Civilrights.org

For young children, Social Studies begins at home and in their own community. Help them look around at the different kinds of people filling different roles in your neighborhood. If your community is not diverse, fill your classroom with pictures of diverse people fulfilling familiar roles, such as police officer, fire fighter, mail carrier, doctor, garbage collector, and so on. Social Studies also encompasses learning to work and play democratically in a group. Encourage children to reflect on their own group's processes.

To broaden children's perspective about the contributions of African Americans in U.S. history

Background information about African American scientists and inventors (see books by Louis Haber and Portia James in Resources section)

Black History Month is an ideal time to discuss the achievements of black inventors such as Garrett Morgan, credited with the invention of the modern traffic light. Invite students to close their eyes and imagine what driving or crossing the street would be like without traffic lights. How has Morgan's invention made our lives safer and easier? Resource books, such as the pair cited above, will give you plenty of background about the lives of these unsung American heroes.

Children might enjoy making an African kufi hat to wear during your discussion of African American heroes.