This month’s post comes to us from blogging librarian extraordinaire, Edi Campbele, whose insights and resource lists are seriously bookmark/blogroll material. This month of February is known as Black History Month in the U.S., and below, Edi has a fantastic list of ways that educators everywhere can celebrate with substance and style.

Every teacher has a curriculum to follow and for a school librarian, it’s called information literacy. Simply put, we work not only to develop a lifelong love of reading, but how to locate, access, organize and present information.

As teachers begin to plan special projects to celebrate Black History Month, a visit to the school media center can result in a wonderful collaboration that will help students increase their technology skills while they dig deep into history.

1. Discover African American Authors: Librarians can print annotated bibliographies (or use 22 Books) for students to use in book selection. Upon completion, students can use Animoto to create a book trailer. Classroom teacher and librarian should decide what elements should be included in the visual presentation.

2. Relate to an African American Author: With a focus on science fiction or historical fiction this project would be great for science or history teachers! The librarian will create an annotated bibliography for students. Students will select books from the media center and have 3-4 weeks to complete the reading. During the month, students will Skpe with a contemporary African American science fiction or historical fiction author. If science: discuss the role of science in the way we live today. If history: discuss an author’s responsibility to history. Assess students’ participation Many authors are willing to Skype with classes!

3. Biography Meeting of the Minds: Move beyond the typical “History Report”!! Teachers and librarians can develop a list of important African Americans. Librarians can create pathfinders and book carts to assist with research. Students will research to find what important contributions their person made and what obstacles they had to overcome. The students will meet in small groups, in character to discuss what they’ve learned. Record the discussions!

4. Historical Hunt: Teachers and librarians can build an online hunt around one of the following virtual tours. Prepare an essay question for students to answer after taking the tour.:

Harlem Renaissance

African American Portraits or The Atlanta Student Movement 50th Anniversary”

Walk Through History: While the teacher develops a list of topics, the librarian will prepare a blog site for the students (Try Blogger). Collect examples of student made blogs as examples for the students. Topics in African American history will be assigned or selected and in this project, the process will be the focus rather than the end product. Students will be expected to share in their blog what they’re finding in their research whether it be quotes, summaries, photos or videos and they’ll be required to reflect upon their entry. Teacher and librarian will set parameters for research and reflection. Classes familiar with blogging can comment on classmates’ blogs.

Thanks, Edi! What books, web sites, and other resources do you use in your library, classroom, and/or home to make this month more meaningful? Please share in the comments below.

About The Author

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the daughter of a Jamaican mother and Nigerian father, and married to a man of Croatian descent. So, that’s what’s up with the name. She’s worked as a freelance writer and contributing editor at various magazines, and has developed educational materials geared to educators and students. Olugbemisola has worked extensively in youth development, at community organizations and New York City schools. She was twice awarded a public service fellowship by the Echoing Green foundation to work on a creative arts and literacy project with adolescent girls. She received her M.A. in Educational Communication and Technology, with a concentration in Adolescent Literacy and English Education, her B.Sc. from Cornell University, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. “I spent a number of my younger years in different communities across the globe. I attended public, private,’international’, and religious schools. These experiences have had lasting benefits as I was exposed to many languages, traditions, customs – new and thrilling worlds. And each move brought with it both an opportunity and a struggle surrounding identity, which is a recurring theme in my work.” She lives in New York City where she is also an enthusiastic if not particularly skilled crafter.  Read more about Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich.

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