AHS - Black History Month

Access thousands of primary sources and an ever-expanding collection of document-based activities spanning the course of American history created by the National Archives and teachers around the world.

These classroom resources from different Smithsonian museums focus on African American history and culture.

Explore Black History Month with your students using lessons, podcasts, activities, and primary sources.

The resources in this edition of The Moment will equip you with relevant teaching tools and suggestions for how to give this critical history the time, attention and depth it deserves.

In this lesson, students examine the poetry of Amanda Gorman, who was chosen to read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021. Gorman’s poem complemented Biden’s inaugural address and was written to reflect on “the history that we stand on, and the future that we stand for.”

Commemorate Black History Month in your classroom with 20 lesson plans and resources that cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These resources provide authentic student-driven learning experiences that will help all kids participate in Black History Month.

Black History Month is more than a celebration of selected achievements by a talented few. It is a time for students, educators, and historians to deeply examine pivotal moments of the African American experience.