Black History Month Project
73Choosing a Great Individual
During the month of February, I try to share with my students the many ways that African Americans have made significant contributions to our society. I am always amazed that they have a limited knowledge of anyone still living that has made an impact on the world. Of course they have lots of knowledge about people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. Now I'm not saying that these remarkable individuals did not help to shape America to what it is today, but there are people that are still making a difference today. Living, breathing people who are changing the way we do things today and in the future.
Black History Items
|
Swamp People TV Series Bayou Brothers Cast History Channel T-Shirt Sizes S-3XL
Current Bid: $16.89
|
|
Deadstock Kobe 7 VII BHM black history month lebron jordan concord south beach
Current Bid: $150.00
|
|
New Oakley Sunglasses Blender Dark History Text w/OO Black Polarized #4059-06
Current Bid: $49.00
|
|
|
Swamp People TV Series Bayou Brothers Cast History Channel T-Shirt Sizes S-3XL
Current Bid: $16.89
|
|
Black History Anansi Trickster Aunt Nancy c1890 Gravure
Current Bid: $59.95
|
|
|
Swamp People TV Series Bayou Brothers Cast History Channel T-Shirt Sizes S-3XL
Current Bid: $19.89
|
Honor the Living
During this time, my students are required to research and present information about a living African American that is currently making a difference in our world. There are many areas of interest that these individuals contribute from sports, entertainment, business, fine arts, science, medicine, and more. Here are a list of possible candidates for research:
Scientists/Inventors:
- Ben Carson
- George Carruthers
- Mae Jemison
Entertainment:
- Oprah Winfrey
- Jay Z
- Spike Lee
- Sidney Poitier
Politics and Activism:
- Colin Powell
- Condoleezza Rice
- Barack Obama
- Michelle Obama
Education and Literature:
- Maya Angelou
- Marva Collins
- Nikki Giovanni
Sports:
- Venus Williams
- Serena Williams
- Lynette Woodward
- Michael Jordan
- Charles Barkley
Of course this list barely touches the tip of the list. There are so many people that should be recognized. For additional names you can link to www.biography.com.
Project Outline
Here are the requirements for the project. I go over all of the expectations with my students, including possible choices (I give them a list to get them started), due dates, and a copy of the rubric. This project is great for students at the fourth grade level and up.
Black History Month Project
Name:______________________________
Choose an African American that has made a significant impact on today’s society (refer to attached list). The person that you choose must be living. You may choose someone that has made an impact in the area of politics, education, entertainment, literature, business, or sports. Your choice must be preapproved and there may be no duplicates of people. If you turn in a project on someone that does not have preapproval, your project will be reduced by one letter grade. You must include both a poster (visual representation of your person) with a written component included on the poster. The rubric for your project is as follows.
Selection due date:___________________________
Name of person:_____________________________
Project due date: ____________________________
Project Rubric
Project Guidelines
| Points Possible
| Points Earned
|
|---|---|---|
Pictures of your person
| 10
| |
Title for your poster
| 10
| |
Education of your Person
| 10
| |
Early Life
| 10
| |
Accomplishments/Contributions to Society
| 20
| |
How this person influences you to do better.
| 20
| |
Neatness and Creativity
| 15
| |
Rubric turned in with project.
| 5
| |
Total Points
| 100
|
Sidney Poitier
Other links to teaching and black history
- Children's Literature to Celebrate Black History Month
February is the time that we focus in on the celebration on trials and triumphs of African American History. Although it is important that we as an American nation do not limit our knowledge and awareness to... - A Lesson for the Teacher
A slow walk into class that day His head was hanging low. Good morning Josh, I said to him He glanced up and whispered hello. Just a boy of nine, So much to shoulder His eyes had lost their glow. ... - 5 Great Movies To Watch For Black History Month
There are several great movies that I can think of to watch during Black History Month, but I've narrowed it down to the ones that I feel are truly educational. This movie was based on a true story about...
CommentsLoading...
Thanks, I appreciate the kind comments. That is the whole point. Our children are so unaware of the current world around them. The art of conversation has been taken over by games systems, tv, and running our kids from one place to the next. Children don't realize that history is being made every day.
Sounds like a great project and I love the idea of focusing on those who are still living and making significant contributions.
I also like the way you outlined the project and think other teachers will find it very helpful to incorporate into their own lesson plans.
Cool hub. I'm rating it up and useful.
I liked the hub because it showed the actual explanation and project paper. Leaves nothing to the imagination. I also liked your link on the rubric, since I was not familiar with that term. Thanks. Nicely done.
Thanks for the positive feedback. It is so helpful for both teachers and students to know exactly what is being graded. It eliminates the "guessing game" that so many teachers expect their students to do.
Great hub!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Kudos to you and your project. If we had more teachers of your ilk our educational system would not be in the shape it's in.
I feel it is very important that ALL our children are informed of ALL the contributions made by people of color in our society. As a product of the 50s my generation was taught only of the mainstays of history as you've mentioned.
It was not until I became a mother in the early 70's that I learned of the extended history of Blacks and their contribution to the shaping of this nation.
The lack of knowledge promotes ignorance. My people are seen as slaves, and no more. Your project, and others like it, will spread the truth and hopefully bridge the racial gap between our nation's citizenry.
Voted up, marked useful, awesome, beautiful and shared.
Thank you Pmccray. It is so nice to hear those words of encouragement because often times teaching is a thankless job. We are blamed for many of the problems of society. I completely agree that lack of knowledge promotes ignorance. Knowledge is power and by empowering my students to know that they are still able to make important contributions to society, it gives them goals to work toward. Thank you for stopping by, reading and commenting.
Great project. In my community a lot of times the only things that are brought to the forefront are the rappers, low hanging pants (which I can't stand), and crime, but there are wonderful success stories in the African-American community. Thank you for helping to empower and educate everyone who will lend an ear. Blessings!
It is not just my job Kristine, it is my pleasure. I know that there is a place to learn about and appreciate the rap industry but there is so much more for kids to learn about. I try to really encourage that for my students but it is sometimes a struggle. They are very focused on the rap and music industry and think that this is the only thing to strive for. I try to show then that there is so much more out there for them. Thanks for your positive feedback, I appreciate it.
Danette Watt Level 7 Commenter 15 months ago
Great project for kids. I like that the focus is on people still living. It brings a greater awareness to your students of the world around them and current events. Despite the many challenges I know you face both professionally and personally, I can tell you are an awesome teacher - by how you speak of your students and the care you take in teaching them information relevant to their lives. I have picked up a few tips from you for my own classes. I gave this an up vote and said it was useful.