Clara Byrd Baker
Daily facts segment on our Baker News Network (BNN) about notable African Americans starting with our very own Clara Byrd Baker – may include inventors, educators, artists; Weekly Friday “quiz” on BNN about the people highlighted with recognition going to the first class to submit answers; Hallway bulletin board(s); Books pulled from library and reading room for teachers to use in their mini-lessons/shared reading throughout the month
D.J. Montague
Contributions of African Americans will be shared on the morning announcements; The background music for the morning announcements will be music of African American musicians; African American community members will read to students during guidance lessons with a lesson on theme or moral of the story to be a springboard for the classroom guidance lesson; Books about famous African Americans and books by African American authors will be displayed in the Media Center; A bulletin board with an Instagram theme will display pictures and contributions of African Americans who have had an impact on our world. Quotes from D.J. students (and their picture) about how they could change or impact our world will also be included on the bulletin board; In art and music class, students will be studying the work of African American artists and musicians.
James River
Dylan Pritchard will speak to the entire schools and the Media Center will display African American books on top of book shelves. An employee will also be showcased on the bulletin board in the hallway. Lesson plans ideas and other ideas will be sent to the teachers to use at their discretion. A short clip about Famous African Americans will be shown on the news weekly and the second grade is putting on a show as well.
J. Blaine Blayton
During the month of February, students will be engaged in activities to spotlight prominent African Americans past and present. Our school is excited about the many opportunities for students to learn about African Americans from our own community and across our nation as we celebrate African American History month at JBB.
School wide, on February 8th we will host renowned African American Storyteller, Sheila Arnold. Ms. Arnold currently resides in Hampton, VA. She is the CEO and Lead Performer of History’s Alive! Through History’s Alive!, Ms. Arnold has given over 600 presentations for schools, churches, professional organizations and museums, in 26 states. She has twice been one of the featured “regional” Storytellers at the Colonial Williamsburg Storytelling Festival. Ms. Arnold has also presented Professional Development sessions, Storytelling Programs and Character Presentations at educational conferences, including Valley Forge Teacher Institute (2 years), Social Studies Conferences in New York, Louisiana, Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and at the National Council of Social Studies.
More details and contact information can be found on her website at www.mssheila.org
Additionally, all JBB students will learn about important facts through our “Famous African Americans Trivia”, as we celebrate the many contributions made by famous African Americans, including our own Dr. J. Blaine Blayton, on the morning announcements. Along with our school-wide initiatives, our centers classes will be studying African American culture. For example, in the media center, Mrs. Keller has prepared a display of books for staff and students to check out. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy these text being read by teachers in class as we participate in the African America Read-In. All of our JBB staff will record the books that they read to their classes at (http://www.ncte.org/aari/toolkit) throughout the month for this event. From the readings, students will have opportunities to participate in follow up discussions such as webs, book reports, class discussion and many other reading strategies to reinforce comprehension and knowledge of these special people. In music, African American culture will be exemplified as the students study jazz music, African American dances, and games. In addition to participating in the African American Read-In, teachers have prepared different lessons for all age groups such as: African American author studies; read alouds about famous African Americans in history; African American readers’ theater; and story quilts to name a few. All year long, classroom teachers share literature that focuses around the various important contributors to our lives by such famous African Americans as Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carter, Martin Luther King and many others that are emphasized through our Virginia Standards of Learning.
Laurel Lane
PNN (morning news) spotlight each week; Black History Month bulletin boards; Read aloud and small group books available from the library (biography of an African American (past & present), stories with African American characters, nonfiction text about real events that happened pertaining to African Americans); Each class will be doing at least one BHM activity; SCA making posters to decorate the school
Matoaka
School-wide assembly “I Have a Dream” – February 21st, 10:15 AM; African Americans on display in case throughout hallways, decorated to reflect African American contributions and artifacts in history; African American History Reading Challenge – Read With Me! Students will be encouraged to read 28 children’s books that feature/celebrate the contributions of African Americans in America; African American History Trivia Challenge
During the morning announcements, students will hear facts about African Americans in history and classes are invited to answer a trivia question each Friday; Learn it! Share it! As students learn about African American History this month, they will be encouraged to share with the school community through a variety of mediums…write a poem, make a dance, sing a song, create a work of art inspired by what you have learned! Students will have the opportunity to share these during the morning announcements;
