I’ve had an idea to create a Black History resource for the past two years. Last year, with the help of a fellow author/illustrator Kathy Ellen Davis I provided you with a fun Black History Bingo game which was quite popular and downloaded over 5,000 times.
This year, I connected with a very talented Black illustrator named Chasity Hampton, founder of Whimsical Designs by CJ, LLC. I hired Chasity to bring my vision to life and I think she did a fantastic job. I’m so excited to share Chasity and her work with you all. She’s the illustrator who created the adorable logo for my kid’s 50 States 50 Books literacy organization.
Shameless plug for my kids and their 50 States 50 Books initiative: They are doing amazing work collecting and donating diverse children’s books to kids across America who don’t have access to diverse literature. Their story was featured in Time Magazine for Kids and The Huffington Post just to make a few. Just like last year, their goal is to collect and donate 2,500 diverse children’s books to each of the 50 United States. If you’d like to donate new or gently used books or monetary gifts to help their cause, please visit their website for details on how you can help. You can also follow their popular Instagram account here.
Ok, back to the printable. My goals for creating this Black History resource for you are twofold:
1) To provide parents, grandparents, educators, librarians, etc. with a fun and engaging resource to use with children either during Black History month or anytime of the year. I hope it gets kids excited to read and learn about Black History year round.
2) To uplift a young and talented illustrator such as Chasity. Let’s face it, this resource would not be possible without her. SHE did this work, not me. I just had the vision and SHE brought it to life.
This is the type of resource I wish I had when I was younger. So now as a parent, I get to live vicariously through my children and through the lives of children across the country and across the world who choose to use and share this resource.
To use this resource, simply follow the suggested list of things to do each day (or make up your own) and color in the corresponding numbers on the paper as you complete them. At the end of the 28 or 29 days you should end up with a fully colored in poster.
If you decide to download or share this resource, please tag me on Instagram @hereweeread so I can see it and share! Also, please tag Chasity too on Instagram @whimsicaldesigns_bycj. You can use the hashtag #hwrblackhistory if you’d like to share your kids or students using this resource. That would be my heart so happy!
If you want to print it on 8.5 x 11 paper, you certainly can. However, the list of things to do each day will be harder to read in smaller font. Whichever size you choose to print this resource is up to you. For a better experience, I’d recommend either the 11 x 17 size or the 18 x 24 if you want a larger poster size. You can also choose the 24 x 36 size if you want a bigger poster, but it will cost more to print. Again, totally your call on the size you choose.
I look forward to seeing images of kids enjoying this resource. Let me know in the comments what you think and if you choose to use it!
Happy Reading, friends!
Black History Month Bingo bingo card with Rosa Parks, Martin L.King, Malcom X, Marcus Garvy, Bob Marley, George Washington Carver, Madam C.J. Walker, Katherine Johnson, Halie Berry and Dorothy Vaughan.
Download the 29 Days of Black History Month resource here (Use this version during Leap Years. Note: 2020 IS a leap year so use this version for 2020.)
- Play randomly generated Black History Bingo in a browser. BuzzBuzzBingo is home to the popular Buzzword Bingo Party Game! Turn your next TV watching gathering into the ultimate couch party or spice up your classroom with a fun game for all! Print and download free Black History Bingo Cards or Make Custom Black History Bingo Cards.
- February is Black History Month (also called African American History month), which honors the history and achievements of African Americans. Use these free Black History Month printable word search activities to teach students about famous figures and events in African-American history.
Download the 28 Days of Black History Month resource here (Use this version during non-Leap years)
P.S.If you enjoy this resource, I’d appreciate it if you subscribed to my email list HERE. I promise, I don’t send spam! One of my social media goals this year is to build up my e-mail list so subscribing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
If you need book suggestions, you may want to browse some of my previous blog posts linked below:
Are you hosting a Black History party? Your guests will love playing Black History Bingo! Download 2 free pages of Black History Bingo including instructions and a randomized call sheet.
| B | I | N | G | O |
| Civil Rights Act of 1968 | Ida B. Wells | Black Panthers | Sojourner Truth | Nelson Mandela |
| Thurgood Marshall | Rosa Parks | Medgar Evers | Harriet Tubman | Bessie Coleman |
| March on Washington | Emmett Till | History | Madam CJ Walker | Barack Obama |
| Booker T. Washington | Guion Bluford | Ralph Bunch | Jesse Owens | Angela Davis |
| George Washington Carver | Mary McLeod Bethune | Birmingham Bombing | Shirley Chisholm | Malcolm X |
Black History Bingo Printable Free Crossword Puzzles
24 events:Host Instructions:
- Decide when to start and select your goal(s)
- Designate a judge to announce events randomly or as they happen
- Cross off events from the list when announced
- First to get any line (up, down, left, right, diagonally)
- First to get the four corners
- First to get two diagonal lines through the middle (an 'X')
- First to get all squares
- Check off events on your card as they occur
- If you complete a goal, shout 'Bingo!'. You've won!
- The judge decides in the case of disputes
Black History Bingo Printable Free
| B | I | N | G | O |
| Ida B. Wells | Civil Rights Act of 1968 | Ralph Bunch | Rosa Parks | March on Washington |
| Sojourner Truth | Bessie Coleman | Madam CJ Walker | Angela Davis | Barack Obama |
| Emmett Till | Guion Bluford | History | Shirley Chisholm | Booker T. Washington |
| Malcolm X | George Washington Carver | Jesse Owens | Thurgood Marshall | Black Panthers |
| Medgar Evers | Birmingham Bombing | Mary McLeod Bethune | Harriet Tubman | Nelson Mandela |
Host Instructions:
- Decide when to start and select your goal(s)
- Designate a judge to announce events randomly or as they happen
- Cross off events from the list when announced
- First to get any line (up, down, left, right, diagonally)
- First to get the four corners
- First to get two diagonal lines through the middle (an 'X')
- First to get all squares
- Check off events on your card as they occur
- If you complete a goal, shout 'Bingo!'. You've won!
- The judge decides in the case of disputes