This is a fun and yummy activity that can open a dialogue to discuss why we celebrate black history month. It’s also one of the easiest activities of all time!!
You’ll need:
Graham crackers, or any crackers you like
Peanut butter (substitute any spreadable)
Plain M&M’s (green, yellow, red)
It’s so easy, I’m not sure how to detail it! Spread some peanut butter on the crackers, then put a green, yellow, and red M&M in the correct order. You can discuss colors of the M&M’s, red means stop, green means go, and then get in to the history of the traffic light. Discuss the inventor, Garrett Morgan, and how he was an important part of our history. Make sure the kids know that he was an African American man, and tell them about some of the struggles he had because he wasn’t treated equally.
The background story: The son of former slaves, Garrett Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4, 1877. He spent his early childhood working on the family farm with his brothers and sisters. When he was a teenager, he left Kentucky and moved north to Ohio in search of opportunity. He invented several amazing things, but in 1923 he invented the traffic light. Morgan witnessed a traffic accident when an automobile collided with a horse and carriage. He set out to invent a safer way to handle traffic, saving so many lives!
