As Black History Month comes to a close, we’re excited to highlight the fantastic ways our local child care centers and preschools have been celebrating! Through hands-on projects, storytelling, and creative expression, children have explored the impact of Black inventors, artists, and leaders who have shaped our world. From traffic lights to textured hair, recycled art to self-portraits, and skits to historical showcases, these young learners have brought history to life in fun and meaningful ways!
Children First of Cleveland
Pre-K students at Children First of Cleveland discovered the brilliance of Garrett Morgan, the traffic light inventor! After learning about his impact, they got creative with another project celebrating natural hair, designing a textured hair poster using an assortment of craft materials.
Horizon Old Brooklyn – The Dinosaur Room, Playdoh & Melanin
Preschoolers at Horizon Old Brooklyn found inspiration in artist Tyree Guyton and his book Magic Trash. After hearing his story, the students transformed recycled materials into one-of-a-kind sculptures and artwork, proving that creativity can turn anything into a masterpiece!
A hands-on lesson in melanin and identity led to an exciting activity where kids matched Play-Doh to their skin tones and sculpted figures of themselves and their families. They even experimented with color mixing to create new shades! The big takeaway? The skin may be different colors, but that doesn’t make us different people.
YWCA Early Learning Center – Purple Crew Power
At the YWCA Early Learning Center, the Purple Crew explored the contributions of Black inventors and history-makers with interactive projects. Each activity brought a deeper understanding of Black leaders’ impact on our everyday lives.
Fatima Family Center – "We Are America"
On February 27, the Fatima Family Center hosted an uplifting event titled “We Are America.” Children took center stage, performing skits honoring Black historical figures and Olympians. At the same time, LaJean Ray presented a mini-museum showcasing inventions like the cell phone, stoplight, and typewriter—all created by Black innovators.
Black History is Every Day!
While February may be ending, the lessons of Black excellence, resilience, and innovation live on! These activities are just a glimpse into how young minds learn that Black history is a part of us every day.
