How to Teach Black History to Kindergarteners
Black History Month is an ideal time to teach students about the notable contributions that people of African and African-American descent have made to society. If you're a kindergarten teacher, or have a child who is kindergarten-aged, there are a number of activities and interactive lessons you can introduce during the month of February that will let students know why this time of year is important.
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Things You'll Need
- Posters
- Costume items (hats, gloves)
- Sports items
- Stereo
- Activity stations
- Books
Instructions
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Decorate different sections of the classroom with items that are connected to noted figures in black history. For instance, a stethoscope, doctor's coat and plastic tubes can make up the "medical center" in the classroom, where kindergarten students can learn about African-American doctors like Charles Drew and Ben Carson. Hang posters of these doctors on the walls in the center so the children can associate a face with the name.
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Select a book to read to your students about the doctors after they have played at the station. Be sure to select readings that feature important information in an age-appropriate way. For example, Drew was instrumental in furthering research related to blood transfusions and was the first black surgeon to be an examiner with the American Board of Surgery. Carson, who is still alive, is noted for his successful separation of Siamese twins and has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States.
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Set up a sports section in the classroom. Include plush basketballs, plastic baseball bats, tennis rackets or track shoes, as well as pictures of black athletes like Arthur Ashe, Wilma Rudolph and Jackie Robinson. Allow the children to play with the sports items to emulate the poses of the athletes on the posters.
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Include large posters or index cards in the station that give short descriptions of each of the athletes. For instance, mention that Arthur Ashe was an activist who played tennis as a child and was conducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. Wilma Rudolph was crippled by polio but grew up to play basketball and run track; she was voted United Press Athlete of the Year and Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year in 1960. Jackie Robinson was a famous baseball player and became the first African-American player in the major leagues in 1947.
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Teach kindergarteners about figures in black history who made contributions in the arts by placing a stereo in one corner of the room and playing kid-friendly songs by jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald like "A Tisket a Tasket" or "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead." Include costume ideas like synthetic flowers for children to put in their hair to emulate Fitzgerald's look at some of her performances. You also can include a pair of tap shoes at the station, along with large pictures of figures like Sammy Davis Jr., a tap dancer and singer who often performed with greats like Frank Sinatra.
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Gather the children around and display large flash cards or pictures of the African-American figures that have been introduced at the stations. Ask the children who each of the people are and what they've learned about each of them.
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