You may have noticed on our Facebook page last month that a number of our program sites celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and legacy with art projects and fact-finding missions. It was a great example of our program directors building on what students were already learning in their schools, with complementary instruction.
In February, the leaders of our AYS programs did something similar for Black History Month. They added to what the kids were being taught in their classrooms, with curriculum featuring trailblazers and peacemakers.
For example, Sense Charter School in Indianapolis created an anti-racism art display (pictured at left). Each child made a handprint that represented a way we can increase inclusion and rid our world of bigotry.
At Stephen Decatur Elementary School in Decatur Twp., our director and staff used Black History Month as an opportunity to get children to work on their literacy skills, while also celebrating influential African-Americans.
The Decatur Twp. students started their projects at the beginning of this month by researching and selecting an African-American hero. Indianapolis’ own Madame CJ Walker, baseball great Jackie Robinson and abolitionist Harriet Tubman were among those chosen by our AYS kids.
The children spent the rest of February studying their heroes, and then finally creating posters that summarized their work (pictured at right).
As always, thank you to our program directors who put so much thought into complementing what our AYS students are learning in school every day, and to our families who trust us with their children’s after-school education experience.
Did you notice any additional Black History Month activities at your AYS program? Let us know about them below!
