Black History Month activities for preschool and daycare.

February is Black History Month, a month set aside to celebrate the accomplishments and culture of African Americans. For preschool teachers and daycare providers, it is the perfect opportunity to incorporate history lessons, art, crafts, music and movement activities, and cognitive lessons that celebrate black history.

Here are a few simple ideas in a variety of categories.

History

Books to Share

Rosa Parks was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. The Story of Rosa Parks by Patricia A. Pingry and Steven Walker [Candy Cane Press, 2007] is a great choice for this teaching. This short (about 200 words), uncomplicated board book is a fantastic tribute to Black history.

Jeanette Winter’s Follow the Drinking Gourd [Knopf, 2008] is a tale about a folk song instrumental in guiding the slaves in the Underground Railroad. The subdued yet memorable drawings will captivate preschoolers.

Arts and Crafts

Making Peanut Butter

George Washington Carver is best known for inventing peanut agricultural science. A fun craft which celebrates this invention is making peanut butter. Supply the children with roasted peanuts in the shells and allow them to shell them (remove the shells and the red skin). Then take one cup of peanuts, 3 tablespoons of corn oil, and one half teaspoon of salt, and blend in a blender. Let the kids spread the peanut butter on bread, crackers, or celery at snack time. Remember to check with parents for allergies before attempting this cooking craft!

Unity Wreath

Let the children pant then cut out construction paper hands in the colors of red, yellow and brown and white to represent diverse “skin tones”. Next the children can glue them to a paper wreath made of a heavy paper plate with the center cut out. The wreath then symbolizes cultural unity.

Music, Movement, and Gross Motor Skills

Red Light Green Light

Garret Augustus Morgan is credited with inventing the traffic light. “Red Light Green Light” is an enjoyable, energetic game to play with children to symbolically honor Morgan’s invention.

He Had the Whole Word in His Dream

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of the Civil Rights Movement, is a figure not to be overlooked in your Black History theme.

Sing this song to the tune of “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands”:

Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream

Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream

Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream

He had the whole world in his dream.

He had me and you, in his dream

He had me and you, in his dream

He had me and you, in his dream

He had the whole world in his dream.

More Resources

For further ideas for planning activities for Black History Month, try:

• African American Awareness by Evia L. Davis [Good Year Books, 1998]
• Crafts That Celebrate Black History by Kathy Ross [Millbrook Press, 2002]
• Black Books Galore's Guide to Great African American Children's Books by Donna Rand, Toni Trent Parker, and Sheila Foster[Jossey-Bass, 1998]

For more information about preschool activities, see Online Preschool Lesson Plans.