Black History Games and Activities

Black History Month is a great time to teach your children or students about the significant contributions African-Americans have made to society. However, you'll definitely want to teach your kids about Black history in a while that is both informative and fun. Here are some games and activities that you'll want to share with your children or students while you're teaching important facts about Black history. These games will make your history lessons exciting and memorable, and are definitely better than the traditional history report!

Black History Bingo

This game is great for elementary and middle-school aged children, and is a good way for children to remember history, events and people that have contributed to Black history. You can create the bingo boards yourself by using small poster boards or construction paper; simply make twenty squares on the paper, and spell out the word 'bingo' on top of the paper. Then, cut out faces of African-American figures in the community, or inventions created by African-Americans and place one picture in each of the squares. Or, you can write a name or invention in each of the squares if you are creating the game for older students. You can create four or five squares in each row (depending on the age of the kids), and give your students game pieces in traditional African colors (red, yellow, and/or green). If you have already taught your children Black history information in a traditional fashion, this game will help to solidify the information. For the bingo 'questions' you could say things like 'which female abolitionist wrote the speech 'Ain't I a Woman?' Students will find the picture of Sojourner Truth, or the words 'Sojourner Truth' on their bingo boards, and you'll continue the process with different questions until someone gets 'bingo.' As a prize, you can give your kids traditional African snacks (i.e. plantain chips or dried pineapple) or African-inspired books that are suitable for their age group.

Black Poetry Readings

If your children like poetry or literature, having a poetry reading where only Black writers are featured is ideal. You can have each of your students read a piece from their favorite poet or author, along with an original piece if desired. Your poetry reading would also be a good time to display African-American artists as well; your students can paint a portrait or draw a sketch while other students are reciting poetry in order to bring the words to life. Notable poets such as Nikki Giovanni, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Countee Cullen, and Sonia Sanchez are all great poets to choose from, since their writing is vivid, and their poetry makes great conversation pieces. You can have your children talk amongst themselves about the pieces read during the reading, and you can even read passages from great Black authors such as Toni Morrison (The Bluest Eye) and Richard Wright (Native Son).

Black History '3-D Projects'

Taking a hands-on approach to Black History is a such a good way to make sure that you give your students a history lesson that they will never forget. For instance, you can have your children build replicas of African-American inventions, such as the gas mask or the grandfather clock (inventions by Garrett A. Morgan and Benjamin Banneker); this way, your students will be able to do their own research in order to find out more about Black history, and doing a project of their own choosing will help them to remember Black history in a way they never have before.