Black History Month activities for kids

Head to the library

The internet is fantastic, but sometimes it's best to get back to basics with books. Your kids might know about Martin Luther King, Jr and Rosa Parks, but there are many other important people to learn about as well. Head to your local library where your kids can learn about black history leaders, artists, athletes and innovators. Most libraries offer special events during Black History Month with speakers, workshops, films and lectures. Depending on the age of your child, you should be able to find suitable library events.

Read about how to start a sibling reading challenge >>

Take a trip

This February, take a trip to landmarks and attractions celebrating the lives and achievements of African-American leaders. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta is a great place to start, but there are a number of interesting trip ideas for Black History Month:

• Apollo Theater (New York, New York)
• Carter's Grove Plantation (Williamsburg, Virginia)
• Congo Square (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• Emancipation Park (Houston, Texas)
• National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen (Detroit, Michigan)
• Tribute to the Great Migration (Chicago, Illinois)

Read about cultural vacation destinations for families >>

Create diversity puppets

Teach your little ones about people of many colors by creating diversity puppets.

What you need:

• Craft sticks
• Craft paint
• Felt and yarn in various colors
• Craft glue
• Markers
• Optional: Wiggle eyes

Directions:

1. Paint jumbo craft sticks with peach, light brown, dark brown, etc., colors of paint to create the bodies of the puppets.
2. Cut out circles of felt in the above mentioned colors to make the heads. Glue yarn to the felt for hair, and then glue the heads to the sticks.
3. Use markers to create the faces, or attach wiggle eyes.
4. If you are feeling adventurous, you can create clothing out of felt and attach to the sticks as well.

Celebrate with peanut butter

George Washington Carver was one of the great black inventors, creating a favorite food of kids across the country -- peanut butter. Celebrate Black History Month this February with peanut butter. Head to the kitchen where you kids can help prepare peanut butter cookies, candies and other peanut butter recipes.

While you are cooking and baking, talk about the other important black inventors such as Dr. Patricia E. Bath (Super Soaker water gun), Oscar E. Brown (horseshoes), J.A. Burr (rotary blade lawn mower), Alfred L. Cralle (ice cream scoop), John Lee Love (pencil sharpener), Dr. Charles Richard Drew (blood banking), Isaac Johnson (folding bicycle), Elijah McCoy (lubrication of steam engines, ironing board, tire tread and lawn sprinkler), Garrett Morgan (gas mask and traffic signal) and Madame C. J. Walker (hair care products).

More about Black History Month

Books to celebrate Black History Month
African American baby names
Teaching kids tolerance and diversity