What’s it all about?
You can use Black History Month as a time to highlight the achievements of the black community, promote knowledge of black history and raise awareness of black cultural heritage.
Classroom ideas
The official website, www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk, is great for history teachers and has a wealth of material, facts and pictures they can use to explore the civil rights movement.
For a different approach, the BBC’s 1Xtra radio station has put together documentaries, videos and a great five-minute mix of black music that teachers can use to enthuse pupils either to create their own compositions or to pursue further study. Check out www.bbc.co.uk1xtrablackhistory.
The TES resource (see below) has a good PowerPoint component that art and textiles pupils can use to start off their own artwork. English teachers can look through extracts from black authors and poets such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison or the slave narratives from Harriet Jacobs or Frederick Douglass.
Help, I’ve got no time to prepare
The British Film Institute has put together a great range of resources for media teachers, including a feature on black screen icons that you can use at www.bfi.org.ukfeaturesblackcinema.
TES lesson resource
Take a look at the scientist trail on the TES website for a quick lesson in famous black scientists. www.tes.co.ukblack-history-month.
