From Motown to Montgomery: Celebrating Black History Month

Walking up the second-floor hall at Rowan School, all I could hear were the melodious sounds of kids actively learning about important figures in black history.

At the top of the hall, our second graders were all intensely viewing a video about various African American musical artists and their contributions to American culture. With bright faces full of wonder, our kids watched performances from Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight and more.

Traveling up to the end of the hall, I found our 3^rd through 5^th graders, engrossed in a lip sync battle while they learned the meaning behind the lyrics of several Motown classics. Kids and teachers alike had a blast lip-syncing to the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and the Jackson 5.

 

Moving outside, our kindergarteners and first graders were learning about the climate of the times in which this music was created. Following a discussion on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the children’s little fingers went to work focused on color pictures of a bus, Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Understanding and reflecting on the contributions African Americans have made throughout history is paramount for our kids. At Operation Shoestring, we are dedicated to providing opportunities for our children to discover a deeper understanding of themselves. Learning about people, they can relate to, doing amazing things makes a big difference in how our kids see themselves and their own potential.