During January and February, educators nationwide unite to honor the narratives of Black and African American individuals and the significance of their experiences.
Microsoft Education encourages educators to celebrate the contributions, challenges, victories, and courageous voices during Black History Month and as part of their class curriculum throughout the year.
Experienced educators emphasize the importance of developing a learner’s mindset this Black History Month. They believe that making classrooms more inclusive does not require being a social justice expert or having all the answers. Committing to a learner’s mindset alongside students can bring a human level to the content and enhance the learning experience.
When teaching about Black History Month, educators can use resources such as The King Center Timeline, which provides a unique collection featuring documents, pictures, and videos showcasing Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s dedication to nonviolent social change.
Minecraft Education offers immersive learning experiences focused on civil rights and social justice through Lessons in Good Trouble. These activities were developed in a partnership between Minecraft Education, Learning for Justice, and veteran educators.
Wonderopolis offers age-appropriate posts answering questions about Black History Month such as “What is Black History Month?” and “Who was Ruby Bridges?”.
Students can use Microsoft Immersive Reader to make text accessible throughout the entire site.
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Students can use Immersive Reader to make Wonderopolis articles more accessible through translation and read aloud.
Celebrate Black History Month with Microsoft Flip
Explore Flip’s thoughtfully curated Celebrate Black History Flip Discovery Library Collection. This collection offers ready-to-use discussion topics that empower students to learn, honor, and celebrate Black History. The collection includes contributions from esteemed partners such as The National WWII Museum, Amplify Voices, Langston League, The Equal Justice Initiative, and more, along with submissions from educators across various grade levels and subjects.
Teacher view of a Microsoft Flip topic about the Tuskegee Airmen created by the National WWII Museum.
Participate in the Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future: Discovering Black History through Digital Innovation Flip Live Event on February 21, 2024. This event provides an opportunity for students to discover how virtual museums, Flip, and AI can be used to explore and celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of Black culture in America and worldwide. Register for the event and learn more about how you can be a part of history with NASCAR driver, Rajah Caruth.
Windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors
Students may sometimes find it challenging to relate to the names and events they study. In reality, the Civil Rights movement is a tapestry woven by ordinary individuals who took extraordinary steps in history-making ways—such as breaking barriers at a hostile school, sitting at lunch counters, and boycotting buses. Much like the ripples created by a pebble tossed into a calm pond, the effects of their actions resonate profoundly and endure in significant ways.
When you provide your students “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors” into the lives of historical or contemporary figures, their perspectives shift and learning gets really interesting through conversations, questions, and curiosity. Explore social justice and inclusivity through age and grade-appropriate conversations so that Black history and civil rights continue beyond Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Black History Month.
The time is always right
“This quote keeps coming to mind, appropriately enough, from Dr. King,” says Dr. Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology and Co-Creator of Minecraft’s Lessons in Good Trouble. “‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ Whether you’re looking for something in your community or simply talking about these issues outside of this month or two, the time is always right to do what is right. There’s always a time and a place to learn about these issues and to have those age-appropriate conversations with your students. After all, we can’t move forward until we recognize and understand where we’ve been.”
When you infuse inclusivity into your curriculum, it communicates to students that Black history is a fundamental aspect of American history. This approach connects with and acknowledges the humanity of your students, establishing a space that welcomes their questions, voices, and contributions.
Microsoft invites everyone to commemorate and celebrate Black history not only during Black History Month but also throughout 2024. Explore classroom resources, engage in activities, and participate in discussions highlighting the numerous contributions, figures, and events that shape Black history.
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Title: Celebrate Black History Month with Microsoft Flip
