Pittsburgh Public Schools Black History Month Activities 2013-14 School Year
K-5 Schools ACTIVITIES Pittsburgh The following are activities taking place in honor of Black History month, listed by grade level: Allegheny
Kindergarten-Students will read the stories, “The Other Side” and “The Story of Ruby Bridges.” Students will connect the story content to the robust vocabulary words: courage and persistence. Students will write a Response to Literature to the Story of Ruby Bridges.
Grade 1-Students will read a story about the following individuals: Roberto Clemente, George Washington Carver, and Harriet Tubman. Students will also create a Venn diagram comparing the person they read about to themselves and compare findings during community time.
Grade 2-Students will study the following people during Unit #3 in Reading: Ruby Bridges, Thurgood Marshall, Mae Jemison, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Frederick Douglas. For the culminating project students will be writing an opinion piece based on the prompt: “In your opinion, which famous African Americans changed the world and made it a better place? Use evidence from the text and include details to describe who he/she collaborated with and what changes were made.” Students will share writing pieces during community time.
Grade 3- Students will discuss traits that Dr. Martin Luther King had (consideration, self-control, compassion and team work) and write notes to their peers when they notice them using these traits. We will share the accolades during community time.
Grade 4- Students will research various African Americans and create an acrostic poem about a person of their choice. Students will share their poems during community time.
Grade 5- Students will research and study famous African Americans in history, math, and writing. By homerooms they will develop presentations for community time.
Music- Students will explore decade by decade African Americans who influenced various genres of music.
Gym: Students will identify and discuss an African American athlete whom they find influential. Library: Students will explore a variety of famous African Americans. Students will identify and discuss key contributions they have made to our present day lives.
Science-Students will identify and discuss contributions made by African American scientists, researchers, and doctors as they pertain to the FOSS curriculum.
Spanish-Students will explore the lives of African Americans who speak Spanish fluently. Students will make connections with them and study key words in Spanish that describe who they are.
Pittsburgh The 2014 Theme for Black History Month is “Civil Rights in America”. This year is the 50thanniversary of the Civil Arsenal Rights Act of 1964. We will introduce the month by sharing the theme and how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed the United States.
During community time we will share videos and books with the children to spark a conversation about segregation, integration, “Separate but equal”, and Jim Crow. Information will be shared in the classrooms throughout the month. Teachers and their students will create presentations to be shared during our daily morning meetings. During our daily community time, information will be shared about Ruby Bridges, The Little Rock Nine, Thurgood Marshall, Brown vs. The Board of Education. Some books that will be shared are Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton,Sit-in, How Four friends stood up by Sitting Down, Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, A Sweet Smell of Roseby Angela Johnson
Pittsburgh Famous African Americans highlighted during each Morning Assembly and Information posted throughout school to create Banksville Informational Hallway of Famous African Americans. Classroom Based Writing and Art Activities - K-5. African American History Month Tribute Assembly, Friday, February 21, 2014 - 9:30AM
Pittsburgh Beechwood will celebrate Black History Month with an assembly featuring songs, skits and poetry. The assembly is on February Beechwood 28that 8:30 and 10:30. Pittsburgh Concord African-American History Month Celebration will be on Thursday, February 20 at 1:30 in the school gymnasium. Concord Each grade level, K-5, will perform through prose, singing, or dance, the importance of African-American History.
During Community Time each morning facts and FAQs will be shared with our entire student body.
Pittsburgh At Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK-5thGrade, we intentionally introduce the students and community to African American Leaders and Dilworth how those leaders have helped to improve the world and add to the history of the United States of America. Our focus this year is the Year of History. We are preparing for the 100 year celebration of Pittsburgh Dilworth in the 2015 school year, which will be the Year of Dilworth. Our students have learned during the first five months of school during morning meeting about Nelson Mandela, First Lady Michelle Obama-Turning 50 years old, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Louis Armstrong. We will introduce students to a famous African American Leader every month in morning meeting for the 2013-2014 school years.
During morning meetings, the staff/student presenters will share facts, poems, etc. about Famous African Americans. We will use a picture projected from the iPad and facts about that person to help the students know about the leader and how they have helped the world. Students will sing for the morning song the Negro National Anthem and Compilation of Negro Spirituals.
The end of the year program will culminate our experiences. The students will incorporate the lessons in the June EOY program “Year of History”. The date for the program will be announced.
Our program information will be shared in the weekly school bulletins. Pittsburgh We are going to use this time to build our students pride in their culture so that they can experience what it means to be an African- Faison American outside of main stream media and stereotypes. Each teacher will create a visual display that we will use for many years to come so that the culture of Pittsburgh Faison represents our students’ culture. Through this activity, and what you are doing in your classroom every day, we will work to “empower students to maintain cultural integrity, while succeeding academically.” Gloria Ladson- Billings.
Project:
1. Choose an African-American History person or topic approved by Ms. Z or Dr. Patterson by Wednesday, January 29.
2. Interventions will not take place on Fridays. This time will be used for you to work with your students on your person/topic.
3. Each homeroom teacher will create a visual display that will be used for multiple years at Faison. Please be sure to make the display sturdy so that it will last for several years.
Special education teachers and related arts teachers can have a group of students or partner with another teacher. Everyone must create a display. Pittsburgh Fulton Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Grandview will have a Black History Month program featuring songs, African drumming, and other presentations by Grandview students in Grades 1-5 on Friday, February 28th at 1:30. Pittsburgh Here at Liberty we have many exciting activities and events planned for Black History Month. Most of our activities are classroom Liberty based – plays, books, poems, essays, etc. For specific dates and grade level activities and performances please contact the school. Pittsburgh Lincoln Pittsburgh There was an Art Reception at CMU in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the reception students pieces were read about Linden Dr. King. Fourth grade students held a small play featuring Dr. King and his work for civil rights. Artwork was inspired by collage artist Romare Bearden. The work will be displayed at Linden from now until February 28th.
February 3-28 – During our Family Meetings on each Monday and Friday we will have African American speakers join our morning meeting. Students will read inspirational readings about Dr. King Jr. and many other African Americans who had made an impact in our society and lives. During this month we will also have a program celebrating African American heritage through song, plays and readings. Pittsburgh Miller Pittsburgh The School wide theme will be “Hold onto Your Dreams.” The Langston Hughes poem, DREAMS, will be used as a springboard Minadeo during community time to inspire all students to dream. In his poem, Hughes urges black people to keep dreaming—not to give up their dreams of true freedom and equality. The poem will be used to inspire all our young dreamers, to never give up on their dreams and life goals. Students will write about their personal goals and dreams in class. · On February 28, the CAPA, MLK Dance Project will perform at Pittsburgh Minadeo for students K-5. During community time each morning, an African American proverb will be shared and discussed with the school community. Ex. Don't set sail using someone else's star. Meaning: Just because someone has been successful at doing something does not mean you will be successful at doing the same thing. Pittsburgh School Wide Assembly Feb. 18that 1:30 – The Shona Sharif African Drum and Dance Ensemble from the Univ. of Pittsburgh. Phillips Music– Will be doing lessons on music from the civil rights movement.
Kindergarten-Will read and discuss a number on non-fictional accounts chronicling the Black Experience. For MLK day the students will write what their dreams are.
1stGr. – Will listen and respond to stories and poetry written by African American poets, also will read a book about Dizzy Gillespie and play some of his music.
2ndGr. –Will be working on opinion writings for an African American person in history who is important to us and we are also writing letters to the Ruby Bridges Foundation. Additionally, we are reading about other important African American people in history on an ongoing basis.
3RDGr. –Plans to read and discuss contributions of many famous African Americans. Students will select and research, via books and internet, one famous African American becoming “an expert” on this person. Students will take the research paper through the entire writing process, and then share findings with the class. The published pieces are meant to teach both our 3rdgraders and our school community about the many contributions African Americans have made to our society and the importance of their work.
4thGr. –Will be doing the African American History contest during the month of February. This contest is to encourage families to do research together and to learn about African American History. It will count as a Social Studies grade.
5thGr. –Will be writing poetry and performing it. In addition we will spend some time looking at MLK writings to determine point of view and thru the eyes of opinion text type. Pittsburgh Here at Pittsburgh Roosevelt, we are currently planning a Black History Month program. Each grade level is responsible for Roosevelt developing a short activity or performance that celebrates African American accomplishments. Teachers are given the opportunity to plan their performance in a personal creative way.
Some examples of ideas used in the past are; reciting poems, short plays, reading a written response, etc. Our music teacher, Ms. Schrader, will be enhancing the program with singing performances as well. Another way Pittsburgh Roosevelt is celebrating Black History Month, is to include a short informative announcement recognizing a famous African American in our daily announcements. Our program will take place on Monday, February 24. The first performance will take place at the Primary campus for our Kindergarten and 1stgraders at 9:00am. The next performances will take place at the Intermediate campus at 10:00am and 11:00am. Our 2ndand 3rdgraders will perform first and then the 4thand 5thgraders. Pittsburgh Spring Hill Pittsburgh Whole school Birthday celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15th.Staff member, Ms. Francine Smith read Weil poem and read unknown facts about MLK during Morning Meeting
Art class will feature a different African American Artist throughout month of January Pittsburgh Weil After School Program will emphasize African American Stories WEIL ACT OF KINDNESS-Students in specific grade levels will be participating in the following with hopes that Acts of kindness will continue throughout the month of February Pre K-5 Collecting Can goods for Pittsburgh Greater Food Bank MARTIN LUTHER KING ‘I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH’ –during morning meeting Students will have opportunity to write about their DREAMS in January WEIL BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION-February 21stat 1:45 Weil Auditorium
Pittsburgh West Liberty Pittsburgh Westwood
Pittsburgh School Wide Whittier A Black History fact of the day will be shared during the morning announcements. The Principal’s Book of the Month will be the story of Jackie Robinson. Each team will participate in an activity/celebration to honor significant African Americans
Grade Level Topic Activity K Harriet Tubman Students will make a picture book of Harriet Tubman’s journey along the Underground Railroad.
1 All students will read If A Bus Could Students will complete a character study of Talk and Ruby Bridges Goes To Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges. Students will School. also complete several writing pieces. 2 Famous African American Inventors Students will write an opinion paper on which inventor impacted America the most. 3rd– 5th Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers in Students will read the book Teammates by Sports, In Life Peter Golenbock.
Students will have a choice to complete one of the following activities: students can develop a piece of artwork around what Jackie Robinson means to them, students can write an essay that chronicles the personal struggles of Jackie Robinson or students can write a poem that explores Jackie Robinson’s values of success.
Pittsburgh Whole School Activities: Woolslair During morning community meeting time, students will read short excerpts about Famous African Americans and then post that information on a timeline Bulletin board displays on each level Guest Reader Day
Individual Classroom Activities:
Research / Writing projects Read various books; students complete a short writing activity on the accomplishments of one African American; design a postage stamp or trophy certificate Problem solving activities revolving around Harriet Tubman Focus on George Washington Carver in science; and make peanut butter Art/Music lessons around the civil rights movement
PREK-8 ACTIVITIES Schools Pittsburgh Arlington Pittsburgh Most of the Black History Month activities at Brookline will be part of normal class meeting times and incorporated into the Brookline curriculum. Examples are as follows:
Math – Scholastic interactive Culture and Change unit of study
Music – Black History music selections
Middle School ELA – Essay contest & curriculum studies related to the novel FORGE
Second Grade – Selected readings and Robust word usage to write a response about MLK
Pittsburgh Distance Learning: Author-Sane Evans Feb 25, African American famous sports stars-football hall of fame, Smithsonian African Carmalt American artists.
School morning announcements: daily reading about a famous African American historian, weekly contest- students will look up the answers.
Communications in middle school are able to participate in the PNC contest. Choose one of the 8 famous African American role model and writing about his/her, two of our middle school text dependent analysis for the middle school will revolve around black history month.
Grades 3-5-
CAPA to perform “A TRIBUTE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING” On Feb 7THFrom 9:30 to 10:00.
3RDGRADE: Watch “REMEMBER THE TITANS” and complete an in-class writing assignment.
4THGRADE: Research an African American and give in-class oral presentations. African American problem solving.
5THGRADE: African American problem solving in math, social studies and the importance of story telling
Read: “UNCLE REMUS-SONGS OF THE SOUTH”,
Science: Writing Assignment African American Scientists. Pittsburgh Each day in February during the morning announcements a Black-History fact will be read. These facts will then be posted Colfax throughout the school for all students to read as they pass through the hallways. Students will be given the opportunity to write a fact that they have researched. Each day, the person’s who’s fact is drawn will be able to read it over the morning announcements.
In our middle grades social studies classes, teachers will use “primary” artifacts from the library of congress to weave in African- American history, as well as tour virtual museums to uncover A.A. history and culture.
Black History Month Banners will be displayed throughout the school, as well as Culturally Relevant/Diversity Posters.
Middle Level Students will study the Tuskegee Airmen and find the connection within our district, as the late father of Dr. Lane, Mr. Bowman, served as an airman.
On February 28th, during Community Time, a local fraternity/sorority will perform their “Step” and “Dance” routine for our entire student body. They will discuss their philanthropy and how their organizations are giving back to the community. The second week of February, members of Student Council will be visiting Pittsburgh Allderdice to meet with the High School DREAM TEAM (Equity Team). This collaboration will serve as the launching pad into the creation of our first Student-Body Equity Team. Pittsburgh Plans include: Greenfield School wide door decorating contest to be judged by multiple grade levels o k-3, 5-8 winning a pizza party Quotes by or about African Americans posted throughout the building. Quotes being read on the intercom by students There will be a black history program on Feb 28,2014 parents are invited
I. K-3 students will do a poem or reading and sing a song (teachers will prepare poems and Music teacher will prepare songs) (art will be displayed by the Art Classes)
II. 5-8thwill sing the South African National Anthem
III. Selected middle school students will read a personal writing piece
IV. Middle school intervention will do a skit about the life of Nelson Mandela
Middle school students will research prominent African Americans, dress in character as statues that will come to life during a gallery crawl. They will present parts of their accomplishments. (1) K-5 students will rotate through the upper hall during class periods. Parents are invited to attend. Various other activities will be presented in classrooms
Pittsburgh Note: African American History Activities occur throughout the course of the year at Pittsburgh King. The expectation is that our King history is celebrated and valued continuously.
During the course of the month of February we will engage in the following:
School Wide
A Black History fact of the day will be shared during the morning announcements by various students. The Principal’s Book of the Month will focus on an African American tradition of quilt making. The character trait of the month will be courage, encouraging students to reflect on the courage displayed by African Americans throughout history. Students will also think, discuss, and write about how they display courage. Students in grades K-8 will participate in a Black History Celebration. Areas of interest students were given to sign up for included the following: o Acting (Short Skits, Monologues, narration) o Poetry o Vocal Music-Singing (small groups, or class performances) o Dance & Mine (small group performances) o Visual Arts (Drawing, painting, film, photography etc...) o Black Wax (2nd & 3rd) o Black History Jeopardy o Black History Walk-Thru (with Student Tour Guides)
Pittsburgh Langley Pittsburgh Manchester Pittsburgh Mifflin Pittsburgh 3-6 Team: Montessori Reading books about famous African Americans and discussing their impact/contributions to society. Kindergarten children will be writing about the African Americans we read about. We will also listen to jazz, view art work, and listen to poems, and recreate art work attributed to and by African American artists.
6-9 Team:
Research of African American Inventors We will read biographies, capitalizing on the second grade district curriculum that provides a study of African American heroes. Also included yearly is the bio of Booker T. Washington, who started out a slave and ended up founder of a University. Minahan and Skundrich: Will recite, explore and analyze African American Poetry. Will have a culminating activity of a "poetry slam". African American biographies w/ book reports and African American poetry.
4-5 Team: Each student will be reading non-fictional texts and completing a graphic organizer in order to create a small poster about specific famous African American people in history. These posters will then be displayed in our classrooms and the hallway.
Middle School Team: Middle School will have a focus on learning the culture and history of the Hill District (focused on 1930's- 40's) from guest artist Leslie Ansley the month of February through April. Leslie was a CRAE artist at Montessori for 3 years and through the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Sweetwater Art Center we are fortunate to be able to work with her again. We will team teach and her specialty will be teaching painting skills and telling students about black culture right here in Pittsburgh. Our Middle school students are planning to participate in the African American History Bowl on February 28th at Greenway, sending 4 representatives to compete. Middle school students will also be participating in a school-based African American History Bowl for all middle school students prior to the official competition to allow all students to get a feel for the bowl and to help our representatives prepare. Pittsburgh Morrow Pittsburgh Sunnyside 6 -8 Schools ACTIVITIES Pittsburgh The following activities will take place as we celebrate the contribution of African Americans: Allegheny · Communications Classes-Read poetry written by African Americans · Math Classes- with present African Americans who have made a difference · Science - Introduce Students to African American scientist · Social Studies-With present the contributions that African Americans have made · Physical Education-Identify African American athlete who were first in their field · Art-Students will create African Mask/ and explore African American Art and Artist · Music-Students will continue to explore music which was influence by African American culture. A concert will be held with music influenced by the African American Culture. (Jazz and spirituals.
Morning Announcements will focus on little known African Americans and their contributions
The final activity will take place on Monday, February 24th. The students will hold an African American Living Museum.
**** Students will participate in the African American Challenge Pittsburgh Arsenal will have a Multicultural Night on February 27, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to celebrate the diversity of our Arsenal students and make connections between the heritage of our African and African American students. The Girl Scouts will begin the evening by hosting a meal of various native dishes representing more than 20 countries in the cafeteria. Additionally, there will be student and outside partnership performances throughout the event including African Dancing, drumming, choral music and Krunk Movement. Student art will also be displayed in the foyer during this event.
Throughout the month, students will learn about various African Americans through short non-fiction text in Social Studies classes that will be utilized for warm-ups. Additionally, on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 our 6thgraders will travel to Slippery Rock University where Robert White, an Arsenal teacher and SRU alumni will be speaking to a group of undergraduate students about the importance of African American educators in urban settings. The 6thgraders will be present for the discussion and will be given a tour of the campus and admissions process. Finally, Arsenal will be represented in the African American History Challenge Bowl on Friday, February 28, 2014 by a group of six 8thgrade students.
Pittsburgh Classical Pittsburgh African American History Activities Schiller To begin our celebration of African American History Month, Schiller will participate in two full-school literary activities. The first activity, based on our Principal’s Book of the Month, is a school-wide essay contest based on Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. In Martin’s Big Words, Doreen Rappaport uses Dr. Martin Luther King’s immortal words to tell the story of his life. To talk about Dr. King's life is to talk about terrible things: racism, bombings, hate. Yet it is also to discuss wonderful things: love, peace, harmony, pride, determination. Dr. King preached peace and love while others around him preached war and hate.
Students will write to the prompt: Dr. King believed that “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” Dr. Martin learned to persevere over others that fought with fists, and instead chose to fight with words and love. Discuss a time when you persevered over negative or hateful thoughts and ideas around you, and instead chose peace and love to solve an issue or problem. Write a personal narrative describing how you followed in the footsteps of Dr. King by following the idea that “Love is the key to the problems of the world.” Top essays will be recognized school-wide, with a special reward given to the student with the most poignant essay.
Our second school-wide activity corresponds with our school-wide non-fiction book study entitled Do Hard Things, by Alex and Brett Harris. Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message about combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, and that this revolution, already in progress, challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today. Students in all intervention classes will make connections between the text and examples of famous African-Americans who have done hard things in their lives to overcome opposition and make changes in the American Culture throughout history.
Our 7thand 8thGrade Students will participate in the “Do the Write Thing Challenge” Essay Competition. As is stated in the essay contest, all across America, students are rising to the challenge of doing something to end youth violence. The “Do the Write Thing Challenge” gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives. Through classroom discussions and writings, students communicate what they think should be done to reduce youth violence. In addition, they make personal commitments to do something about this problem.
Our Arts classes will explore African American Historical Themes each day throughout the month. During Black History Month in music and art class, students will explore famous African-American Musicians of the past and present. Students will create informational posters containing musical facts as well as artistic designs representing their musician of choice. Students in music classes will also sing choral versions of famous Black Musicians and have a chance to perform the selections in class and at our February PSCC meeting. Students will read the transcript of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream" speech, practice choral reading, and have a chance to read the speech for parents. Students will view short clips of African-American Musical Performances and read and respond to informational text about the musicians. Explorations will begin with the roots of African-American music to the present Grammy winners.
We have included several content highlights for the month from the various content areas. Read 180 students will be doing a unit on The Streets of Harlem. They will be watching a video about the 1920's and how Harlem produced a wealth of literature, art, and music. This will show the students the creative boom that African-American culture brought into the community. The students will also be reading articles on Harlem history and read a memoir by Walter Dean Myers and poetry from Langston Hughes. At the end of the unit, they will write about their own experiences growing up in their neighborhood. 8th grade students in Read 180 will continue their focus on African-American History during the time of the Revolutionary War throughout their study of the novel,Forge. 6thGrade communications students will read Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and write their own "World Dream” essay. Students in Science, Math, and Social Studies classes will study famous African-American Scientists, Mathematicians, and African American Historical figures from early American History through the present. Specifically in 7thand 8thGrade Math, studentswill read short bios on African-American mathematicians during warm-ups. Students will also use data about African-Americans, pre and post-civil wars, to read graphs, find percentages, and probabilities. Students will also read and discuss biographies on African- American Mathematicians. The African-American Mathematicians include: Benjamin Banneker, David Blackwell, Elbert Frank Cox, Marjorie Lee Browne, Euphemia Haynes, Charles Reason, and Ernest Wilkins, Jr.
Social Studies classes will have in-depth lessons throughout the month as follows:
Intro: We will watch a brief 3 minute video which talks about African Americans involvement throughout wars and its effect on Civil Rights
Activity: We will then analyze a timeline which highlights African Americans involvement in battles throughout our countries history
Pittsburgh South Brook Pittsburgh South Hills Pittsburgh All ELA classes will use AA themes, significant periods in history and prominent figures for the subject of their informational text. Sterrett Students will participate in the AA History Challenge bowl. School wide trivia on the PA system- every morning during AM announcements. Daily Morning announcements will highlight a contribution of an African American. 6-12 and ACTIVITIES High Schools Pittsburgh Allderdice Pittsburgh Brashear High School, The Teaching Institute Summary of Activities: Brashear The students and staff of Brashear High School will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of activities and events. Please read below to see what will be taking place throughout the month. If you have any questions about any of the listed activities, please contact Ms. Leach, Activities Director, at 412 – 571 – 7300, ext. 4.
The faculty and staff will continue its ongoing equity work and focus on race with student relationships. Moreover, they will examine the presence and role of whiteness in Black History Month. This work will be rooted in Glenn Singleton’s book, Courageous Conversations, which has been a focal point of professional development for all faculty and staff members.
Daily Announcements: The students will hear facts or biographical information pertaining to African Americans each day during the morning and afternoon announcements.
Library Display: The students will be able to look through a variety of books and materials contained within the library. Mr. Heywood, the librarian, will create a display of books for them to examine.
Carnegie Library Visit: The monthly Carnegie Library visit on Thursday, February 13, will present literature that has been authored by or is about African – Americans. The library staff will be in the cafeteria to discuss the literature with the students during their lunch periods.
Posters: Several posters containing brief biographical sketches of African Americans will be hung around the building.
Speakers: The school librarian is working to finalize plans for speakers to visit the students. When details are made available, they will be disseminated.
Advisory Assemblies: The grade – level Advisory assemblies will focus on Black History Month. The faculty is diligently working to plan engaging and worthwhile activities that will impact Brashear’s students.
Equity Presentation at the PSCC Meeting: The Equity Team will offer a special presentation at the PSCC meeting on Monday, February 17, at 5:30 p.m. They will share information about Courageous Conversations, in addition to the Beyond Diversity training that the staff has undergone. Library Coffeehouse: The monthly Library Coffeehouse will feature performances and information with respect to African-American history.
Participation in the African American History Challenge Bowl: Several of our AA CAS students will participate in the annual African American History Challenge Bowl. The tournament is scheduled for Friday, February 28, at Greenway Professional Development Center.
Pittsburgh Date/Time Description of Event CAPA February 5 at 7:00 PM CAPA’s 9-12 Symphony Orchestra will showcase a series of African American composers. February 13and February 14 In celebration of Black History Month, Pittsburgh CAPA presents a dramatization of Zora at 7:00 PM Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, Their Eyes Were Watching God brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston--the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. March 7 at 6:30 PM and 7:30 Students from the CAPA 9-12 Dance Department will perform a newly choreographed PM piece to the inspirational words of various civil rights leaders. The same piece will be performed at various elementary and middle schools with the District. Every Monday and Friday During the morning announcements students will hear information about a noteworthy during the month of African American artist. February Various Displays Throughout the school a myriad of displays will be created celebrating African American artists.
Pittsburgh Carrick Pittsburgh Milliones Pittsburgh The list below highlights the activities for Black History Month at Obama:
Obama Participation the 20th Annual African American History Challenge Bowl-February 28th
Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration - end of February
Black History Month Heroes/Sheroes announcements - daily
A variety of speakers for our mentoring groups - weekly Pittsburgh Perry Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy Pittsburgh The Academy at Westinghouse will have two performances the last week in February. K.C'S Dream is about a young lady who has Westinghouse many encounters with famous African Americans while dreaming. Both performances will include middle and high school students. Academy SPECIAL ACTIVITIES SCHOOLS Pittsburgh February 3 - Students will have an opportunity to read a quote about the role of education and educators in the lives of African Conroy Americans.
An Introduction to our Activities. Our overall theme is “A Day without Black People”. We are asking classrooms to discover what their lives would be like if African Americans never existed. The classroom with the longest list of the impact African Americans make, at the end of the month wins a prize.
A form will be given to staff and students requesting information about their cultural heritage. (IE African American, Native American, and, European,). At the end of the month. Everyone that completes a form will build a Flag with specified colors for their heritage. In conclusion, all of the colors in the flag will be included on a Wall Hanging that will be displayed in a prominent location within the school. February 14 - Red and White Dance dedicated to Nelson Mandela, students will wear Red and White and bring a token amount, (if anything) to enter the dance. The dance will be sponsored by the HIS Club. HIS Club members will escort all females into the dance. All Proceeds will be given to the Nelson Mandela Foundation to assist in the building of a hospital for children with disabilities.
February 17 - Photo Contest Begins Photos of famous African Americans will be placed strategically on the first floor of the building. Clues will be written on the answer sheet classrooms or individuals may enter. The group or the person with the highest number of correct clues will win. Contest closes on February 21st.
February 20 - Reading Day. Staff and Guest readers will read books about African Americans or African American Culture to each classroom.
February 26 - African American Heritage Basketball Game with a guest Referee we have asked either former Steeler Mike Logan or one of the Zeise (father or son)
February 28 - Culminating Activities, The Contests end. The flags and Wall Hangings will be completed. Pittsburgh Morning Announcements: During morning announcements, student-led announcements will include “This Day in Black History” Gifted Center facts provided from the following resource: http://dayinblackhistory.com/showarticle3507.aspx
In individual courses: Media Madness (Grades 7/8) News articles that are chosen will highlight African American achievement. Sound of Words (Grades 7/8) This course is specifically designed to focus on diversity. Think, Act, Write (Grades 7/8 and based This course is specifically designed to focus on diversity. onThe Outsiders) It’s a Burgh Thing (Grades 2/3) Students will write poetry and create art pieces based on Pittsburgh artists. Students will be introduced to African American artists from Pittsburgh, both writers (poets) and artists. Skill Builders (Grade 1) Students will engage in “I Have a Dream” Activity in which they reflect on personal, family, community and global goals. Patterns in Music (Grades 5/6) Students will learn about and stud Civil Rights Anthems. Students will then compose lyrics for their own protest song. You Are What You Eat N’at (Grades 3/4) Students will study the origins of soul food and cooking methods and techniques.
Students will prepare “Johnny Cakes.” Afterward, health concerns specific to African Americans will be discussed. Creative Writing Seminar (Grades 5/6) Quotes from famous African Americans will be incorporated as writing prompts during the students S.T.T.E.W. (Student’s Time To Enjoy Writing) sessions.
A different quote will be shared each week. Teacher will share weekly with the students the back stories of each of these individuals’ lives, the contributions they have made, and what impact we see today in history that has happened because of their contributions in society. In addition, students will have an opportunity to write about each of these individuals, and share in their own words their sentiments about their contributions. Festival of Physics (Grades 5/6) Students will be investigating four different African-American scientists that contributed or are contributing to the field of science, two male and two female:
Aprille Ericsson–first female (and the first African-American female) to receive a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Howard University and the first African-American female to receive a Ph.D. in engineering at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
James West– physicist who specialized in microphones; authored 200 patents and more than 60 technical and scientific publications
Roger Arliner Young- first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in zoology; her first article, "On the Excretory Apparatus in Paramecium," appeared in Science in September 1924 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams- founded the Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1891, and he performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893
The students will read each scientist’s biography and write a 2-3 paragraph summary that discusses the following:
What hurdles or obstacles did the scientist while growing up? What do you think motivated this scientist to become a success in their field? How has their successes affected society? How has their scientist inspired you to achieve your dreams? Explore, Draw, Build (Grades 5/6) Students will look at the works of Pittsburgh Architect Howard Kenneth Graves, Jr. First, students will conduct Internet research to find images and facts about the man and his projects. Each student will add 1 unique fact or image to a poster-sized printout of the architect. The poster will be prominently displayed just outside the classroom door. Then, students will be posed with a challenge, and design a structure through the eyes of Graves Algebra Mixer (Grades 5/6) Students will study quilting traditions of African Americans. First, students will conduct Internet research to find facts and images. Then, students consider their own pasts, and design a quilt block of their own, preferably using GSP software. Last, students write up a brief summary of their quilt blocks to explain the geometric makeup of the block, as well as the significance of the pattern they designed. Math in Aviation 1 and 2 (Grades 7/8) Students will complete the following activities: 1. Watch an online video about the Tuskegee Airmen (10 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rYPjoGOY5w 2. Visit the Tuskegee Airmen Museum website and answer questions based on reading the site http://www.tuskegeeairmennationalmuseum.org/ 3. Fly the P-47 Thunderbolt (the most advanced airplane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II) around Sharpe Field (Formerly Tuskegee Army Airfield - the airfield where the Tuskegee Airmen received advanced flight training after passing primary training). Math History (Grades 7/8) Students will complete their choice of the following activities:
1. Identify Egyptian contributions to math, including multiplication and division of fractions, area and volume of geometric shapes, angles, algebraic equations as predictors of Nile floods, and the Egyptian estimate for pi (3.16) 2. Examine the Yoruba base 20 number system (modern day Nigeria, circa 5,000 BC) 3. Examine the astronomical contributions of the Dogon people of Mali, including the discovery of Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons. Iraq and Afghanistan (Grades 7/8) Students will outline contribution made in Iraq by African American Soldiers. Also, students will be given resources that show how African American culture plays a large role in the enlisted ranks of the military and has since the Vietnam era. Anthropology (Grades 7/8) Students will explore how we define ourselves as a culture through a lens of cultural relativism. Exploring the past as a basis for cultural identity. This fits very well into the post-slavery, pre-equality world that "Black History Month" was founded out of and I can use this as the case example for contextualizing the importance of understanding the past.
Out of This World Astronomy (Grades 5/6) Students will be engaged in activities and research on one of today’ most famous Astro-physicists, Neil DeGrasse Tyson (Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City).
Humanities—Our City Pittsburgh (Grades Activities will focus on Black Owned Businesses and Famous African 3/4) American Pittsburghers. Classes are now reading or beginning to read the book "Macaroni Boy", teacher will make a connection with the text and Black History Month. In the story,
Italians and other European ethnicities are referenced. The Costa's, who are Italian, are local business owners. To make connections with the story, my students will discuss local black owned and operated businesses from past and present. Also, famous African Americans from Pittsburgh will be incorporated into the Breakfast for the Brain routine.
Experimentation, Excitation! (Grades 3/4) Students will read a short biography each week in February about an African American Scientist. Students will then respond to the following written response questions: "What did this person contribute to Science? How might life be different without this scientist's contribution?"
Lastly, displays in the Main Office, hallways, and cafeteria area will be focused on the contributions of famous Black Americans. Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy Pittsburgh Pioneer
Pittsburgh Student Achievement Center