Middle School Black History Month

Conackamack

Culminating assembly on Friday, Feb. 24

Spanish classes will work on research on AfroLatinos; our Spanish Club are currently working on an informational mural for Black History Month.

In my 7th grade Social Studies class we have led into Black History Month with an exploration of a moment in Dr. Martin Luther King’s career. Students listened to an excerpt of King’s “Mountaintop Speech”, his last public speech, delivered on the eve of his assassination. Students received an overview of the historical context of the speech. After listening, they reflected in writing on their response to this emotionally and intellectually challenging moment in American History, and the prescient metaphors offered by King within the speech itself.

In February, we plan a Black History exploration of our “Lesser-Told Stories” themed projects. Students will choose from a wide range of lesser-known and discussed people, moments and movements from Black History. Students will conduct research on the topics they chose, compose writing and choose creative outlets to express their inspiration from their topics.

This continues a pattern of exploring “lesser-told stories” from various backgrounds that we began with Hispanic Heritage Month and plan to revisit at several more points before the school year’s end. The purpose of the theme is to expand our understanding of various backgrounds and diverse contributions to our shared life, while going beyond the most commonly cited examples, adding richness and complexity to our understanding of our own backgrounds and those of our peers.

6th graders in SS will be researching African Americans in the American Revolution. They will choose one individual and create a slideshow telling about the individual and his/her impact on our country and the revolution. Presentations will be shared in class.

In the 8th grade SS, we will be continuing our Medieval Africa unit focusing on the impact Africa had on the global economy. We will continue our discussions on the colonization of Africa and the impact slavery had on Africa. In honor of BHM specifically, students will choose an event or person involved in the Civil Rights Movement to research and will be tasked with creating a “movie trailer” showing this event. This project will have an brief oral presentation piece in which they share information about the event with the class as well.

7th grade science we will be creating a Periodic Table of Black Excellence. This project allows students to use visual arts to create a periodic table of Black scientists while researching their contributions to chemistry, physics, medicine, and engineering. Students can work independently or with groups in order to research, present, and express their artistic side while learning about Black history.

Another 7th grade SS unit, teach a mini-unit on the Harlem Renaissance. Students will explore literature, poetry, politics, art, music, and fashion.

Students will also work on a project that Mr. Kinney created and has been doing for a few years. He calls this project "Lesser Told Stories: Black History". Students will investigate lesser known figures, movements, and moments related to the topic of Black History. Along with writing a research paper, students have several options for a creative project such as an art piece, writing poetry, teaching the class a lesson, and or designing a model.

Counseling will showcase Black athletes and business owners via videos, and reflection/active guidance lessons.

Quibbletown

Seventh-grade team activities
Research one-pager
“Remember the Titans” movie
Character analysis activity
Classes (both 7th grade RP and 6th grade RP) will participate in an additional Black History Month Famous Faces activity
Students will choose a famous person of their choice and read a short biography about them.
Students will then conduct their own research into that person's life experiences, actions, and events that led them to the accomplishments we honor today.
Students research will be combined into a tessellation "quilt."

Administration
The Plainfield Chapter NAACP is Sponsoring “Over Achievers recognition. This year students will be recognized at Quibbletown Middle School the evening of February 24th.
Daily Quotes – Announcements
Weekly Quibbletown family Announcements
Newsletter

Counseling
Wonderful videos will be shared on Schoology during Black History Month. A morning announcement will be made about each person and students will be directed to Schoology to learn more. Students will respond to questions through the day. At the end of the month, we’ll have a voluntary quiz on the figures highlighted. Students who submit responses will be invited to a celebration on 2/28.

Eighth-Grade Math
Black History Month Project that the 8th grade students will be working on. We are finishing our solving equations unit so students will be solving different equations to learn facts about different mathematicians.

Special education
Social Studies will research African-Americans in the Revolutionary War
Math will research African-American Mathematicians and Inventors

Schor

School wide Door Decorating Contest (all homeroom, completed by February 3rd.

English Language Arts
Students read “Martin’s Big Words’ to discuss MLKs contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.

This will extend into Black History Month (BLM) by reading a collection of short stories about “Famous African Americans”.

Students will read several speeches made by African American/Black leaders

Students will creat pictcollages depicting the speeches that were most impactful and why

Social Studies
Students will complete EdPuzzle with Black History information focusing on how it inspired them to “step up”

Class will Discuss how Ghandi, Rosa Parks, Emmitt Till and others were key influencers in the Civil Rights movement that continues today.

Mathematics
Students will create a timeline of the 10-15 major events during the Civil Rights Movement via PicCollage or KeyNote.

Students will watch parts of the Ruby Bridges movie to create a timeline of the 10-12 eventst from the movie.

World Language/Spanish
Students will work on a GimKit game focused on Civil Rights leaders

They will discuss their results and their misconceptions.

Art
Students will create pictCollages of the Civil Rights leaders of their choice.

The image should depict their efforts to change society.