Black History Month Activities for Preschool (2024)

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month. If you are looking for black history month activities, you’ve come to the right place. Focusing on black history with your students provides a special opportunity to teach them about the contributions of black men and women throughout history.

Adopting a Black History Month preschool theme will make it easy for preschoolers to see that African American men and women have contributed and continue to play important roles in the fields of art, science, math, literature, history, government, medicine, and social activism. You can teach your preschoolers about important African Americans throughout history with Black History Month activities and Black History Month preschool crafts.

Keep reading to discover Black History Month preschool books, songs, videos, printables, and more. Plus, get ideas for Black History Month activities that will keep your students engaged and learning this February.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.

How to Introduce Black History Month to Preschoolers

What is Black History Month? Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements made by African Americans. It’s a time when everyone can learn more about African American past and culture.

Black History Month Activities for Preschool (1)

Each year since 1976, the U.S. president designates February as African American History Month. However, Black History Month isn’t just celebrated in America, Canada and the United Kingdom also devote a month to celebrating black history.

This year’s Black History Month theme in America is the black family. You can focus on teaching your preschoolers about African American culture and how that influences people and families in our society today.

Why should we celebrate Black History Month with preschoolers? We can all agree that we want our children to grow up and contribute to society in important and positive ways.

To that end, exposing them to the history and importance of Black History Month is a great step towards teaching them tolerance and appreciation for African Americans in our society.

So how do you introduce Black History Month to children? There are lots of kid-friendly ways to introduce your preschoolers to Black History Month.

For example, a fun and engaging Black History Month preschool theme is a great place to begin teaching your preschoolers about African American history and achievements.

Celebrate with a Black History Month Preschool Theme

Learning about and celebrating Black History Month this February is a great way to teach your preschoolers all kinds of important lessons this year. I love using preschool themes to connect a variety of subjects and academic concepts under one theme.

Preschool themes are an easy way to help preschoolers make important connections and increase retention too. Plus, many preschool themes provide teachers with a way to keep our preschoolers interested and engaged in the material.

You can use a Black History Month preschool theme to celebrate with your preschoolers this February. Why not incorporate important African American mathematicians like Katherine Johnson into your math lessons this February?

Read great preschool books by African American authors like Christopher Paul Curtis and Mathew A. Cherry.

Keep reading to discover some of my favorite Black History Month activities and Black History Month preschool crafts to do at home and in the classroom this February. Plus, get some printable Black History Month crafts that make it easy to learn about African American historical figures like Ruby Bridges and Rosa Parks.

Engaging Black History Month Activities and Preschool Crafts

Start Black History Month preschool activities with your kids this February to teach them all about influential African Americans and have fun doing it. There are so many fun hands-on Black History Month preschool activities to try! Check out some of my favorites:

Black History Month Preschool Crafts

I’ve put together a bundle of preschool Black History art activities you can use to teach your preschoolers about influential African Americans like Harriet Tubman and many others. These Black History Month preschool printables come with templates, helpful suggestions for teachers, and a cut and paste Black History Month activity your preschoolers will love!

Black History Month Activities for Preschool (2)

Plus, they’ll be building fine motor skills, scissor skills, creativity, and concentration along the way. This Black History Month preschool craft bundle includes:

  • Ruby Bridges
  • Jackie Robinson
  • Harriet Tubman
  • Mae Jemison
  • Rosa Parks
  • Simone Biles
  • Soujourner Truth
  • Bessie Coleman
  • Thurgood Marshall

You can even use some of these crafts for Women’s History Month too!

Pair these Black History Month preschool crafts with books, videos, and writing prompts for a complete lesson that’s perfect for your Black History Month preschool theme this February. There are so many awesome books and videos to use with preschoolers this month! Keep reading to see my favorites.

Bring History to Life with Black History Month Books, Songs, and Videos

Media is a great way to engage your preschoolers in the lesson with sights, sounds, and interactive elements they’ll love. There are so many awesome books you can share with your preschoolers this February about influential African Americans and African American culture.

Check out some of these great books for preschoolers from black authors:

There are lots of great Black History Month preschool books you can use to learn more about important African American historical figures too. Check out these favorites:

Black History Month Songs for Kids

Adding music to your Black History Month preschool theme is a great way to help facilitate a mind-body connection as you learn all about African American history and achievements this February. Plus, it’s a great way to get preschoolers up and moving this Winter. Check out my favorite Black History Month preschool songs:

Videos on Black History Month

Adding multimedia to your lessons is another Black History Month preschool activity you can use to teach your preschoolers about African American history this February. Videos and films are sometimes a better way to learn about more modern African American contributions and influential figures like Kamala Harris, Amanda Gorman, and Victor Harris. Check out some of my favorite Black History Month preschool videos:

More Black History Month Activities to Explore

Are you looking for even more Black History Month activities to explore with your preschool learners this February? Here are some more great ideas for your Black History Month preschool theme at home or in the classroom:

Consider a subscription box for your preschoolers. There’s a super cool new subscription box for kids called “Because of Them, We Can” that focuses on honoring influential African Americans past and present with curated content just for kids.

You can get just one box for February or keep the learning going with a Black History Month activity box for all 12 months.

Check out “Tab Time,” Tabitha Brown’s new learning series on YouTube just for preschoolers. It’s filled with lessons about creating a better world through love and kindness with fascinating characters like fun characters like DJ Khrafty.

You can explore lots of great Black History Month preschool crafts, activities, and books from Kids Activities to teach your preschoolers about influential African Americans this February. Plus, learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with my Black History Month preschool craft activity too.

Black History Month Activities for Preschool (3)

I’ve got lots of great ideas for helping your preschoolers learn about his famous dream and important work towards equality and social justice.

The Conclusion of Black History Month Activities

How will you learn about and celebrate Black History Month with your preschoolers this February? I hope I’ve inspired you to try a Black History Month preschool theme or explore a few fun and engaging Black History Month preschool crafts and activities.

Share your favorite Black History Month activities, books, and lessons in the comments. I can’t wait to read them and maybe even add a few of your great ideas to my Black History Month preschool theme this February too!

Black History Month Activities for Preschool (2024)

FAQs

How to teach preschool about Black History Month? ›

Select books that affirm a valued place for all children. Try to find books that will help prepare children for the complex world in which they live. Make sure your selections include contemporary stories. Celebrate Black culture and experiences, in addition to history, through picture books, chapter books, and poetry.

How do you celebrate Black History Month in early years? ›

More Fun Things to Do for Black History Month with Pre-K
  1. Learn Black History topic vocabulary.
  2. Do some art inspired by a scene or person from African-American history.
  3. Read Black History and civil rights movement books for this age group.
  4. Listen to some African-American music together, such as jazz or 12-bar blues.

What is the game for Black History Month for kids? ›

Play 'Guess Who'

It's perfect for classroom settings, making it one of the enjoyable things to do for black history month at school.

How do I teach my 4 year old Black History Month? ›

Teach Black history through folk art

Ringgold has written many books for children, including three for very young children: Counting to Tar Beach, Cassie's Colorful Day, and Cassie's Word Quilt. Make a story quilt together using squares of fabric or paper as a companion activity.

How do you explain Black history to preschoolers? ›

Talk about the positives! Remember–Black History is more than just hardship! Talk about the amazing contributions they have made to society as a whole. A great place to start is to teach your kids about the impact of Black music, Black scientists and inventors, activists, and any other important cultural contributions.

Should Black History Month be taught in preschool? ›

Introducing Black History Month to preschoolers serves several important purposes. It educates and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black individuals, and it teaches essential values such as empathy, respect, and appreciation for diversity.

How do you introduce Black History Month to kids? ›

If you're just beginning to introduce kids to the concept of Black History Month, start at the beginning by discussing what the month honors, how it started and why it is important. National Geographic Kids and PBS Kids both offer kid-friendly walk throughs.

How do I teach my 3 year old about Black History Month? ›

Ages 0-3 Children's Activities For Black History Month
  1. Support Your Local Community. ...
  2. Make a Hands and Feet Mural With Skin Tone Paint. ...
  3. Learn About Jacob Lawerence. ...
  4. Make Your Own Drum and Learn the History of the HBCU Drumline. ...
  5. Watch Motown Magic on Netflix and Do a Sing-Along. ...
  6. Listen to “Sweet Honey in the Rock” Together.
Feb 2, 2022

How to teach Black history to kindergarten? ›

Here are a few simple ways to teach your kids about Black History:
  1. Highlight past events that relate to your everyday life. ...
  2. Highlight current events in the news that impact Black History. ...
  3. Teach your children about racism and how to live a life of inclusion. ...
  4. Explore African-American culture.
Feb 7, 2022

How do you play Black history Bingo? ›

How to play black history bingo
  1. Setting up a historical stage: Distribute bingo cards featuring key figures, events, and achievements in Black history.
  2. Historical call-outs: As significant figures, events, or contributions are called out, students mark them on their cards.

What are the colors for Black History Month? ›

The four colours that are used for Black History Month are black, red, yellow and green. Black represents resilience, red denotes blood, yellow is optimism and justice, and green symbolises rich greenery.

Did you know Black history facts for kids? ›

The ironing board (invented by Sarah Boone), the traffic light system (invented by Garrett Morgan), and the home security system (invented Marie Van Brittan Brown) all came down to us from Black inventors.

Did you know facts about Black History Month for kids? ›

February was chosen for Black History because of two important men — activist and freedom fighter Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. Both men were born in the month of February, and both men played a role in the abolition of slavery.

What is the best way to teach Black History Month? ›

Below are some tips to help educators improve the way they teach Black History — in February and all year long.
  • Teach through Black voices. Don't teach about Black history — teach through it, King says. ...
  • Highlight the achievements of Black people. ...
  • Center Black perspectives. ...
  • Honor Black humanity.

Why is it important to teach Black history to preschoolers? ›

Tremendous gaps would be left in the plot of the creation of civilization around the world without Black history. The advancement of society across the globe has relied upon and been driven by the significant contributions of Black people, and it is imperative that all children know that.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 5978

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.