Gail Skroback Hennessey

BLACK HISTORY MONTH WEBQUEST/RESOURCES

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

"Harlem" (1951)

The idea to foster contributions of African Americans began with Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who first organized a two week period of time in February which he called "Negro History Week". The time...1926. In 1976, the month of February, was established, as a time to highlight the contributions of African Americans.

Can you name some famous African Americans who contributed to our country in arts,music, civil rights, sports,literature, politics,science and technology? Perhaps, you know the names of Martin Luther King, Jr, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglas, and Sojourner Truth. Do you know who Charles Drew was? BB King? Rosa Parks? There are so very many African Americans that have made contributions to our world. Dr. Woodson had a motto,to live by,"It is never too late to learn". This is a wonderful thought to live your life...never stop learning!Try this webquest and learn about a few of these important people. Use the resources listed below to learn even more...

1. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., would have been the first African American astronaut but sadly, he died in a training accident in the 1960s. In 1983, Guion Bluford was the first African American to travel into space. Dr. Mae C. Jemison, a surgeon,in 1992, became the first African American female astronaut. In addition to speaking these three languages__________,_____________ and ___________Dr. Jemison appeared on which television show?______________. What did she start in Chicago to spark interest in space among children?___________________Find the answers at this link:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/j/jemison.shtml

2. How did singer Marian Anderson make history?________________Why did First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resign from the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1939?Find the answers at this link: http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/black_history/29days.html

3. During the 1920s, Jazz became very popular. This period of time was called the______________.Two of the most famous jazz musicians of the 1920s were African Americans named____________and ________________. The most famous club in NYC to listen to jazz was the_____________. What was unusual about the patrons who were allowed to listen to the African American musicians? Find the answers at this link: http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/specials/articles/0,28285,197414,00.html

4. Another type of music that African Americans developed was called Blues. As the word implies, the words to this type of music were often sad. Who was called the King of the Blues?_________What did he call his guitar?________________What African American woman was one of the greatest blues singers?_______________ Find the answers at this link:http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/specials/articles/0,28285,197415,00.html

5. President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is the first African American to be elected President of the United States. One of his least favorite foods is__________but loves to make this food_________.President Obama likes to collect comic books including Spider Man and Conan the Barbarian and he's read all the Harry Potter books. As a child, President Obama thought he wanted to become a(an)___________and liked playing basketball. As a boy, he had some unusual pets including:___________Find the answers at this link:

Find the answers at this link: http://holidays.kaboose.com/barack-obama-as-president-and-fun-facts.html

6. Thurgood Marshall, was appointed, in 1964, by this president____________________as the first African American to the highest court in our country, the___________________

Find the answer at this link:http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/people/A0831961.html

7. Benjamin Banneker was an inventor, mathematician , and astronomer, who in 1791 helped design what project?____________________Which president asked Banneker to work as an engineer on the project?____________________ What did Banneker write later in life?_________________As a boy, what did he make which is thought to be the first made entirely in America?________________

Find the answers at this link:http://www.black-collegian.com/african/aaprofil.shtml#banneker

8. African American explorer Matthew A. Henson, accompanied ___________________in 1909, to the ________________becoming one of the first people to successfully reach the destination by sled and continuing back for seven additional expeditions. He wrote a book on his adventures and was awarded the ________in 1944. Find the answers at this link:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/h/henson.shtml

9.In 1916,Garrett A. Morgan earned a medal from the city of Cleveland,Ohio,for helping to rescue trapped men in a tunnel under Lake Erie, with his invention.What was the invention?______________It was later refined and used during World War 1 to protected the soldiers from poisonous gas. He also patented this device to make driving safer_________How is it different from that used today?_______________ Find the answers at this link: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/m/morgan.shtml

10. Barbara Jordan, lawyer, congresswoman, once said,"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." She became the first female African American to do this in 1976.___________________ People such as Jordan with a gift for speaking are called this._______________ For what was Jordan awarded the President Medal of Freedom in 1994?____________________

Find the answers at this link: http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0800619.html

11. Jessie Owens, nicknamed the world's fastest man, was a hero at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin,Germany. He went on to receive the _____________________ the highest award given to American citizens. Another wonderful athletic was Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play for a major league baseball team. Before this time, African Americans could not do so.He was signed by the ___________in 1945. How was he received playing first baseman during his first game on April 15, 1947?_____________ What caused many to change their behavior at the games when Robinson played?___________________

In which sport did Althea Gibson play?____________ What color barrier did she break in 1950?________________________

Find the answers at this link: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/3081-sports-moments-in-black-history

12. Rosa Parks, called the "mother of the Civil Rights movement" was a tired seamstress on her way home from work on December 1,1955. What did she do that called her to be arrested?___________________What did the African Americans in Montgomery boycott in response to what happened to Rosa Parks?________________ How long did it last?___________ How did the Supreme Court rule on the issue with Rosa Parks?__________________________ Find the answers at this link: http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/specials/articles/0,28285,97673,00.html

Did you know?

Thomas L. Jennings, is believed to be the first African American to receive a patent for an invention.

Judy W. Reed patented a hand-operated machine for kneading and rolling dough. She is thought to be the first African-American woman to do so.

Sarah Boone patented the collapsible ironing board in 1892

George F. Grant patented a wooden golf tee in 1899.

Thomas W. Stewart patented a mop in 1893.

Native American/African American George Crum invented the potato chip.As a chef in a restaurant he got upset with a customer who complained the french fries were too thick,so he served him the thin chips(which were a big hit).

L.P. Ray patented a metal dustpan in 1897.

J.L. Love patented a Pencil Sharpener in 1897.

W. Johnson patented the eggbeater in 1884.

Frederick M.Jones patented a truck refrigeration unit in 1949.

Dr. Charles R. Drew found a way to save many lives when he developed a way to save blood for use at a later date. His idea of blood banks continues today.

More resources you might find helpful:

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753163

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/barackobama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies/michelleobama

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/

http://multicultural.mrdonn.org/AfricanAm.html

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson221.shtml

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/16-history/263-black-history.html

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html Learn more famous African American Inventors

http://www.history.com/content/blackhistory/black-history-timelineInteractive Black history timeline

http://www.teachers.cr.k12.de.us/~galgano/afam.htm

http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/00_01/BH/bh_intro.htm

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1880594,00.html Read about the Tuskegee Airmen

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,636640,00.html A ruling for Equality in public schools

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002424F/

http://holidays.pppst.com/blackhistorymonth.html