How to Bring History to Life During Black History Month

Black History Month is every February in the United States. This is the time when cities, towns and communities acknowledge the contributions and achievements of African-Americans. But it can be difficult for some people to appreciate Black History by just reading a book. Here are some ways you can bring Black History Month to life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Make a timeline of African-Americans for Black History Month. All you need is tape, paper, a marker and some information. You can get your information from National Public Radio online or another source for history.
2. Go to a play or re-enactment. Better yet, if you are a teacher, have your students create plays about important events or people in Black history. Your students can write their own plays or monologues and perform for their classmates. If you prefer, you can give them first-hand accounts of slaves or other historical figures to memorize and act out.
3. Watch movies about the African-American experience. Films, such as "The Color Purple," "Amistad," "Malcolm X" and "A Raisin in the Sun," set the context for understanding racism and rising above it in America.
4. Have a Black History Month fair at your school. Have students research important achievements of African-Americans in science, law, sports, music or other aspects in society. Small groups of students will all help in making a poster board presentation. Then, students will be allowed to walk around to talk to others about what they learned.