February is Black History Month, an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black visionaries throughout history and the present day. We rounded up new worksheets that can help teachers structure their Black History Month lesson plans .
1. A-Z African American visionaries poster
This new 11″ by 17″ print encourages kids to learn about African American visionaries all year round. Display this poster in your classroom to teach kids about history, promote inclusivity, and inspire them to follow their dreams.
Hang up this poster on its own, or use it to:
1. Research one of the visionaries online or at the library.
2. Next, create a report, poster, or piece of art to teach others about what you learned about your visionary.
3. Challenge yourself by researching all of the African American visionaries from A-Z!
2. Crossword: American Civil Rights movement
This engaging crossword puzzle challenges learners to test their knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement, offering an immersive window into a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Designed for 5th through 8th graders, this puzzle is a valuable addition to any social studies curriculum and honors the activists of this historic movement.
3. Langston Hughes poetry analysis: “Mother to Son”
Introduce your students to the literature of the Harlem Renaissance with this touching poem by Langston Hughes. The worksheet guides students in analyzing the poem’s theme, meaning, and tone, identifying the speaker, finding literary devices, and citing text evidence.
You can also preface the poem with a lesson about Langston Hughes by utilizing this biographical Langton Hughes: Historical Heroes worksheet, which details his childhood spent with his civil rights activist grandmother and his involvement in the Harlem Renaissance.
4. “All About ___”: Biographies of Black women in history
Misty Copeland was the first African American woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Katherine Johnson was an African American woman who calculated the first mathematical problems to send humans into space. She was not recognized for much of her work until age 97, when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Wangari Maathai was an environmental activist in Kenya and the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Created for a 2nd or 3rd grade curriculum, these worksheets detail the biographies of influential Black women and have students reflect on their reading with engaging questions.
5. “Who Am I?”: African American female changemakers
Comprehension is strengthened through practice. This worksheet has kids learn about four important African American female changemakers and match each person’s name to her biography.
6. Path to freedom: the underground railroad
The creation of the Underground Railroad was a significant moment in history. With this 4th-grade worksheet, kids can read a passage about the Underground Railroad and answer reading comprehension questions to unlock a secret code! Along the way, they will learn about historical figures like Harriet Tubman and William Still.
7. Historical heroes: Frederick Douglass
Teach kids about Frederick Douglass, a prominent leader in the abolition movement.
This worksheet, designed for 2nd graders, has students read a passage about Frederick Douglass’s life and answer reading comprehension questions.
Access all 140+ of our Black History Month resources, or view our 35,000+ educational worksheets, games, and activities, in the Education.com Learning Library.
