Throughout the month of February, students across the Connetquot School District participated in engaging lessons and activities designed to increase awareness and understanding of Black History Month.

Fourth graders in Ms. Pinelli’s class at Edith L. Slocum Elementary School dedicated time this month researching a famous African American of their choice, then used their notes to create a Google Slide presentation to share their knowledge with the class through an oral presentation.

Within the library at Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School, students had the chance to review a collection of books on display in honor of Black History Month. Set up by school media specialist Mairead McInnes, the books were each paired with a quote from a famous individual who the biography covered.

In addition, OBMS eighth grade students in Sharon Johnson’s English class began the month of February researching the life of Langston Hughes. Students created body biographies using the information they learned. They then read two of Hughes’s poems, “Dreams” and “Harlem” and discussed their meaning and significance to the African American experience during that time period. Students then wrote their own poems using the elements found in those poems. Finally, students read Martin Luther King Jr.‘s famous, “I have a dream” speech and connected the Langston Hughes dream poetry to the message of his speech.

Ronkonkoma Middle School sixth grade students in Ms. Demeo’s social studies class analyzed maps of the United States with birthplaces of famous African American athletes. They chose one prominent figure and highlighted their birthplace using the latitude and longitude skills they developed in class. Using this information as a guide, students completed brief biographies of their figures, which were displayed throughout the room.

Furthermore, RMS students were introduced to prominent black scientists who made contributions to the world by RMS science teacher Mrs. Smith. Students educated their peers by reading information about black men and women of all ages and diverse backgrounds who lead the world in the area of science on daily announcements. The leaders highlighted were Marie Daly, Edward Bouchet, Annie Easley, Walter Hawkins, Alexa Canady, Mae Carol Jamison, Katherine Johnson, Gladys West, George Washington Carver, and Percy Julian.

Connetquot High School’s Unity Council and Anti-Bullying Clubs, led by Ms. Martorelli and Ms. O’Reilly, honored Black History Month with a series of announcements, displays, giveaways and scholarship fundraisers.

Each morning during announcements, a member of the Unity Council read a brief biography of an influential person of color in American history. The students highlighted the struggles each faced and their contributions to society in the face of oppression. Banners and bulletin boards with prominent figures in Black history were also displayed throughout the building.

Additionally, these students set up a kiosk in the high school’s main hallway to give away and sell various Black History Month items, including stickers, pins, bracelets, mints and bookmarks. The goal was twofold: to increase schoolwide awareness of the importance of Black history and to raise money for a donation to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

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Date Added: 2/29/2024