This multi-day activity lesson plan about the history of quilting and African textiles will be classroom favorite. Students will become aware of African American Quilting traditions, their use as means of communication and similarities to African textiles. The lesson concludes with students creating drawings that use shape, pattern and color that are inspired by African American quilts and African Textiles. 

In this fun lesson plan, participants take a journey through the basics of both the history and structure of jazz music using music theory basics.

Final installment of the Dance Through The Decades modern dance series! This fun lesson set ends with dances popular in the 2000s. Get your bodies moving with these fun moves created in and popularized in Black culture.

Next Up in this Activity Lesson Challenge: The 1990s! Check out the interactive activity slides to take your class through the next decade of Black dance moves!

Next Up in this Activity Lesson Challenge: The 1980s! Check out the interactive activity slides to take your class through the next decade of Black dance moves!

Check out this interactive and fun lesson plan around the evolution of Black dance throughout the decades. Part 1 focuses on the last few decades. Stay tuned for Part 2 that takes us all the way back to the 1920s!

HAIR. It’s a big topic. Especially in the Black community. It represents our culture, our beauty and yet is something that has often been seen as an aspect of black bodies that needs to be CHANGED. This lesson is great for all ages as we examine the place ‘hair’ holds in Black culture and how we destigmatize its difference and celebrate it! Some great supporting resources in this lesson plan along with a wonderful portraiture activity made for EVERYONE to celebrate their unique beauty.

Mae is an inspiration for us all! One of the early multi-hypenates before it was even a thing! Mae is a physician, creative-dancer/actor, and astronaut! This lesson looks at her trajectory to making history and culminates in a fun visual arts activity that looks at Mae and the galaxies.

The concept of race is complex even for the most seasoned adults, so how do you break it down for younger groups? This lesson plan looks at the concept of race, bias, prejudice and more all through the creative activity of limerick writing. This is a great base lesson for any age group and especially useful for your youngest learners!

Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential musicians to ever live and with this lesson plan, we take our cue from Satchmo on creating our own wonderful world. Accompanying the lesson is the reading of the book What A Wonderful World by Tim Hapgood. Click to get ready to listen, learn more about Louis’ jazz and learn!

Although her groundbreaking work has been celebrated by academia and critics, Octavia Butler’s literary artistry is still relatively unknown by many. Check out this great lesson plan activity that tells a bit of Butler’s story, reveals her writing style and challenges participants to create a future all their own modeling Butler’s influence in the genre of Afro-futurism.

Here’s part two of our look at the influence of Black folks in the creation and growth of tap dance. Now that' we’ve got some history under our belts, let’s get moving! Check out part two to learn basic tap moves and give participants the opportunity to create their own choreography and dance expression freestyles!

Tap is more than just rhythm and clicks, it’s a specialized style of dance whose origins are often mysterious. With this two-part lesson, you’ll give participants a history of the creation of Tap Dance and role those of the African Diaspora played in its invention and success. This is a two-part lesson, starting with the history and culminating with learning some tap moves!

Throughout the history of Black people in America, there have been labels placed on the culture such as ‘can't’ or ‘not good enough’ and ‘inferior’ but Jesse Owens shattered those stereotypes when he crushed the hopes of Hitler’s Nazi Germany at the Olympic Games. Lean into this lesson plan that explores Jesse’s road of overcoming, the challenges, prejudice and racism he faced and his perseverance to keep going. Participants will create their own Peer Hero Medals and create their own Hero Statues of Jesse!

Before there was Vice President Kamala Harris, there was Shirley Chisholm. Learn about the incredibly strong and brave former educator turned politician who not only demanded her own seat at the table, but said, she would bring her own. American politics were not designed for a Black Woman-Shirley didn’t care. She created her own path, made history and laid the groundwork for women, women of color and Black women to succeed at the highest level of government. Tap below to get more information about Shirley’s historic life journey and a great engaging activity for participants to create their own PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.

Take us ALL out to the ball game! This lesson plan takes a look at the importance of the groundbreaking players of the Negro Baseball Leagues that set the stage for the breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Give your participants some historical goodies and also a fun activity around creating their own Negro League inspired team!

What is a safe space? Why do we gather with people we are similar to? This creative lesson plan takes a look at designated Black Performance Spaces. Looking beyond segregation, this lesson asks why spaces for minorities and marginalized people exist and their positive effects around building community, confidence, and self-worth. Check it out and work with participants to create their own SAFE, BRAVE performance space model!

BESSIE COLEMAN’S DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT

Bessie Coleman is an inspiration for anyone who’s ever dared to dream. Check out this lesson to learn more about the first African-American woman to earn her pilot’s license who was a pioneer in the field of aviation and stunt flying! Lesson concludes with a creative reflection project and participants earning their ‘Brave Bessie Dream Wings".

Check out this engaging and enriching lesson for today! Kick off BHM with a look at why we have Black History Month and other celebration months for often marginalized groups and peoples.