February is African American History Month (also known as Black History Month) in the US, Canada and Jamaica. In Britain, Black (or Afrikan) History Month is marked in October. The current earthquake turmoil in Haiti provides the opportunity to apply a more specific perspective to your Montessori classroom study of African American History month. Employing a cross-curriculum approach covering the geography, history and culture of Haiti, your annual study of African American History Month can tie into current events and help reinforce a global and historical consciousness, empathy and even peace activities.
The majority of Haitians are of African descent. Your Montessori students may enjoy comparing and tracing the timelines and paths of Africans as they came to Haiti and the United States. Encourage your students to consider how, when and why Africans came to Haiti and the United States. What happened once they arrived?
