women of Black history. It depicts them in charming illustrations with just enough text to be engaging but not overwhelming. Your child will learn about 40 notable Black women throughout the history of the United States. Harrison has written and illustrated several similar books highlighting a wide range of men and women.
Make Black History engaging and hands-on
To truly engage my son in our homeschool history lessons, I need to create hands-on learning opportunities. By making an effort to provide activities that engage all of his senses, he's more invested in what he's learning and how it relates to his world.
5. Start a virtual book club for Black History Month.
A great theme for Black History Month in 2021 would be 'Good Trouble,' to celebrate the life and accomplishments of civil rights leader John Lewis, who died in 2020. Tweens and teens will enjoy learning and discussing the behind-the-scenes events of some of the most notable moments during the civil rights movement in Lewis' graphic novel trilogy, March.
6. Visit historical sites and museums that celebrate African-Americans.
Our family is excited about the International African American Museum, set to open in early 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina. “This ain’t a black project,” former politician and attorney Bakari Sellers told the Greenville News of the museum. “This ain’t a Charleston project. This is an American project."
If you can, make an effort to visit sites such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, to learn more about the Black Experience — maintaining social distancing protocols, of course.
Mom of three Anitra Durand Allen compiled a list of 14 Black Culture attractions in the United States that celebrate the African-American experience. "The recent events of civil unrest and public outcry against police brutality and racism against the African-American community have made me reflect," Allen wrote. "The response to amplify melanated voices made me realize that there are so many people that don’t know much about Black culture."
