Project Based Learning for Black History Month

Project based learning for black history month is a great way to celebrate history! As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we celebrate the many contributors to our collective American history. This time, we thought that we’d give you a few of our favorite activities that go along with some amazing picture books that you can try in your classroom or at home. These project based activities make learning come alive!

Celebrate Bessie Coleman (aviator)

A wonderful way to celebrate the aviator Bessie Coleman is with paper airplanes. After having your students read about Bessie Coleman (check out the read aloud Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot by Trinna Robbins) have them research different designs of paper airplanes. Let them know that Bessie Coleman was a daring stunt pilot and invite them to design a paper airplane that will also do stunts. Some stunts could include loops or flying upside down.

Allow students to experiment with different designs and test their work. (Decide- does it matter how the airplane is thrown?) When they are done, leave some time for the students to share their designs with the group and to demonstrate their paper airplane stunts, like those that Bessie Coleman performed.

READ ALOUD LINK: Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot by Trinna Robbins

Check out our teaching VIDEO and FREE PDF for a fun stunt glider paper airplane activity:

VIDEO Explanation BESSIE COLEMAN DARING STUNT PILOT Fun Activity for Black History Month

FREE PDF: Make Your Own Stunt Glider

Want to purchase the book? Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot by Trina Robbins

Celebrate Faith Ringgold (artist)

Learn about the artist Faith Ringgold after reading her book, Tar Beach. In the afterword of the story, read about how the book was based upon one of Faith Ringgold’s story quilts. After looking at the quilt online, invite children to think about the story and illustrate their own story quilt.

Invite them, like Cassie, to imagine flying over something that is one of their dreams, in order for that dream to become a reality. Then, have the students illustrate their ideas, drawing their dream in the middle of the quilt and creating a colorful border to go along the outside of that quilt piece.

Full length read aloud can be found here: Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Find this activity and more as part of our Unit 3 Upper Elementary Curriculum at www.afterschoolnavigator.com.

Celebrate Jean Michel Basquiat (artist)

Have students learn about the life and art of Jean Michel Basquiat by reading the beautifully illustrated book, Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe. Then, stress the idea that is expressed in the book, that art does not have to be perfect. After showing the children his painting, Pez Dispenser, online, celebrate student artwork as they select an animal to paint, mimicking Basquiat’s style of not painting in the lines and using bold color choices. Then, have the students paint a crown on top of the animal that they chose.

For an added dimension of learning, have the students select two primary colors for the body of their animal. One the primary color of the animal, the other used as highlights or shadows. (In this example, red and blue were used.) Have the students mix the two primary colors together on a paint tray and paint the crown the resulting color. (In this case, purple.)

Full length read aloud can be found here: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

Find this activity and more as part of our Unit 5 Primary curriculum.