FEBRUARY: Black History Month

February has a lot of opportunities to add some cross-curricular activities into your day.

February is Black History Month which is a great opportunity to explore the time of history when Blacks and Whites were not equal.

I make a Black History Heroes bulletin board. Throughout the month, I focus on individual heroes. With read alouds and activities the students gain a better appreciation for history and where we have come when it comes to the words "equal" and "freedom".

Here are some references to what I use:

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges
Rosa Parks by Eloise Greenfield
Martins Big Words by Doreen Rappapart
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold
Let It Shine by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Moses: Harriet Tubman by Carole Weatherford

During this unit, there are cross-curricular activities that can be used in Math (figuring the number of miles Harriet Tubman traveled), Social Studies (history of slavery and segregation), Science (George Washington Carver the peanut scientist), writing (personal heroes,e etc.), vocabulary (characteristics of the heroes, etc), and art.

Here are some activities that have been favorites:

Math:
Map out the route Harriet Tubman took and calculate the miles she traveled having gone back and forth to help save more slaves.

Social Studies:
Study the history of slavery, and segregation. Split the class into two groups (A and B group, maybe shirt color or jeans or no jeans) and then have rules and laws for Group A and Group B not have those rules or laws.

Writing:
Freedom Times, a newspaper article that allows the students to choose a hero (usually at the end of the unit) and write a newspaper article about that hero and why that hero is worth hearing about. Make a big deal about it, like the students are publishing a newspaper article. After all students have completed, bind all together and make a big newspaper our it and take turns sending home for parents to read and comment back to the class. The students love this ownership!

Vocabulary:
When studying Rosa Parks, have the students draw a picture of a bus (the size of a 8x10 sheet of yellow construction paper) and as you read about Rosa Parks, have then write vocabulary words that describe who she is and what she did in the bus.

Take, use, and change what you'd like. Make a great month out of this unit! The kids love it and learn so much about equality!

Welcome!

I am an Independent Educator, teaching students on a one on one atmosphere. I cherish the relationship that I have with my students and I have a desire to share and invite others to desire that same relationship. Teaching children is a passion of mine. Daily, I am open to finding new and effective strategies to better teach and grow my students.

My students are like mustard seeds. Starting small and then being nurtured and grown into strong, confident individuals.

I am excited to share my life happenings, strategies, units, stories, etc, as an educator on this blog. Think of this blog as a personal portfolio of the things that I have found or created. Feel free to take and use whatever is posted. One of the blessings as a teacher is to be able to use, borrow and share ideas that have been created or found. Enjoy!