Quick Programming Ideas 1

  Introduction to Black History Month Booktalk

Library/Information Skills Lesson Plan

Cross-curricular subject areas: History, English Language Arts    Date: first week of February

Grade level: 9th English Language Arts Classes 

Topic: Introduction to Black History Month

Lesson Objective: The learners will be introduced to diverse texts, in various formats, which celebrate Black History Month.

21st-Century Skill Objectives: I. INQUIRE: Build new knowledge by inquiring, thinking critically,

identifying problems, and developing strategies for solving problems. Learners display curiosity and

initiative by: Formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic. 

Materials needed: Display various titles to celebrate Black History Month. Ensure you have a variety of genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels by African American authors, topics, and history. 

Instructional Procedures: Begin by conducting a read-aloud from a picture book, which features an African American subject. Some suggestions include the following: 

• Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
• The Year I Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson
• The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome 

After the initial read-aloud, invite students to use their prior knowledge to offer other names, topics, or other African-American figures they have learned about in class, readings, or they have knowledge of. They may point and talk about subjects from your display. 

Closing: Challenge the students to browse the shelves, computers, and periodicals to find other figures they can inform the class about. It may be beneficial to provide them with a graphic organizer which includes the following. Ask them to find:

• Name of the person, why are they important, historical context or titles of books/authors and synopsis

Have students write the information down on paper, which they will turn around and offer titles found, and subjects discovered at the end of class or the next class session. 

Assessment: Informal assessment as observation while students browse shelves and interact with each other. Walk around and offer guidance to authors they may share popular titles and non-fiction selections which they may share with the class.