Black History Month Activities for Children: Storytelling, Colouring and Confidence
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Black History Month Activities for Children: Storytelling, Colouring and Confidence
Black History Month activities for children should be meaningful, creative and age-appropriate.
For young children, learning works best when it feels engaging. They need stories, colours, questions, characters and activities that help them connect with the topic in a positive way.
That is why storytelling, colouring and confidence-building activities can work so well during Black History Month.
They help children learn through imagination, not just information.
Why Black History Month activities matter
Black History Month gives families, schools and libraries an opportunity to celebrate Black history, culture, identity and achievement.
But children need more than facts.
They need activities that help them understand why stories matter, why representation matters and why everyone deserves to feel seen.
A good activity can help children think about identity, confidence, belonging, creativity and respect.
You can also read our guide to Black History Month workshops for primary schools.
Storytelling activities
Storytelling is one of the best Black History Month activities for children because it helps them connect emotionally.
A story can introduce children to culture, courage, kindness, creativity and identity in a way that feels natural.
Instead of simply telling children what to remember, storytelling invites them to imagine.
After reading a story, you can ask:
What did you like about the character?
What made the character brave?
What did the character learn?
How did the story make you feel?
What would you do next in the story?
These questions help children think, speak and connect ideas.
Colouring activities
Colouring may look simple, but it can be a powerful learning activity for younger children.
A colouring activity gives children time to focus, create and express themselves.
For Black History Month, colouring sheets can include characters, patterns, clothing, hairstyles, crowns, books, symbols or confidence words.
The goal is not just to keep children busy. The goal is to give them a creative way to respond to the story or theme.
A colouring activity can help children explore:
identity
culture
creativity
confidence
imagination
self-expression
pride
For younger children, this kind of activity works especially well after storytelling.
Confidence-building activities
Black History Month should help children feel proud, not overwhelmed.
Confidence-building activities can help children think about what makes them special and what they can be proud of.
Simple prompts can work beautifully.
Children can complete sentences such as:
I am proud of...
I am brave when...
I like my...
I can...
My story matters because...
These small activities help children practise positive language about themselves.
You can also read why Black dolls matter for children’s confidence.
Activities for EYFS and KS1
For EYFS and KS1, activities should be simple, visual and interactive.
Younger children often enjoy:
live storytelling
colouring sheets
character drawing
short discussion
movement
repetition
simple confidence statements
At this age, children are still building language and emotional understanding.
The best activities are gentle, clear and joyful. Nobody needs to turn Black History Month into a mini university lecture for five-year-olds. Let them breathe. Let them colour. Let them connect.
Activities for KS2
KS2 children can go deeper.
They may enjoy activities that include discussion, writing, character design, identity maps and creative storytelling.
For example, pupils can:
create their own hero character
write a short confidence statement
design a book cover
write a letter to a character
create a cultural pride poster
discuss what representation means
write their own short story opening
These activities can support literacy, PSHE, Black History Month learning and creative writing.
You can also read our guide to author visits for primary schools in London.
Library activities for families
Libraries are wonderful spaces for Black History Month activities because they bring families and children together around books.
A library session can include:
storytelling
discussion
colouring
family participation
book displays
creative activities
confidence-building reflection
This works especially well during school holidays, weekends and family learning events.
For libraries, the key is to keep the session welcoming and flexible. Children of different ages may attend, and not everyone will sit perfectly still. That is normal. Library events need a little room for real family life.
Home activities for parents and carers
Parents and carers can also use Black History Month activities at home.
You do not need a complicated plan.
You can read a book together, talk about the character, draw a picture, colour a character sheet or ask your child what makes them feel proud.
A simple home activity could be:
Read a story.
Ask your child to draw the main character.
Ask what the character was feeling.
Ask your child what makes them feel confident.
Finish with a positive sentence such as “My story matters.”
Small moments like this can help children build confidence over time.
Why representation should be joyful
Black History Month should include learning, but it should also include joy.
Children need to see Black history and Black identity connected to creativity, family, culture, imagination, beauty and pride.
If every activity feels too serious, children may miss the positive message.
Representation should help children feel included and celebrated.
That is why story-led activities work so well. They allow children to explore big themes through characters, play and creativity.
Meet Kiraa, our African princess doll created to inspire confidence.
Kiraa is part of The Nubian Princesses, a UK-based children’s brand created to help young Black girls feel seen, confident and proud.
The Nubian Princesses combines dolls, books and storytelling to help children explore confidence, identity, culture and imagination.
Through storytelling activities, children can meet characters like Kiraa and explore themes of self-belief, representation and creativity.
Using dolls and books in activities
Dolls and books can make activities feel more real for young children.
A doll gives children something visual and familiar to connect with. A book gives the character a story. Together, they create a stronger learning experience.
Children can listen to a story, look at the character, colour a related picture and talk about what the character teaches them.
This kind of activity supports reading, imagination, confidence and emotional development.
You can also read our guide to meaningful gifts for Black girls.
Black History Month activities for schools
Schools can use Black History Month activities across literacy, PSHE, art, assemblies and classroom discussions.
Useful activities include:
storytelling sessions
confidence statements
book displays
character drawing
creative writing
class discussion
colouring sheets
author visits
workshops
The strongest activities are not random fillers. They connect to a clear theme such as confidence, culture, identity, creativity or belonging.
Black History Month activities all year round
Black History Month is an important moment, but children need positive representation throughout the year.
The best schools, libraries and families keep diverse books, stories and activities visible beyond October.
That helps children understand that Black history, culture and identity are part of everyday learning, not a one-month decoration.
Activities should start conversations that continue.
Final thoughts
Black History Month activities for children should help them learn, imagine and feel proud.
Storytelling helps children connect.
Colouring helps children create.
Confidence activities help children speak positively about themselves.
When these activities come together, children get more than a lesson. They get an experience that can help them feel seen and valued.
That is the real purpose.
Call to Action
Looking for a Black History Month storytelling activity for your school, library or community group?
Explore storytelling workshops and author visits from The Nubian Princesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Black History Month activities for children?
Good Black History Month activities for children include storytelling, colouring, drawing, confidence statements, book discussions, creative writing, character design and age-appropriate workshops.
Are colouring activities useful for Black History Month?
Yes. Colouring activities can help younger children respond creatively to stories, characters and themes around identity, culture, confidence and representation.
How can storytelling support Black History Month?
Storytelling helps children connect emotionally with themes such as identity, culture, courage, belonging and confidence. It makes learning more memorable and age-appropriate.
What activities work well for EYFS and KS1?
EYFS and KS1 children often respond well to storytelling, colouring sheets, simple questions, character drawing, movement and short confidence-building activities.
Can Black History Month activities be used outside October?
Yes. Activities around representation, confidence, identity and culture can support children throughout the year, not only during Black History Month.