Black History Month

Explorify is sharing the stories and achievements of less well-known individuals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Celebrating Black scientists is integral to this. Their achievements have resulted in many important advances in our understanding of the world and are relevant to each and every one of us.

Although each October we celebrate Black History Month, we can recognise the achievements of Black scientists throughout the year in our classrooms and bring this to the forefront of our teaching. The following collection of suggested Black History Month activities can be used at any point in the school year and can also be used to complement the teaching of different science topics. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Who is Kiara Nirghin? shares the inspiring story of a South African woman who, at the age of 16, invented a new water conservation material for soils. Watch the video in the ‘Take it further’ section to hear her explain how she used orange peel and avocado skin to make a super absorbent polymer which could hold 300 times its weight in water. Children could study super absorbent polymers themselves by investigating how well different disposable nappies work.

In our What’s Going On? Air pollution scientist, we meet Dr Mark Richards, a research scientist who has found new ways to measure the invisible chemicals which pollute the air. The film was created using extracts of his interview with the Royal Society as part of their Inspiring Scientists series. There are simple suggestions as to how children can investigate the air quality in their local area suggested in the activity.

Who is Mya-Rose Craig? highlights a young scientist with a passion for birds and nature. Take it further by watching the videos where, ‘the bird girl’, Dr Mya-Rose Craig shares her love for nature. You could even listen to her reading the book ‘The Promise’ by Nicola Davies. Can the children describe a bird they have seen? Can they find out more about it? The RSPB’s Find a bird tool is a good starting point for their research. Younger children could find out more about blackbirds with Ranger Hamza.

There are lots of role-models which show children that there are many ways that scientists and engineering solve problems and make our lives better. Who is Michael Sulu? explores how biochemical engineers, like Dr Michael Sulu can use microbes to make useful substances such as vaccines. Meanwhile, Who is Haydn Francis? focuses on a scientist whose work on batteries really makes us think about our electricity production and usage.

In Who is Milly Hennayake? we meet an engineer whose designs keep people safe from flooding. There are activities suggested for children of all ages to investigate the materials and designs used by engineers.

The ‘Saluting our Sisters’ theme of Black History Month in 2023 highlights the achievements of Black women in history whose ideas and contributions were side-lined or ignored. Who is Katherine Johnson? shines a light on the ‘hidden figure’ whose mathematical talent and hard work enabled NASA’s early astronauts to travel into space safely. Younger children could watch this short BBC video to learn about her life - perfect for a whole school assembly.  With the What’s Going On Life-saving chemistry, we learn about Alice Ball, an African American whose groundbreaking work to find a cure for leprosy was almost completely forgotten.

We also celebrate the diversity of British culture and the contribution made to it by children and families originating from all parts of the world. You could use these activities to explore this further: Tropical Fruits, Three Roots and Musical Beats. Children’s diets reflect their family culture and may include ingredients that are unfamiliar to some of their peers. Everyone benefits from learning about and tasting new foods, from okra to mango, paratha to yam and this should be part of our teaching about balanced diets. Children love to find out about musical instruments from around the world when learning how sounds are made or how pitch is changed.

Meanwhile, in Standing Tall No 1 & Blue Escape we meet Elicia McKenzie who worked hard to become a successful artist. Can the children see the science in her artwork? From exploring household objects to building you own machines, NUSTEM provide a variety of practical ideas and resources.

Have a look at the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) resource ‘A Scientist Just Like Me’. It consists of a series of short slideshows, each one telling the story of a particular scientist or person working in a science-related job. The scientists share details of their work and their everyday lives, in a way that’s relatable to children. You can search the collection by ethnic heritage. In addition, The Ogden Trust has produced a set of research cards focusing on Black physicists. 

We hope that some children, who might not otherwise have seen science as 'for them', will be involved in the development of future scientific discoveries and inventions. These resources help to challenge the stereotypical view of a scientist as white and male, helping all children to see that ‘science is for people like me’. Celebrating the diversity of our classrooms, communities and the achievements of scientists from Ethnic groups is something we can do every month of the year and will help to grow the next generation of scientists.

Copyright: Explorify via STEM Learning Ltd.; photographer: Sarah Hall

Updated September 2023