Celebrating Black History Month
Resources for Early Learning Teachers and Families
February is Black History Month! It’s a time to celebrate the important contributions of African Americans and the Black community in United States history. Every year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) selects a theme to center their celebration for Black History Month. This year the theme is African Americans and the Arts. In regards to the 2024 theme, ASALH shares, “African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount.”
In celebration of Black History Month, Early Edge California has put together a list of various educational resources to introduce Early Learning teachers, caregivers, and families to the history and culture of African Americans, and the events and people that paved the way for racial justice.
For Teachers & Caregivers
- 6 books to help young readers learn about Black history (NPR)
- Anti-Bias Education (Teaching for Change)
- Black History and Early Childhood Education: Five Resources to Explore for Black History Month (NAEYC)
- Black History Month for kids: 11 activities for learning and celebrating (Care.com)
- Black History Month: Sharing Antiracist Research and Resources in Early Childhood Development (First Five Years Fund)
- Celebrating and Learning About Black History and Culture (Reading Rockets)
- Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (Sesame Workshop)
- Talking About Race (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture)
For Families
- 14 Must-Read Black History Books for Kids (Parents)
- Black History Month (National Geographic KIDS)
- Black History Month Booklist (Quality Start Los Angeles)
- Black History Month: February 2024 Family Booklist & Activity (QSLA’s Read from the Start)
- Celebrating Black Leaders (PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Children’s Books to Celebrate Black Culture (PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Children’s Books to Celebrate Black History Month (PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Joyful ABC Activity Booklet Series (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture)
- Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism (PBS KIDS for Parents)
Learn more about Black History Month
- BlackHistoryMonth.gov
- Celebrate Black History Month 2024 (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture)
- It’s Black History Month. Here are 3 things to know about the annual celebration (NPR)
You can find more resources in our “Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day” blog post.