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Establishing routines in an early learning program requires meaningful, memorable instruction, demonstration, experience andpractice.
Songs can be so useful in helping establish routine!
Whether you’re conducting educational programming from home or in a formal learning setting,transition songs can be useful in helping children understand and rememberwhat’s happening now and what’s happening next.
Songs with lyrics that describe what is happening are a bonus, as they help develop:
If you’re familiar with myeducational music for young children, you might already know some of mytransition-specific songs. I wrote these songs to be used specifically by parents/educators/caregivers and children toestablish routine and help make transitions between activities meaningful and memorable.
Before I get into my transition-specific songs, I want to share some of my“Attention Grabber” songswith you.
“Attention Grabber” songs areaction-rich “anytime songs”that get kids moving and happy. I find thatchildren attend best when they are feeling energized.These types of songs are highly useful forreminding children how to follow directionsas a group and“resetting the stimulus”before transitioning to another task.
Attention Grabbers:
Here are a few songs you can useanywhere, anytime to capture children’s attentionand refocus with aquick, action-focussed musical game/activity:
This song gets kidsclapping, patting, swaying, counting, playing Peek-A-Boo and jumping.It’s easy to learn/follow along with and is the perfect“palate cleanser”song you can use at any point during the day torefresh, regroupand have fun connection time.
This is a useful song forrepositioning/exercising all parts of the bodyand getting thosehearts pumping/circulating bloodin those growingbodies and minds.Get themon their backs with their legs in the airand go for a bicycle ride–getting theirmindset focussed on following directionswill come in handy when you are ready to share your instructions for what’s happening next.
If you’re looking for a non-musical cue that helps develop patience/a sense of understanding of a schedule, I like this visual, colour-coded time tracker! This builds and reinforces awareness/memory/anticipation when changes are about to happen.
This song explainsthat it’s time to “…collect the things you were using and please put them away”. It repeats a few times, in order to give you time to sing along while you’re clearing things away and getting organized for the next step in your routine.
We’ve all encountered the inevitable competition that goes along with lining up. Everyone wants to be first, right?This song encourages childrento “…come and find your place in line and I’ll find mine”, as well as explains that a line needs everyone to work together to “…blend into the front, the middle and the end”.
Some people teach children to sing the “Happy Birthday Song” while washing hands. Let’s take it a step further: Asong ABOUT washing your hands WHILE you’re washing your hands! Makes sense, right? This song describes washing“…each finger with soap and with water”, making sure, once again, that thelyrics are reminding children what the focus is while they’re experiencing a transition/task.
The end of a learning day can be hard, especially when children LOVE learning with you! “Goodbye, Goodbye” is afun, concise, easy way to end the day togetherin a meaningful way–waving to each other andreassuring students“we’ll see you allwhen you come back“. I sing this song at the end of every performance!
Picture Books for Black History Month in the Classroom
If you're looking for picture books for Black History Month, you've come to the right place. Each title in the list tells the story of an important figure or event in black history. So whether you're looking for something to read aloud during Black History Month or want to use these books as teaching tools, you'll find something that's just right for you.
Why Read Picture Books for Black History Month?
No matter your school's and classroom's cultural makeup, your students need access to books celebrating black history and culture. Black children need to see themselves and their ancestors represented in books. Other children need to read about the experiences and lives of those different from themselves to educate and counter racism and prejudice.
Black History Month, observed in America during February and October in the UK, offers the opportunity to celebrate the history, art and culture of people often under-represented in literacy and media.
When teaching about black history and culture, it's essential to use picture books that celebrate the beauty, difficulties and diversity of African American life. These picture books should be accessible all year round, not only during Black History Month.
You will find some activities for Black History Month activities below the picture books, which provide ways to teach and discuss racism, slavery, and prejudice.
FREE Activities for Black History Month
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Picture Books for Black History Month
These picture books for Black History Month explore many aspects of black history and culture, including
Role models who fought for change and equal rights.
Scientists and inventors who improved all our lives.
People who experienced racism and prejudice and fought for tolerance and equality.
Positive relationships that inspire and empower.
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-of-Foot Girl by Megan Reid
Althea Gibson grew up in Harlem and tennis was her passion. Every time she lost a match, she worked harder. Through herdeterminationandresilience, Althea overcame racist and sexist attitudes to become the first black winner of Wimbledon, US and French Open tennis championships.
Read to promote discussions onracism, overcoming adversity,commitment, andperseverance.
This is the first of two picture books for Black History Month on this list by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Harriet Tubman led hundreds of slaves to freedom, but this biography describes the other names she used at different times during her life.
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem's Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
In 1930s Harlem, Lewis Michaux Sr. opened the National Memorial African Bookstore. The shop became a hub for fostering new ideas and empowering people to make changes.
Promotes the importance ofbooks, learning from others and thecommunity.
Coming to England: An Inspiring True Story Celebrating the Windrush by Floella Benjamin
Baroness Floella Benjamin recalls her journey from Trinidad to London as part of the Windrush generation. The ten-year-old grew up to educate millions of children on TV and become a member of the House of Lords.
Joe and John arebest friends. Before 1964, John, who is black, may not use the pool. The Civil Rights Act allows John to legally use all public places, but the local pool closes rather than allow black people to use it. Joe is dismayed and cannot understand why Joe doesn’t have the same rights as himself.
Use to promote discussions oncivil rights,prejudice, equality, segregation and fairness.
Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford
This is the first of several picture books for Black History Month on this list by Carole Boston Weatherford. Gordon Parks, born in 1912, lived in a time of limited prospects for a poor African American. He bought a camera for $7.50 and taught himself to take photos. He saw people being treated differently because of theirraceand used his camera to take a stand against racism.
Gordon followed his dream despite theprejudicehe faced and brought awareness to others who faced intolerance. This biography highlights civil rights, artists, black history andsocial justice.
Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence
When asked by her teacher to choose an inspirational person, Ava picks her Granny. She learns how her grandmother travelled to England on the Empire Windrush and bravely built a life for herself in a new country.
Florence Mills was born to former slaves and grew up in a “teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy house” in Washington, D.C. Her voice captivated people from a young age, and she made her way to Broadway. She used her success to make a stand againstintoleranceandracism. Unfortunately, there are no recordings of Florence Mills’ voice.
Henry Brown, aslave, overcomes many challenges, including being torn from his family who were sold as slaves. Working at a warehouse he comes up with the idea of achieving his dream of freedom by mailing himself to the North. Reinforces themes of freedom,overcoming adversityandresilience.
Hidden Figures tells the inspirational story of four black women who worked at NASA in the 1940s. Their intelligence anddeterminationchanged the world by putting a man on the moon.
Shelly-Ann's commitment to hard work and encouragement from loved ones helped her achieve multiple gold medals in the Olympics. We learn about her childhood in Jamaica to becoming one of the greatest sprinters of all time.
Read to promote discussions ondetermination,resilience, inspiration, encouragement and commitment.
Follow a child's journey to England on board the Empire Windrush. The boy waves goodbye to his Caribbean home and sets sail for a new country and new home.
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini
Juneteenth started in Texas on June 19, 1865. On this day, enslaved people learned of their freedom. The celebrations grew every year, particularly as Black Texans moved across America. Juneteenth officially became an official holiday in 2021.
Explore the story of the first woman, the first Black person, and the first South Asian American to become Vice President of the United States. Read how Kamala Harris’ immigrant parents instilled in her a passion for freedom and justice.
Narrated by a child who joined the 1963civil rights marchin Birmingham, Alabama. Through their words, we see the harsh consequences for childrenprotestingafter hearing Dr.Martin Luther KingJr. speak. Children were jailed and treated with disdain by many adults. Regardless, theytook a standand used their voice to change the world.
Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten by Laura Veirs
Elisabeth Cotten taught herself to play her brother’s right-handed guitar upside down and backward as she was left-handed. She created her own music as a teenager and composed the song ‘Freight Train’
Lillian, a one-hundred-year-old African American woman, isdeterminedto walk up the steep hill to herpolling stationto make her voice heard. During her journey, she remembers the difficult voting history of her family. After the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment her great-grandfather voted for the first time, she witnessed her parents registering to vote and she marched fromSelma to Montgomery.
As a child, Mae Jemison dreamed of travelling into space. Hercuriosity, intelligence, anddeterminationled to her becoming the first African American woman to travel in space.
Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz
Ilyasah Shabazz writes about the childhood of her grandfather, Malcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X. We learn about his natural leadership, hiscuriosity, and his nurturing family. His optimism is tested when he experiencesintoleranceand tragedies, including the death of his father by the Ku Klux Klan.
Promotes discussions on black history,activismandracism.
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
A biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. uses quotes from his important speeches to tell his life story. The book includes a timeline and further resources to learn about this influential man.
My Name Is Truth: The Life of Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner
Former slave, Isabella Baumfree, became the preacher Sojourner Truth, fighting for abolitionist and women’s rights movements. Use to discuss howadversitycan be used for change,black history, abolition andwomen’s rights.
This biography of Nelson Mandela starts with his childhood before moving on to his life in Johannesburg. He saw how powerless and poor black Africans were, and the injustice started his lifelong fight for equality in South Africa. First as a lawyer and then as a resistance fighter, leading to his imprisonment. He finally saw the abolishment of apartheid before being elected as president of South Africa.
Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, sang before she talked and learned to play the piano very young. Classical composers influenced her music because she loved how Bach's started softly and ended like thunder. During the Civil Rights Movement, Nina used her voice in protest to fight against racial inequality and discrimination.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
Mary Walker was born into slavery in 1848, and at the age of 116 she learned toread. She witnessed the Civil War and theCivil Rights Movement, and through herperseverance, she showed you’re never too old to learn.
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth, was born in Texas in 1926. She grew up celebrating Juneteenth but found many Americans had never heard of it. Opal led a movement to bring national recognition of Juneteenth. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry
When Parker Curry visited the National Portrait Gallery, she looked up to see aportrait of a queen. The powerful painting of Michelle Obama captured Parker’s imagination about the possibilities of her future regardless ofrace, class, orgender.
The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome
This is the second of two picture books for Black History Month on this list by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Ethel Payne fought for her education despite theadversityandracismshe faced. After graduating in journalism, she wrote about segregation and racism, before becoming one of three black journalists to be issued a press page for the White House.
Ethel asked toughquestionsand was a vocal critic of those in power for their lack of action in thecivil rightsmovement.
RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford
This is the second of several picture books for Black History Month by Carole Boston Weatherford. Aretha’s father was a preacher and gospel singer, and she sang in the choir at his Detroit church. He recognised his daughter’s talent, and she recorded her first album when she was 14 years old. Aretha was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and she used her platform to fight against injustice.
Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou by Bethany Hegedus
This biography of thepoetMaya Angelou describes how she turned theadversityof her childhood into aninspiringlife as a mother, writer,activistand humanitarian.
Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne J. Naden
Ron loved visiting his locallibraryto read books about the world of aviation. But the policy ofsegregationin South Carolina meant he couldn’t take home books. This brave young boy challenged thisinjusticethroughdeterminationand peaceful resistance. His success meant that anyone, regardless of background or ethnicity, could have a library card.
Based on a true event in the life of Ron McNair, a scientist and astronaut. He tragically died, along with six others, in the 1986 Challenger explosion.
Nikki Giovanni celebrates the life of the inspirational Rosa Parks. Over 50 years ago, Rosa refused to give up her seat on a bus during segregation in Alabama.
A young Michael Jordon thought about giving up his basketball dream because of his size. His parents shared with him the qualities that make a champion,patience,determination, and hard work.
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford
This is the third of several picture books for Black History Month by Carole Boston Weatherford. Arturo Schomburg was an Afro–Puerto Rican who moved to Harlem. When his collection of African literature, art and music threatens to burst out of his house he created and curated a collection at New York PublicLibrary. Today, scholars from around the world still use the collection.
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant
In the late 1800s, Horace Pippin drew anyone around him. He filled notebooks while fighting during WWI, but he could not create his art when he was shot. Through practice and patience, Horace regained the use of his arm and started creating art again.
Song for Jimi: The Story of Guitar Legend Jimi HendrixSong for Jimi: The Story of Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix
Read about the early life of Jimi Hendrix and how he became a legendary performer and musician. Learn how he overcame a challenging childhood, persisted in creating music and played epic performances at Monterey and Woodstock festivals. The book also includes a timeline, references and discography.
Reverend F. D. Reese was a teacher, principal and leader of the Voting Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. He recognised therespectfelt towards educators and organised a teacher onlymarchfor voting rights. In 1965, black teachers left their classrooms to march to the courthouse to register tovote.
The book includes an interview with Reverend F.D. Reese and other teachers, photographs and a timeline.
This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson writes about one African America family and the effect of the Great Migration on them. As the family moves from South Carolina to New York, a piece of rope symbolizes the journey and connections of the three generations of the family.
Kwame Alexander’spoempays tribute to African Americans who fought againstinjusticeby showingdetermination, passion, grit andcourage. Search the illustrations forMartin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Jesse Owens, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and many more.
Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
A girl is frightened when she discovers a slave hiding in a barn. Hercompassiontakes over when she saw thefearin their eyes and she cares for them even when slave hunters come looking for the escaped slave. She is rewarded with a doll as a token ofgratitude.
Voice of Freedom Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford
This is the last of several picture books for Black History Month on this list by Carole Boston Weatherford. Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of equalvotingrights, but she had to overcomeprejudice, verbal abuse and a beating which nearly killed her. In 1964 she gave a televised speech that prompted people to support the Freedom Democrats.
Told in verse the book shares Fannie Lou Hamer’s life from her tough childhood, showingdetermination, courage and hope and standing up forsocial rights.
A family joinsprotesters, young and old, on August 28, 1963, for the March on Washington. They march from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, where they listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech that advocates forracial harmony.
When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Marian Anderson wasdeterminedto overcome the prejudice she faced to become a musician. She sang throughout America and Europe. She is most known for singing at the Lincoln Memorial in front of a crowd of 75,000 people.
As Michael quenches his thirst with gritty water from a fountain, he iscuriouswhether the water from the white-only fountain is better. Set in the segregated South just before the civil rights movement, he plucks up thecourageto taste the white water, only to realise it is exactly the same.
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson
Audrey lived in Alabama during the Civil Rights movement. She saw first-hand the mistreatment anddiscriminationof people because of their skin colour. Despite knowing the dangers, shemarchedto end segregation after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King talk. Audrey Faye Hendrick, at nine, was the youngest child arrested and placed in jail.
This powerful book about ayoung girl taking a standwill help children realize they, too, have a voice, no matter their age.
VisitEmbrace Raceto read more about choosing picture books with diverse characters. Explore these activities for black history month that you can use in your classroom.
