Eastchester Schools Celebrate Black History Month Through Classroom Activities

Throughout February, Eastchester students in grades K-12 have embarked on an exciting array of activities designed to shine a spotlight on Black History Month.

From the district’s earliest learners to seniors wrapping up their time in Eastchester, students have been able to gain a broader worldview while engaging in lessons that are aligned with the district’s rigorous and comprehensive curriculum. 

While there are some commonalities in the ways Black History Month is being addressed across the four district campuses—each school building is highlighting the month’s theme through posters, announcements and book displays—each grade level is exploring the significance of this month through age-appropriate content and instruction.

Whereas EHS students have delved into concepts such as the role of imperialism in Africa and specific time periods including the Harlem Renaissance, middle schoolers have spent time on the abolitionist movement in the pre-Civil War era and other notable achievements, including the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen. 

Read-alouds, library lessons and other projects are being used to great effect in the elementary schools, with introductions to important historical figures including Carter G. Woodson—one of the driving forces behind the creation of Black History Month—and Katherine Johnson, a mathematician whose work with NASA was instrumental in the success of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

“During the month of February, we celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the contributions of influential black Americans over the years,” said elementary Library Media Specialist Stephanie Spierings. “We feature athletes, artists, scientists, change-makers and more. We do this through interactive lessons, videos and displays, in addition to read-alouds.”

Waverly students have also benefited from the use of read-alouds and in-class activities as well. 

In Jessica Leeds and Jessica Walsh’s kindergarten class, students learned about the life of Garrett Morgan—the inventor of the traffic light—and constructed their own traffic lights as part of an art-based project.

“The kids relate to Garrett Morgan’s story and the idea that he was able to use his own brain and imagination to help people,” said Leeds. 

Walsh added that by framing these lessons through the lens of empathy and some of the Social-Emotional Learning that takes place in school on a daily basis, children are better able to grasp the scope of Morgan’s achievements.

“With early-childhood learners, we try to bring this to them through the idea of kindness and how we can help to make others’ lives better,” she said. “And making their own traffic lights, even though they look different than the one originally designed by Morgan, they have another way to bring this message to life.”