Celebrating Black History Month
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month and all the culture, leaders, and achievements it entails. And though February has been designated as a time to celebrate Black History, we should continue to incorporate and shine light on black excellence year-round. Take time to engage in meaningful discussion with students about the relevance of Black History in its application to current issues and social justice movements.
Black Health and Wellness
This year, the theme of the month is “Black Health and Wellness”. This theme celebrates “the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.”
In addition to recognizing the importance of Black Health and Wellness, here are some Black History Month resources that you can incorporate into your lesson plan to inform students and encourage discussion:
- For English teachers: Study the history and works of these 15 Black Authors that Impacted the Culture of the USA.
- For arts teachers: Browse art and music history on Smithsonian website, read about 5 Powerful Stories on Black Art History from the MET, and check out this recent article on 10 Groundbreaking African American Artists That Shaped History.
- For STEM teachers: Explore the ground-breaking work of these African American scientists from National Geographic Kids and CBC.
- For history teachers: Browse the Association for the Study of African American Life and History website, check out the History of Black History Month by Professor Michael Hines, or watch a PBS Kids video on Black History Month.
- Check out the iteach blog on The Do’s and Dont’s of Teaching Black History Month!
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