Throughout February, classrooms in New Hanover County will be abuzz with events, activities and special curricula in celebration of Black History Month.
Across the district, schools are incorporating themed studies that engage students while highlighting important contributions from African Americans have made to the country, according to a press release from the district.
The following events are just a sample of a host of planned Black History activities:
- “What Makes You, You? Adjectives at After-school,” 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 3: Inspired by Denzel Washington’s words, “I am proud to be black, but black is not all I am,” Ogden Elementary’s after-school program will delve into adjectives in terms of how they convey who they are. Students will look at words that describe them beyond their race and, at times, physical attributes.
- Famous African Americans presentation, Monday, Feb. 9, through Friday, Feb. 20: Fourth-graders at Murrayville Elementary have been researching a famous African American to present via PowerPoint the second and third weeks in February. Students are expected to practice their viewing, listening, and speaking skills while gaining knowledge of black history-makers.
- “Fuel Up the Play 60: African American Athletes,” 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 10: Ogden Elementary’s after-school program recently enrolled in the NFL’s Fuel UP to Play 60 program. In celebration of Black History Month, students will learn about African American athletes–Jackie Robinson, Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Wilma Rudolph, Althea Gibson and Michael Jordan, among them–and the importance of staying active, as well as how playing at least 60 minutes a day positively impacted their careers.
In addition to these events, the district is sponsoring the Althea Gibson Art and Essay Contest for middle and high school students. Gibson, who moved to Wilmington in 1946, was a trailblazing athlete who became the first African-American to win Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Doubles and the US Open in the late 1950s.
And second-graders at Bellamy Elementary School will spend the month learning about contemporary artist and author, Faith Ringgold, noted for her signature story quilts. In honor of Ringgold, students will create a class story quilt out of paper, illustrating their lives as Bellamy students.
