President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, but its origins reach far back into American history. PBS KIDS supports parents in teaching about and celebrating Black voices, now and all year long. Here is a list of some of their resources:
- A YouTube playlist of videos, including on the origins of Black History Month and an animated short of Amanda Gorman’s poem, “Talking Gets Us There”
- A collection that helps parents celebrate Black leaders with conversation prompts, activities, crafts and more
- Seven activities for families to celebrate Black History Month together
- A Learn Along Bingo printable that helps young kids honor Black leaders including Trombone Shorty and Misty Copeland
Broadcast and streaming options are available for families to tune-in and celebrate Black History Month. Check your local listings for times to watch/stream these free programs.
- PBS KIDS Family Night: Celebrating Black Leaders with PBS KIDS will air the following episodes on February 4-6, 7-10 pm ET:
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – I am Harriet Tubman
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – I am Maya Angelou/I am Frederick Douglass
- Peg + Cat – The Dance Problem (feat. Misty Copeland)/Follow the Bouncing Ball
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – I am Rosa Parks/I am Thurgood Marshall
- Arthur – Muffy Misses Out/Arthur Takes a Stand (feat. Rep. John Lewis)
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum – I am Ella Fitzgerald/I Am Jesse Owens
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum “Celebrating Black Leaders” episodes will also air throughout the month, including:
- I am Billie Jean King/I am Arthur Ashe (February 9)
- I am Maya Angelou/I am Frederick Douglass (February 10)
- I am Wilma Rudolph/I am Jonas Salk (February 16)
- I am Zora Neale Huston/I am Charles Dickens (February 18)
Stream free on PBS KIDS throughout the month:
- Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
- I am Maya Angelou/I am Frederick Douglass
- I am Rosa Parks/I am Thurgood Marshall
- I am Wilma Rudolph/I am Jonas Salk
- I am Harriet Tubman
- I am Zora Neale Huston/I am Charles Dickens
- I am Billie Jean King/I am Arthur Ashe
- I am Jesse Owens/I am Ella Fitzgerald
- I am Florence Nightingale/I am George Washington Carver
- Arthur
- Muffy Misses Out/Arthur Takes a Stand (feat. Rep. John Lewis)
- George Scraps His Sculpture (feat. Kevin Sampson)/Arthur’s Big Meltdown
- Big Horns George (feat. Koko Taylor and Taj Mahal)/Bleep
- Peg + Cat
- The Dance Problem (feat. Misty Copeland)/Follow the Bouncing Ball
- The Peanut Problem (feat. George Washington Carver)/More Adventures of Robin Hood
- The Polka Dot Planet Problem/The Mardi Gras Problem (feat. Billie Holiday)
- PBS KIDS Talk About
- “Talking Gets Us There” by Amanda Gorman
For more resources, downloadable content, and activities, visit Learn at Home With PBS KIDS | PBS KIDS for Parents
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