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Black Lives Matter Week of Action: School Wide Activities
Every grade participated in the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School.
Black Lives Matter Banner
All students and staff at Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS were invited to contribute to a Black Lives Matter mural as part of the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Each grade level responded to a different prompt on colored post-its that were then placed on the banner.
Bustin' Loose with William "Ju Ju" House
Students at Noyes Elementary School (DCPS) learned about go go during Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action with a Teach the Beat lesson from international go-go artist, William “Ju Ju” House on Tuesday, February 5.
Ceramic Art with "Malala's Magic Pencil"
An afterschool ceramics class explores the Black Lives Matter guiding principle of globalism.
Representation and Marginalization in History: Fourth Grade Exploration
Students at Mundo Verde explored representation and marginalization in history with their fourth-grade teacher, Dani McCormick.
Child of the Civil Rights Movement
Second graders at KIPP DC Lead Academy and their teacher Trisha Boyd, participated in Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action by reading Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton.
Trayvon Martin Memorial Day
Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS observed Trayvon Martin Memorial Day on February 5, 2019, which would have been his twenty-fourth birthday. Students were invited to wear hoodies to school if they chose as a sign of solidarity and respect, signifying the beginning of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Teach the Beat Go Go Lesson
Langdon Elementary School (DCPS) kicked off Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action in DC with a Teach the Beat lesson from international go-go artist, William “Ju Ju” House on February 4, 2019. Thirty fifth graders took turns jamming on Ju Ju's rototom drum set, a hands-on experience that taught them all about the pocket, Chuck Brown, and go-go's wider influence.
Early Childhood Teachers Prepare for Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action
We hosted two sessions for D.C. area early childhood teachers in January to prepare for the 2019 Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Read more >>
Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Open House
On December 19, 2018, D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice hosted an Educator Open House at the Teaching for Change office for Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools. Read more >>
Exploring Gender, Bias, and Stereotypes in Children's Literature
On Saturday, June 2nd at the beautiful Halcyon Arts Lab fifteen early childhood educators gathered to discuss gender, bias, and stereotypes in children’s literature. The session began with a community building activity through storytelling. Read more >>
Educators Explore Race and Representation in Early Childhood Literature
On Saturday, May 19th at the beautiful Halcyon Arts Lab, forty D.C. area educators met to discuss how to address issues of race, representation, and history in developmentally appropriate ways. Read more >>
Child of the Civil Rights Movement
Makia Green, a member of Black Lives Matter DC chapter, visited my kindergarten classroom, provided a presentation to students and read Child of the Civil Rights Movement.
Reflecting on the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action
Now that February is ending (how is it already March?!), we are looking back to the beginning of the month when we participated in the nationwide Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. When talking about something like Black Lives Matter with third graders, we work hard to make sure that the points of entry and examples are tangible, accessible, and developmentally appropriate.
Understanding Difference and Building Solidarity
In my fifth grade classroom at Rockview Elementary School (MCPS), we spent the majority of the reading block during the Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools reading and analyzing poems by Langston Hughes.
Crossing Bok Chitto Read Aloud
Inspired Teaching Fellow Jay Banks’ 2nd-grade classroom at DC Scholars PCS focused on Black Lives Matter by discussing resistance and advocacy. The class read Crossing Bok Chitto by Tim Tingle, the fictional story of the friendship between a young Choctaw girl and an enslaved African boy.
Parents Read Aloud to their Students
Washington Yu Ying's 5th graders held discussion lessons each day of the week, connecting what they know about social justice with the Black Lives Matter Movement. Today, the entire school participated in a Black Lives Matter/Black History Month read aloud.
In a School Where Black Lives Matter we…
An Inspired Teaching Demonstration School educator wrote… "In a school where Black Lives Matter, we embrace uncomfortable, messy, and yet essential conversations about race. We recognize the systemic injustice of our society and we work daily to provide a school environment that is safe, inclusive, and affirming for every student, without exception." While a Student at the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School wrote...
Unity March and Black Lives Matter Kindergarten Mural
Kindergarten students in Sandhya Rajan's class are solidifying their commitment to valuing and protecting Black lives by adding their signature to the "BLACK LIVES MATTER" banner at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus.