• Header with green and yellow and red type spelling out Black History Month in rows overlaid by the words Language & Literatur

    Throughout the month of February, students across the district will be learning about the achievements, contributions and efforts of African Americans to the fields of language and literature, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), arts and music, and social studies and political science. This first full week, Feb. 3-7, we're focusing on language and literature. 

    Edison Elementary School

    Students in grades 4 and 5 study poetry as part of their English Language Arts curriculum. After reading "My Name Is" from Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds these two students created haiku poems based on who they are and how they choose to be known.
     
    A poster showing images of basketballs and hoops with text of a haiku poem: I am one of five, I love playing basketball, lau

    A poster showing various sea animals and a poem: I am one of 12, seafood makes my heart happy, shower every night.

    Harding Elementary School 

    First-graders learned about author and poet Maya Angelou. Kindergartners read the “King of Kindergarten” and “Queen of Kindergarten”, both by author, Derrick Barnes, who was also the first full-time black male copywriter for Hallmark. Thank you to Ms. Dow, Mrs. Blanchard, and Mrs. Lester for sharing!

    Photo shows two female students working at a desk, coloring in pages that will be put together to form a bigger picture.A group photo of students standing in front of a collection of coloring pages hung on a wall, arranged to form a bigger pic

    Lincoln Elementary School 

    Kindergartners in Ms. Parker's class read, "I Am Enough,"  by Grace Byers and celebrated the beauty of diversity.

    Photo of a door covered with text of "I am Enough" by Grace Byers, along with cutouts of paper hearts with student & teach.

     

    Strong Vincent Middle School 

    Photo of two female students at desks, at work analyzing texts.

     

     

    Eighth-grade ELA classes have begun their Fight for Freedom Unit in celebration of Black History Month. In both Mrs. Fisher's and Ms. Domowicz's classes, Colonels are reading and analyzing texts about Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and local connections in Erie to the Underground Railroad. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    East Middle School 

    Photo shows posters, colored by students, highlighting Tubman, Harris and Muhammad Ali.

     

     

    Mrs. Carideo’s 6th grade students researched a historical figure of their chosing and wrote about important aspects of that person's life on posters. Students pieced the posters together and displayed them for the school to see. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jefferson Elementary School 

    Second-graders at Jefferson analyzed the poetry of Amanda Gorman and the impact she has on society as the youngest inaugural poet in US history.  The students completed an activity about how they can be the change the world needs. 

    Students sitting on a classroom floor watching a screen showing poet Amanda Gorman reading at the presidential inauguration.Photo shows two students at a desk, coloring a picture of a part of a guitar.Closeup photo of a guitar, cut from paper and colored by a student.

     

    Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School 

    Photo of four students holding up written projects focusing on Ruby Bridges.First-graders at PB read the story "The Story of Ruby Bridges" written by Ruby's friend, psychiatrist Dr. Robert Coles.    

    The story tells of when Ruby attended William Frantz Elementary, she sat in an empty classroom. Some parents refused to let their children go to an integrated school. The children who did attend were separated from her classroom. But Ruby made friends. Her teacher, Mrs. Henry, and a psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Coles, were very supportive of the little girl's efforts. People from around the country sent Ruby letters. Some donated money and assistance to the Bridges family. The determined Ruby Bridges did not miss a day of school that year. 

    After reading the story, students wrote what it means to be brave and persevere, just like Ruby Bridges.

     

    Perry Elementary School

    Mrs. Burrows's  K-2nd Emotional Support class read "I am Harriet Tubman" by Brad Meltzer. The class discussed how Harriet Tubman used lanterns at night and freed over 300 slaves, colored pictures and made lanterns to hang in the hallway.
     
    Photo shows pages colored by students featuring Harriet Tubman as well as lanterns made out of construction paper.

     

    Wilson Middle School

    Students in Mrs. Meka's 8th grade ELA class participated in a project during Black History Month choosing a quote and writing what the quote meant to them.  Once they wrote about the quote's meaning, students took time to learn about their chosen author.  The authors were then decorated and hung up inside the classroom for display.  

    Photo shows student-colored posters featuring Black historical figures and impactful quotes.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    JoAnna Connell Elementary SchoolSeveral student-completed posters hung on a wall, featuring biographical information about, and quotes from, Maya Angelou.

    Mrs. McManus' class in 5th Grade at JoAnna Connell learned about the great poet, scholar and activist Maya Angelou. Students identified her achievements, important life events, and inspirational quotes.