Black History Month in Middle School

February is Black History Month, a federally recognized, national commemoration of the contributions of people of the African diaspora. At Shorecrest, faculty across grade levels and disciplines found developmentally-appropriate ways to promote awareness, equity, and social change related to Black History Month in their classrooms while honoring the perspectives, legacies and contemporary achievements of people of the African diaspora. Some of the units of study and projects in Middle School included:

In Middle School, Dr. Angello teaches eighth grade English and is the MS DEI Coordinator. February was dedicated to a diaspora unit in her classes, which included the diaspora of Africans throughout the Western world as a result of the Triangular Trade as well as the Great Migration in the United States. Students read verse novels and did research projects to discover how food and other customs and traditions help dispersed peoples retain culture and community. 

Mrs. Brill’s English 7 classes and Advisory groups used comprehensive, gamified lessons on their level through Social Institute's #WinAtSocial LIVE, including one lesson that highlighted Black achievements in the 2023 Super Bowl (such as it was the first time in Super Bowl history two Black quarterbacks — Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts — started the contest.) Seventh grade’s annual reading of “To Kill a Mockingbird” also started this month, with the introduction of Jim Crow laws and some historical figures like Ida B. Wells - a trailblazer journalist and one of the founders of the NAACP who stood up against lynching. 

Mr. Dionne’s American Experience eighth grade classes used EdPuzzles to increase engagement and spark critical thinking on the topics of Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights movement.

Seventh graders in Mrs. Stewart’s Spanish class completed a Spanish reading assignment about different professions and contributions by African Americans to those professions. 

These are just some examples of how Chargers were thinking critically throughout Black History month. Read about some Upper School units and projects.