Black History Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

Why teach Black history to preschoolers

Young children notice differences, including skin color, hair and family traditions, from a very early age. Preschool is a good time to give them accurate, warm and simple language for what they notice, and to show them that people of every background have made things, led others and told stories worth knowing.

Black History Month is observed in February in the United States and Canada, and it grew out of Negro History Week, started by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. A month-long observation can be a useful hook for planning, but the aim is bigger than one month. Children benefit most when Black history, art and stories are part of the classroom or home all year.

The lesson plans below are written for ages 3 to 5 and can be simplified for younger children. Adjust everything to your group, your families and your community, and invite families to share their own stories and traditions.

Principles to plan around

Keep it year-round. Use February as a focus, but keep Black authors, artists and characters on your shelves in every month.
Include joy and achievement, not only struggle. If children only meet Black people in stories about hardship, they get a narrow picture. Balance stories about unfairness with stories about creativity, family, invention, music, food and everyday life.
Use simple, honest language. Preschoolers can understand ideas like “that rule was unfair” and “people worked together to change it.” They do not need graphic detail.
Look for Black creators. Where you can, choose books written and illustrated by Black authors and artists. Their perspectives usually feel more specific and less like a lesson.
Let children lead. Follow their questions and notice what interests them. Short, repeated experiences work better than one big event.

A four-week lesson plan

This sample plan uses about 15 to 30 minutes a day. Treat it as a menu, not a script.

Week 1: Identity and belonging

Start with the children themselves, so that learning about others builds on a sense of their own worth.

Self-portraits: Offer paint, crayons or markers in a wide range of skin tones, and mirrors so children can look closely at themselves. Talk about how everyone’s skin, hair and eyes are different and special. For more ways to build a child’s sense of worth, see self-esteem activities for kindergarten.
Name stories: Ask families, ahead of time, to share how a child’s name was chosen. Children share what they know at circle time.
Read together: Choose a book that celebrates families and belonging, such as All Are Welcome by Alexandria Penfold, and talk about what makes a place feel welcoming. Our best preschool picture books list can help you stock the shelf.

Week 2: Stories and people

Introduce a few people through picture books. Two or three per week is plenty. Pause to ask simple questions such as “What did she do?” and “How do you think that felt?”

Read a picture-book biography and revisit it over several days.
Make a classroom “helpers and heroes” wall with a drawing for each person you learn about.
Link to our guide for Martin Luther King Jr. activities for preschool when you reach Dr. King.

Week 3: Art

Art is a natural way for preschoolers to take in new ideas, and Black artists offer plenty to explore.

Color play inspired by Alma Thomas: Thomas painted with bright blocks and dabs of color. Invite children to dab and stamp colors on paper with sponges or large brushes.
Story pictures inspired by Jacob Lawrence: Lawrence used bold, flat shapes of color to tell stories. Try cut-paper shapes glued into a simple scene.
Texture and pattern art: Explore patterns through printing with safe household objects or fabric scraps. If you look at patterns from a specific culture or region, name where they come from rather than describing them as “African” in general, since the continent has many different peoples and traditions.

Week 4: Music and movement

Listen to jazz, gospel, blues or hip-hop that is suitable for children, and let them move freely: swaying, clapping, marching, freezing when the music stops. See the importance of dance for preschoolers for why free movement matters.
Introduce simple instruments such as shakers, drums and rhythm sticks, and play along to a steady beat.
End the unit with a gathering where children show a favorite piece of art, share a song, or point out a favorite story.

People and stories to introduce

Choose from a range of fields so children see scientists, artists, athletes and community members, not only civil rights leaders. Names often used with young children include:

Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges: stories of courage in the face of unfair rules.
Harriet Tubman: consider waiting until children are older, or keep the telling brief and focused on courage and helping others.
Maya Angelou: poetry and words.
George Washington Carver: often linked to science and plants.
Katherine Johnson and Mae Jemison: mathematics and space.
Jackie Robinson: sports and perseverance.
Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong: music.

You do not need to cover them all. Choose a few, check facts with a reliable children’s biography, and keep the telling short.

Talking about fairness and unfairness

Young children have a strong sense of fairness, which makes this a useful starting point. You might say: “A long time ago in our country, some rules treated Black people unfairly. That was wrong. Many people, including children, worked together to change those rules.”

Some tips:

Answer the question that was asked, simply, and stop. You can follow up later if they ask more.
Name feelings. It is fine to say “That makes me sad” or “That makes me angry, and people worked to fix it.”
Avoid asking children to imagine themselves as targets of unfair treatment, and avoid games that separate children by skin, hair or eye color. Exercises like these can hurt feelings and leave a poor impression.
Remind children that unfairness is not only in the past. Talk about what fairness looks like in your own room: taking turns, listening to each other, and including everyone. Ideas for building these habits are in preschool character development.

What to avoid

One-off, “token” lessons. A single craft with no follow-up can feel like a box ticked.
Reenactments of slavery or segregation. Role-playing these experiences is not appropriate for young children.
Stereotyped crafts or costumes. Check each activity for whether it reduces a culture to a cliche.
Treating all of Africa or the Black diaspora as one culture. Name specific places, peoples and traditions when you can.
Telling the story of “good” and “bad” people only. Focus on what people did and why it mattered.
Putting the burden on Black children or families. Do not ask a child to speak for their race. Invite families to take part if they wish, never expect it.

Materials and safety notes

Small parts: Beads, counters, buttons and other small items are choking hazards for children under 3, and for any child who still mouths objects. Use large pieces and supervise closely.
Art supplies: Choose washable, non-toxic paints and crayons, and check for allergies before using food-based materials such as flour, rice or pasta.
Music: Keep volume comfortable, and give children who are sensitive to loud sounds a quieter option.
Online video: Preview anything you plan to show. Short, calm clips work best.
Photos and books: Check that images of real people are respectful and age-appropriate.

Keeping it going beyond February

Rotate books and images that feature Black children and families into regular displays.
Add dolls, puppets and dramatic play props that reflect different skin tones and hair textures.
Celebrate other cultural observances throughout the year, such as Chinese New Year and Hanukkah, with the same care and with families’ input.
Keep a short list of books and ideas for next year so planning gets easier.

Frequently asked questions

What age should children start learning about Black history?

Many early educators begin with identity and belonging, and with books and music, from toddler age, adding simple stories about people and fairness as children grow. There is no fixed age; follow your child’s curiosity and keep the telling gentle.

Should I teach this if my group is not diverse?

Yes. Children in every community benefit from seeing a wide range of people in books, art and music. It is arguably even more important when children’s daily lives do not offer that exposure.

How do I handle a child’s difficult question?

Stay calm, answer simply and honestly, and say “That’s a good question” if you need time. It is fine to check with a family member or look something up before returning to the topic.

Is it okay to focus on Martin Luther King Jr.?

He is a good starting point, as long as he is not the only person children meet. See our MLK activities for preschool for a gentle approach, and include other figures too.