Black History Month in the Elementary Classroom: Teaching History Through Story, Music, Film, and Joy
By Jake Perlman, Teachertainment
Black History Month isn’t just a moment on the calendar — it’s an invitation. An invitation to tell powerful stories, to amplify voices, and to help our students see history not as a list of dates, but as living, breathing people who changed the world through creativity, courage, and culture.
Below are best practices, classroom-ready resources, and Teachertainment-style ideas to help you celebrate Black History Month in a way that feels meaningful, joyful, and age-appropriate.
Best Practices for Teaching Black History in Elementary School
1. Focus on Stories, Not Just Struggle
While it’s important to teach about injustice, elementary students benefit most from learning about excellence, innovation, creativity, and resilience. Highlight joy, talent, leadership, and cultural impact — not just hardship.
2. Use Multiple Entry Points
Students learn best when content is reinforced across formats:
Film clips
Music
Read-alouds
Visual timelines
Performance-based responses
This supports different learning styles and keeps engagement high
3. Connect Past to Present
Help students see how Black history continues today — in music they hear,
movies they watch, and artists they admire.
Black History Month Entertainers Biography
Want to give a hands-on way to explore the lives and legacies of influential Black entertainers? Our Black History Month Entertainers Biography Project worksheet packet is the perfect classroom companion.
This multi-page ELA packet guides learners through meaningful reading, research, and writing centered on inspiring figures like Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, John Legend, Viola Davis, Misty Copeland, and Stevie Wonder — all while building essential literacy skills.
Classroom-Friendly Films & Clips (Elementary Appropriate)
Black History Month Explained (for kids)
What is Black History Month?
A kid-friendly 2-minute overview of why Black History Month exists and some inspiring people from history.
Black History Month for Kids
Fun, educational, and detailed 5-minute video that teaches when and why Black History Month is celebrated.
Black History (It’s Yours)
A 3-minute song perfect for classroom sing-alongs that celebrates African American icons from Rosa Parks to Kendrick Lamar.
PBS KIDS Black History Month Playlist
Celebrate Black History Month with PBS KIDS!
A curated set of short clips from shows that feature historical figures and stories.
This playlist includes a full episode of “I am Jackie Robinson” from Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum:
”A group of young travelers is sent back in time to meet legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson. They watch as Jackie faces unfair treatment on his journey to the major leagues. Instead of responding with anger or retaliation, Jackie chooses the high road, staying focused, respectful, and determined while playing baseball at an extraordinary level. Through his actions, Jackie Robinson helps change the way people across the country think about fairness and equality. The experience inspires one of the travelers to return home committed to treating everyone with respect and fairness, no matter the situation.”
Little People, BIG DREAMS
We've curated a list of Black History Read-Alouds & Story Videos of Actors, Athletes, Musicians, and Artists.
“Little People, BIG DREAMS” is the best-selling biography series for kids by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Discover the lives of key figures from throughout history, from creatives and activists to scientists and politicians. Told as a story, with a facts and photos section at the back, every story begins with that person as a small child. Containing figures from many different experiences, backgrounds and journeys, the series aims to develop children’s empathy and their understanding of the world.”
Classroom Tips for Using These
Mini lesson starters: Play a 3–5 minute clip to open a Black History unit.
Interactive response: Students can draw or write one thing they learned after
each video.
Discussion prompts:
“What did you learn about courage in this story?”
“How does this person’s life connect to what we’re studying?”
Bringing It All Together: Teachertainment in Action
Black History Month is the perfect time to:
Combine academics with creativity
Let students see themselves in history
Celebrate excellence across generations
When learning feels like a story — not an assignment — students don’t just remember it. They feel it. And that’s the heart of Teachertainment.
Jake Perlman is the founder of Teachertainment, blending education, entertainment, and pop culture to turn learning into an unforgettable experience.
