Black History Month, celebrated in February, is the perfect time to shine the spotlight on important African Americans who contributed to America’s history. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of black people to our world.
One effective way to celebrate Black History Month is through research projects focused on African American inventors. This not only helps students learn about the amazing inventors of the past but also hones their research skills. Commemorative months allow people of any age to discover something new every year.
Here are some project ideas and activities to explore the lives and achievements of these remarkable individuals.
Research Projects and Activities
Help your 21st Century learners learn about African American Scientist and Inventors using this digital research notebook project. Students will be challenged to research information on various African American scientist and inventors and record their findings in a digital notebook. I have included reading passages to get them started on their research and slide templates to help them organize their findings. This resource is perfect for a whole-class shared writing activity.
Celebrate influential African American inventors with this printable Research Pennant Activity-a low-prep, high-engagement resource perfect for grades 2-6! Whether you're teaching during Black History Month or exploring biographies any time of year, this project helps students research, write, and create display-ready pennants that bring history to life.
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Do you need a biography project about famous Black inventors and scientists? Students will research famous African American inventors with this flipbook project! You can use this as a STEM project! This scaffolded flip book is great for helping all students access grade level content!
Explore the lives of 27 famous African American inventors and their inventions. Four scaffolded research sheets control the depth of your project. Themed templates with photos make a great display or bulletin board. You can use the activities during Black History Month or anytime. Open the preview to take a closer look. Resources are included in a printable PDF and digital Easel Activities or Google Slides. This activity is scalable. If you're short on time, you can use less pages.
This project combines history, research, and writing with a variety of biography report formats. It offers a highly scaffolded approach to writing biographies, so it is a great introduction to this genre and form of writing. Resources are included in both printable and digital formats!
Inspire your students with this comprehensive Famous African American Inventors Research Project Bundle featuring 13 groundbreaking inventors who changed the world through their creativity, perseverance, and innovation. This bundle is perfect for celebrating Black History Month, teaching about the contributions of African Americans to science, technology, and society, and encouraging young learners to think critically about problem-solving and innovation.
Explore the incredible achievements of 15 groundbreaking African American inventors with this engaging research project bundle! Perfect for Black History Month, STEM lessons, and history projects, this resource introduces students to innovators who shaped technology, science, and everyday life.
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Get your students researching and writing with this Research Project! Have your students choose a well known inventor, research them, and then create an informational book.
This is an adapted research project about African American Inventors. Students can choose from the 6 African American Inventors listed and write about them. They may write about them in the boxes or they can paste the answers that are included in this PDF. Includes Garrett Morgan, Lewis Latimer, Alexander Miles, Alice H Parker, Thomas Elkins, and Marie Van Britton Brown.
This 50-page PDF is a great way to decorate your classroom bulletin board.
Introduce your students to Granville T. Woods, a brilliant African American inventor often referred to as "The Black Edison." This engaging research project is perfect for kids to learn about his life, groundbreaking inventions, and lasting contributions to modern technology.
Introduce your students to the inspiring story of Madam C.J. Walker, a trailblazing African American entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist. Known as the first female self-made millionaire in America, her innovative contributions to the beauty industry and her legacy of empowerment make her an extraordinary figure to study.
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Introduce your students to the inspiring story of Frederick McKinley Jones, an African American inventor whose revolutionary contributions to refrigeration technology changed the world. This kid-friendly research project engages students with a blend of history, creativity, and critical thinking.
Introduce your students to Sarah Boone, an African American inventor who revolutionized household efficiency with her improved ironing board. Her innovative design made ironing clothes easier, especially for fitted garments, and remains a key household tool today.
Introduce your students to Lewis Latimer, a brilliant African American inventor and engineer who played a crucial role in the development of electric lighting. His contributions to Thomas Edison’s light bulb and Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patents showcase his ingenuity and impact on modern technology.
Introduce your students to the life and work of Percy Lavon Julian, a groundbreaking African American chemist and inventor whose discoveries transformed the fields of medicine and science. This research project helps students explore his contributions, challenges, and lasting impact on modern science.
This project is a week long project to research African American inventors. Students will answer a few questions about 3 different inventors, then choose 1 to research in depth. After completing the research, students will create a presentation board with pictures and information, along with a speech to present to the class.
Explore the fascinating story of George Crum, the brilliant inventor of the potato chip, with this interactive and educational research project. Designed to engage students with historical insights, creativity, and critical thinking, this resource is perfect for all learners.
Introduce your students to Benjamin Banneker, a brilliant African American inventor, mathematician, astronomer, and author. His work in clocks, almanacs, and surveying helped shape early America, and his advocacy for racial equality remains an inspiration today.
Introduce your students to the life and legacy of Elijah McCoy, a pioneering African American inventor whose innovations in engineering transformed the railroad and industrial industries. Best known for creating the automatic lubrication system for steam engines, his story is a testament to ingenuity and perseverance.
Introduce your students to the groundbreaking work of Marie Van Brittan Brown, an African American inventor who revolutionized home security systems. Known for creating the first-ever home security system, her story is one of ingenuity and determination, inspiring students to think creatively about solving everyday problems.
Introduce your students to the extraordinary life and legacy of George Washington Carver, a renowned African American inventor, scientist, and agricultural pioneer. This research project is designed to inspire kids to learn about his innovative work, resilience, and lasting contributions to agriculture and sustainability.
Introduce your students to Otis Boykin, an African American inventor whose groundbreaking work in electronics led to innovations in resistors, pacemakers, and military technology. His contributions made electronic devices more efficient, affordable, and reliable, impacting industries from healthcare to defense.
Introduce your students to Dr. Patricia Bath, a trailblazing African American inventor, ophthalmologist, and humanitarian. Best known for inventing the Laserphaco Probe, which revolutionized cataract surgery, her life story highlights innovation, resilience, and a commitment to improving the quality of life for millions.
Black people in the United States have contributed to various fields of science since the Colonial Period.
Here are some activities you can use beyond February:
- Activity 1: Understand Eclipses Like Benjamin Banneker
- Topics Covered: Earth and space sciences, the solar system
- Banneker was also a self-taught astronomer and published a popular almanac in 1793 that featured astronomical data, such as moon phases.
- Banneker’s interest in the stars and sky led him to successfully predict the solar eclipse of 1791.
- Have students develop a deeper understanding of solar and lunar eclipses by modeling the Earth-Sun-Moon system.
- Activity 2: Study Space Like Dr. Mae Carol Jemison
- Topics Covered: Astronomy, the solar system and universe
- Dr. Jemison’s journey to space is enough to inspire any budding astronaut.
- She was accepted in 1987 and made it to space among six other astronauts on the space shuttle Endeavor.
- Looking up to the sky can have students as curious as Dr. Jemison about our solar system and universe.
- Activity 3: Learn about Ants Like Charles Henry Turner
- Topics Covered: Biology, entomology
- Because of Turner’s work, we know that insects can hear and alter behavior based on experience and can learn and recognize patterns.
- Introduce young students to ants and their lives through independent and group activities.
- Activity 4: Observe Chemicals Like Alice Ball
- Topics Covered: Chemical reactions, chemical equations
- But Ball’s most well-known accomplishment was developing the “Ball Method,” considered the most effective treatment for Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, until the 1940s.
- Ball was passionate about chemistry, which led to her discovering an effective treatment for leprosy.
- Activity 5: Brainstorm and Invent Like Granville T. Woods
- Topics Covered: Inventing
- Woods’ inventions made a significant impact.
- Inspire students to think like inventors and brainstorm ways to improve their school or community. Have them identify a problem. Then, help your students brainstorm a solution to that problem.
- Activity 6: Work with NASA Like Katherine Johnson
- Topics Covered: Astronomy, engineering
- Johnson worked at NASA for 33 years.
- Activity 7: Nurture Plants Like George Washington Carver
- Topics Covered: Plants, agriculture
- Carver was one of the most prominent scientists of the early 20th century who was passionate about improving the lives of poor southern farmers.
- Activity 8: Explore GPS Like Dr. Gladys West
- Topics Covered: Geography, technology
- Dr. West’s research helped develop GPS. Start a discussion about latitude and longitude and how we use maps and GPS to find our way around the world.
- Activity 9: Read about Other Black People in Science
- Great Black Heroes: Five Brilliant Scientists by Lynda Jones and Ron Garnett (Grades Pre-K-3)
- Percy Lavon Julian: Pioneering Chemist by Darlene Ruth Stille (Grades 5-8)
- The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just by Mélina Mangal, illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Grades 1-4)
- Computer Decoder: Dorothy Vaughan, Computer Scientist by Andi Diehn, illustrated by Katie Mazeika (Grades K-3)
- Black Women in Science: A Black History Book for Kids by Kimberly Brown Pellum, illustrated by Rosetta A. Conner and Keisha Morris (Grades 4-6)
- Charles Drew: Doctor Who Got the World Pumped Up to Donate Blood by Mike Venezia (Grades 1-4)
Craft Projects
Crafting is a creative way to get the gears turning in young minds.
One of the first black history inventors we learned about was Benjamin Banneker. At the age of 20, he took a watch apart to study the pieces and to find out how it works. In 1753, at the age of 22, he built a wooden clock from his discoveries. To celebrate Mr. Banneker, we decided to make our own clock. Have your child build their own clock like Mr.
After you download, print, and cut out the clock template, trace the template onto brown construction paper and cut. Trace a circle onto the white paper using an appropriately-sized bowl. (Have your kids find it-they love this part!) Cut out the circle and glue it onto the brown paper, adding the number stickers and two different size strips of black paper for the hands of the clock.
Another inventor we learned about was Phillip Downing. He created the street letter box, which was a tall metal box with a secure hinged door to drop letters. Our project below honors Mr.
Philip B. Downing of Rhode Island filed five patents on his iconic design of a four-legged metal box with an easy-loading front hinge that protected paper envelopes from rain or snow. This is the same type of letter box you see outside of businesses and on residential sidewalks today.
Next, use the exacto blade to cut along the semi-circular lines and hot glue the cut pieces inside to reinforce the semi-circle flaps and keep them standing straight up. Using a ruler and exacto, lightly cut parallel lines into the back side of the cardboard spaced 1” apart and fold it into a curve. Finally, use hot glue to attach. Add four 1” wooden blocks to the corners as feet, attaching with hot glue. You can print out the logos and glue them on with the gluestick.
What party would be complete without potato chips? In 1853, Kate Speck accidentally dropped a sliver of potato into the fryer while working at a resort in the Adirondacks that catered to wealthy elites like the Vanderbilts.
First, paint the front of your bag blue. As it dries, cut out 15 imperfect oval “chips.” Fold each oval back and forth like an accordion. Cut out a large yellow construction paper circle and an irregularly-shaped red rectangle. Glue your potato chip logo to the blue painted bag, write “potato chips” on the red paper, and add your chips.
This year we decided to take it a step further and create something more memorable. We made a t-shirt to honor a few of the black inventors we learned about. Below my brother is wearing the shirts. If you want one, adult and kid T-shirts are available on Amazon.
Spotlighting Key Figures
Our modern world has been shaped by so many Black scientists, mathematicians, doctors, inventors, and other trailblazers in STEM. Thanks to people like Percy Julian, Katherine Johnson, Robert Robinson and more, the world is a better place year-round, and their remarkable accomplishments deserve recognition.
Here are some key figures whose contributions have significantly impacted our lives:
- George Washington Carver: An agricultural chemist who developed alternative farming methods and found numerous uses for the peanut.
- Dorothy Johnson Vaughan: A mathematician and computer programmer who was part of a team that did mathematical calculations to help launch satellites-and later humans-into space.
- Mark E. Dean: A top engineering mind at IBM who co-created a system that allowed computers to communicate with printers and other devices.
- Mae C. Jemison: The first female African-American astronaut, who flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992.
- Percy L. Julian: Known as the "soybean chemist," he developed innovative drugs and industrial chemicals from natural soya products.
- Sarah Breedlove Walker (Madam C.J. Walker): An inventor and businesswoman who manufactured beauty products for African-American women.
- Benjamin Banneker: grew up on a 100-acre farm outside Baltimore, where he studied the skies and borrowed textbooks about advanced mathematics.
- Garret Morgan: invented traffic lights in 1923, and the roads have been much safer since then!
Scientists, engineers, and inventors find the solutions to the world's problems. Learn about the work that these Black scientists and inventors have accomplished that make our lives better.
Table of Notable African American Inventors and Their Inventions
| Inventor | Invention/Contribution |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Banneker | First clock in America made entirely of wood |
| George Crum | Potato chips |
| Philip B. Downing | Improved street letter box |
| George Washington Carver | Alternative farming methods and uses for peanuts |
| Lewis Latimer | Improved light bulb filament |
| Garret Morgan | Traffic lights |
| Sarah Boone | Improved ironing board |
| Marie Van Brittan Brown | Home security system |
| Elijah McCoy | Automatic lubrication system for steam engines |
