2/1/2027

Morning Announcements

Morning Meeting Agenda

Mon · Social Studies Tue · Literacy Wed · Science Thu · Math Fri · ROAR + Houses
Black History Month begins today!
Social Studies of the Day

The man who made this month

Black History Month didn’t always exist. One historian created it — because he noticed that the achievements of Black Americans were being left out of the history books entirely.

Portrait of Dr. Carter G. Woodson Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

Meet Carter G. Woodson! When he was young he worked in a coal mine instead of going to school. But he loved learning so much that he taught himself — and grew up to become a famous teacher who started Black History Month!

Dr. Woodson noticed that books about history left out lots of important Black Americans. So he decided to fix it — by teaching everybody their stories.

Carter G. Woodson was a coal miner, loved to read, and started Black History Month
Let’s talk
  • Dr. Woodson had to work instead of going to school. How would you feel about that?
  • Why is it important that history books include everybody’s stories?
  • Who is someone whose story you’d like to learn this month?
Reveal a factHide the fact
Dr. Woodson didn’t start high school until he was 20 years old — and then he finished four years of work in only two years. It’s never too late to learn!
Try it

Say thank you to Dr. Woodson! All month we’ll learn about amazing people because of him. Let’s all say together: “Thank you, Dr. Woodson!”

Mystery historian: Born in 1875 to parents who had been enslaved. He worked as a farm laborer and then a coal miner. In the evenings he read newspapers aloud to fellow miners — formerly enslaved men and Civil War veterans who had never been taught to read. He didn’t enter high school until age 20, and finished four years of coursework in two.

Who is he?Hide
Portrait of Dr. Carter G. Woodson Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
Dr. Carter G. Woodson — called the “Father of Black History.” In 1912 he became the second Black American to earn a PhD from Harvard, and the first person with formerly enslaved parents to earn a doctorate in history. In 1926 he launched the February celebration that became Black History Month.
He started late. He didn’t stop. Age 17 Working in the coal mines Age 20 Starts high school Age 22 Diploma — 4 years of work in 2 Age 37 PhD from Harvard Twenty years from the mine to the doctorate.

A late start is still a start.

Let’s talk
  • Woodson said Black history shouldn’t be a separate subject — it should be part of all American history. What did he mean?
  • He deliberately chose February. Based on Friday’s trivia, why that month?
  • He was barred from the main historians’ association because he was Black — so he founded his own. What does that response tell you about him?
Reveal the answersHide the answers
Woodson’s argument was that Black history is American history — not a side chapter. He wanted the achievements woven into the main story, and hoped the special week would eventually become unnecessary. He chose February for the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. And when excluded, he built his own institution instead of waiting for permission — the organization he founded in 1915 still exists today.
Try it

Test Woodson’s idea! Think about what you’ve studied in school so far this year. Are Black Americans part of the main story, or only mentioned in February? Discuss with a partner — then decide whether Woodson’s goal has been reached yet.

Additional Notes/Activities

If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.