The contributions African Americans have made to American history and culture are being celebrated in many ways throughout the month of February (Black History Month) by the students and staff of Goochland County Public Schools. Here are just a few examples:
At Byrd Elementary School, the theme for February is “Recognizing African American Achievements and Contributions”. All classes will select a famous African American who has contributed to the shaping of our country via actions or through literature. The class will learn about this person and will either decorate their door or complete a bulletin board. Students will be given the opportunity to visit all displays in February.
Goochland Elementary School is celebrating Black History Month by creating their own “Black History Month Artifact Museum”, with each GES class creating an artifact box about a famous African American containing 5-10 important artifacts about the person’s life. Boxes will be on display in the library media center and students will have the opportunity for a “guided” tour of the museum this month.
At Randolph Elementary School, students are creating a digital “Voices of Freedom” quilt illustrating the meaning of a famous quote from an African American in addition to Facebook biography profiles of notable African Americans. Students will complete a STEM engineering project that displays the contributions by African Americans in a creative way. First grade students will work with the librarian to study African American authors and illustrators, and the library will also facilitate a Underground Railroad Ozobot Timeline/Map Project to accompany an interactive Black History Month book display.
At Goochland Middle School, students are “Celebrating, Recognizing and Appreciating the Achievements of African Americans” through a wide variety of activities. In English, students are working to create an “African American Achievement Through the Ages” timeline to be displayed in the library. Social Studies classes are contributing daily historical or current facts to the morning announcements to recognize historical and current achievements of African Americans. Math classes have developed a mathematical representation of the March on Washington, and fine arts classes are celebrating the musical influences of African Americans and studying coil “Kambala” baskets of Angola and Zaire and their use during slavery. In addition, all 6th grade social studies classes are visiting the Second Union Rosenwald School here in Goochland to explore our place in African American history.
Goochland High School is celebrating “American Legacies: An African American Perspective”. GHS will highlight a national or state renown African American each week in February, with students presenting the information on the GHS News twice weekly. A Black History QOD (Question of the Day) will be tweeted daily, with answers and winners being recognized each Friday morning.
To learn more or to visit to see Black History Month celebrations in action, contact your school, or follow @glndschools on Twitter and look for #GCPSblackhistory