Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (2024)

The inclusion of Black history and culture isessential for anaccurateand true representation of American (and world) history overall. Black History Month is a time to highlight the people who have not only created foundational innovations, art, and achievements, but also organized and protested for equal rights and freedoms.

Of course, the civil rights movement and figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks are integral pieces of this history. But there are lesser-known -- and incredibly impactful -- people and contributions that illustrate an even greaterbreadth and depth of Black history and culture.

Below you'll find resources -- including videos, texts, lessons, podcasts, and more-- about activists, art and culture, inventors, engineers, historical events, and beyond. And to extend your search even further, don't missthe list of broader collections found at the bottomof this article. Everyresource we've curated here has a suggested grade band, butmany are flexible and adaptable to just about any age group. Consider the possibilities for how you might integrate these resources into your instruction (or use them at home!) during Black History Month or any time of the year.

A reminder for teachers: Navigate stories and images of oppression and violence with care.Black history is a complicated mix of both triumph and tribulations. While Black history doesn't begin or end with slavery or the injustices of racism, these harsh realities are part of it.Keep in mind your students' abilities when it comesto processing what they're reading, seeing, and listening to, and be aware that triggering topics can sometimes be more traumatic for Black and Brown kids.

Essential Sites and Curricula for All Ages

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Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (2)

Activities and Resources for Preschool to Third Grade

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Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (3)

Audio and Stories for Preschool to Third Grade

  • Listen along as James Earl Jones reads "To Be a Drum," a story of rhythm, history, and freedom.
  • Enjoy the African Folktales With Miss Jo Jo podcast to hear stories that originated in Africa and were passed down through generations.

Videosfor Preschool to Third Grade

Hands-On Activitiesfor Preschool to Third Grade

Activities and Resources for Third to Fifth Grade

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Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (4)

Audio and Stories for Third Grade to Fifth Grade

Videos for Third Gradeto Fifth Grade

Hands-On Activitiesfor Third Gradeto Fifth Grade

Text-Based Activities forThird Gradeto Fifth Grade

Activities and Resources for Sixth to Eighth Grade

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Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (5)

Audio and Stories for Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade

Videosfor Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade

Hands-On Activitiesfor Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade

  • Visit this online exhibition from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to read about Frederick Douglass and see images ofsomeof his handwritten documents.
  • Learn more about the history behind trap music, a ubiquitous, influential music genre, inthis lesson from PBS LearningMedia.
  • Watch this video from Flocabulary to examine Langston Hughes'most famous poem and his use of figurative language. Then have students writetheirown "Harlem"-inspired poem.
  • Read one of the many thought-provoking stories on the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) website, and then dig into the associated collections of artifacts.

Text-Based Activitiesfor Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade

Activities and Resources for Ninth to Twelfth Grade

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Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (6)

Audio and Stories for Ninth to Twelfth Grade

Videosfor Ninth to Twelfth Grade

Hands-On Activitiesfor Ninth to Twelfth Grade

Text-Based Activities forNinth to Twelfth Grade

Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (And Beyond) | Common Sense Education (2024)
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