February is Black History Month, and it’s a great time to highlight the rich contributions of African-American musicians and composers. Music is a great way to help students connect with culture, history, and how people use music to express themselves and stand up for change. Here are some Black History Month songs and activities you can use in your classroom to celebrate with your students.
Black History Month Songs
“This Little Light of Mine”
“This Little Light of Mine” is a powerful spiritual that became a civil rights anthem in the 1960s. When I was a kid, I remember learning this song—and all the motions to it. This classic Black History month song has lots of activities that could be added to it. First, you can teach the history behind the song, and listen to different versions and singers. Here’s a list of kid-friendly music activities that you could try in your classroom:
- Teach the song and the many verses.
- Discuss the song’s historical context and history.
- Add motions to match the verses.
- Create additional lyrics for a new verse.
- Add classroom instruments on specific words like “light,” “shine,” “blow,” “bushel,” etc.
- Practice playing the melody on a recorder or barred instrument.
- Create specific movements for words, phrases, or verses—body percussion, partner hand game, circle dance, etc.
- Add in a music theory element, like tempo or dynamics; sing the song to various tempos or dynamic levels.
You can use this song for so many different Black history month music activities. Here’s what I use with my students—check it out here.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Known as the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a must-teach Black History Month song. Written around 1899-1900, it is so beautiful and melodic and filled with word painting, where melody and the music matches the lyrics.
- Share the song’s history.
- Use it as a listening activity, encouraging students to listen to the lyrics.
- Teach students to sing the song or play it on simple instruments like Boomwhackers.
- Add rhythmic and melodic instruments to a recording or while students sing.
- Take a look at this great site all about the history behind this famous song – discover more here.
“He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”
The next Black History Month song is “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Some of your students may already know this African-American spiritual, but if not, it’s a simple melody to learn.
- Teach verse 1 to your students.
- Read lyrics for the rest of the verses. Encourage students to use their imaginations to write new verses.
- Add a passing game to the song. Students sit in a circle passing around a globe ball. Whoever has the ball when the verse ends gets to the middle to play the drum or other instrument(s).
- Add instruments to match different lyrics/verse or as ostinati to create an Orff arrangement. This arrangement is great for classroom fun or a concert performance. Discover it here.
Black History Month Activities
Rhythm Practice with African Drumming
African drumming is a fun and engaging way to teach rhythm while celebrating cultural traditions. If you’re not sure where to start, there are lots of amazing videos and resources available out there.
- Explore different types of drum—djembe, bongo, conga, talking, bucket, etc.
- Practice call and response rhythms in a drum circle.
- Practice layering rhythms on different instruments or just different drums on top of each other.
- Discuss how African rhythms have influenced many musical genres, from jazz to hip-hop.
Listening: Black History Month Musicians & Composers
Jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington are an essential part of Black history in music. Also, there are many composers that would be great addition to your lessons—Scott Joplin, Florence Price, and lots more.
- Share a short biography of one of these musicians/composers.
- Play a well-known piece for students to listen (for example, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” Ella Fitzgerald or “The Entertainer,” Scott Joplin).
- Add rhythmic instruments to accompany the songs.
- Discuss the unique elements of jazz and how these artists influenced music history.
- Add some artwork—listening glyphs, drawing while listening, etc.
Try out some of these Black History Month songs and activities in your classroom—they’ll love them. Plus, you’ll not only be teaching students about music, but you’ll also help them understand the cultural and historical significance behind it.
If you’re looking for ready-made resources to make your planning easier, check out my Black History Month song and Orff bundle, where you can find a few of these activities and lots more.
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