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How to Help Preschools Learn About Black History Month

Teaching tolerance is a critical part of a balanced educational experience, and should begin at a young age. To set children up for a lifetime of mutual understanding, complex ideas about social justice have to be taught creatively. Messages of social justice can easily become part of a preschool lesson plan at any time of the year, although many educators want to learn ways to put special emphasis on black history during February, which is recognized as Black History Month.

Things You'll Need

  • Children's books about important figures in black history
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Crayons
  • Tape
  • Tempura paint
  • Soap
  • Jazz music
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Instructions

  1. Creating a Dream Quilt

    • 1

      Read an age-appropriate biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. to your preschool class.

    • 2

      Ask children to think about their own dreams. Ask what they dream about their future jobs, families and friends.

    • 3

      Invite each child to select a piece of construction paper, and draw their own dream using markers and crayons. Ask an adult to work with each child to caption the finished pictures.

    • 4

      Tape the pictures together in a large square, forming a quilt that represents the dreams of all of your students.

    • 5

      Hang the quilt on the wall where it can be visible to students throughout the rest of Black History Month.

    Jazz Music

    • 6

      Read an age-appropriate book history of jazz with your preschool students.

    • 7

      Play jazz music by some of the most famous black jazz artists mentioned within the book. Strengthen the listening and attention skill sets of the preschoolers by asking what sounds and instruments they hear.

    • 8

      Ask children to draw pictures of their favorite instrument in jazz music, and a famous black musician that played that instrument.

    Painting Craft

    • 9

      Cut red, pink and purple pieces of construction paper into heart shapes before beginning the activity with your preschool class.

    • 10

      Mix white, peach, brown, black and orange tempura paint with soap to make it stain proof.

    • 11

      Ask your preschool students to mix the colors on their own paper plate, creating the color that they perceive matches their own skin.

    • 12

      Ask the students to dip their own hand in their paint mixture, and stamp their handprint onto a heart-shaped piece of paper. Allow the paintings to dry, and mark each painting with the child's name.

    • 13

      Hang the dried hearts on a bulletin board, with the title "Love Comes in Many Colors."

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