Plan ahead for February Black History Month

Project Learning Tree is versatile! It is easy to find activities to support an endless number of themes, local issues, seasonal topics, special interests and content areas. For example, according to Georgia PLT coordinator, Carla Rapp, professors at Spellman College in Atlanta think PLT is perfect for "Culturally Responsive Teaching", and use PLT activities frequently in their classes.

Check out these PLT activities that connect African Americans and black history week with PLT activities:

Activity 16: Pass the Plants, Please
This activity will get students thinking about just how big a part plants play in our daily diets. Many of our traditional Southern dishes are a direct result of the early influence of African American slaves. Students can research this topic. (Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts) Concept: Humans throughout the world create differing social, cultural, and economic systems and organizations to help them meet their physical and spiritual needs.

Activity 17: People of the Forest
This activity highlights the Mbuti of Africa in the Republic of Congo. More that just a place to live, the forest provides their basic needs. (Subjects: Social Studies, Language Arts)

Activity 18: A Tale of the Sun
Every culture in the world has stories that are part of its history and tradition. This activity can be adapted to look at stories told by African Americans about the environment and perspectives of the people who tell them. (subjects: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies) One such story can be found at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/liza_sun.html

Activity 40: Then and Now
If your community is like most others, it’s now quite a bit different than it was 100, 50, 25, or even five years ago. By interviewing elders, your students will understand how we, as people, affect and alter the environment in which we live. (subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts). This activity can be adapted to look at the African American local culture by interviewing elders in the local community.

Activity 74: People, Places and Things
By taking a closer look at their community, students can gain an appreciation for it structure and complexity. In this activity, students will develop a deeper understanding for the many people, places, and things on which they depend every day. (subject: Social Studies) This activity can easily be used to identify people, places and things in their own community that are related to the African American local culture.

Activity 91: In the Good Old Days
Human attitudes and values, and therefore behavior, with regard to the environment can change over the course of generation. In this activity, students express their own views about forests, and then read excerpts from the writings of different authors who have influenced people’s thinking about the environment. (subject: Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts, Language Arts) It highlights Wangari Maathai's accomplishment of receiving the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Quote by Wangari can be found on page 400. More information about her can be found on p.398, #11 in the box.


ALSO:
Suggested Reading: Dudley Edmondson from Minnesota who currently wrote a book titled Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places. This would actually go with the PLT lesson 34 Who works in this Forest?
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Brown-Faces-Americas-Places/dp/1591931738

Here are five trees and their stories about African Americans that may be of national or regional interest.

Emancipation oak: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1334

See also, http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1443

Sallie's Crying tree: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1398

Reconstruction-era (and Brown vs. Bd. Of Education)magnolias: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1465
Zion poplars, a national historic place: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1966

George Washington Carver birthplace trees: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=1611

Finally, the PLT PreK-8 Activity Guide had a very thorough "Topic Index" in Appendix 5. The category "CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES" lists 13 activities (some mentioned above).