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Black lives and black history resources

BBC Teach > Educational Calendar

The killing of George Floyd in the United States has led to renewed debate about racism in societies across the world. You can use this collection of resources to explore black history, heritage, culture and achievements with your class.

Below you'll find content suitable for use with both primary and secondary school pupils, including classroom resources from BBC Teach and content from across the BBC. Each BBC Teach resource is accompanied by teacher notes to aid classroom use.

For teachers, you can read this article by Josiah Isles, an assistant headteacher who has written about his experiences within the education system as a black teacher in the UK.

We also have a new series of short films about being an ally to your students from black, South Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds.

You can also catch up on our panel discussion programme, Beyond Black History Month, in partnership with TES. This programme was originally broadcast live on 21 October 2020 and features ideas and best practice around teaching black and diverse histories and experiences.

Primary

Assembly frameworks

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Rosa Parks
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School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Rosa Parks

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Rosa Parks.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Mary Seacole
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School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Mary Seacole

A framework for delivering an assembly about the life and work of Mary Seacole.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Dr Martin Luther King
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School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about Dr Martin Luther King

A framework for delivering an assembly based around Dr Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream...' speech.

School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement
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School Radio - KS2 assembly framework about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement

A framework for delivering an assembly about the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.

History

Black British Stories
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Black British Stories

A collection of short films for primary schools, exploring the experiences and contributions of people from communities across the UK, and celebrating the rich contribution of the black community to the culture, society and economy of the UK. In each film, pupils are introduced to different role models, focusing in particular on the experiences and contributors of black British people in post-war Britain. Each of these central characters is interviewed by a child of a similar age to your pupils.

The life of Mary Seacole
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The life of Mary Seacole

The life of Victorian nurse Mary Seacole is told in three short video episodes aimed at 7-11 year-olds.

Watch again: Literacy Live Lesson 3 for 7-11 year-olds
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Watch again: Literacy Live Lesson 3 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee explore the inspirational lives and contributions of black writers, musicians, activists and more. Together with guest readers Angelica Bell and David Lammy, they explain how language is used in songs and speeches to inspire us, demonstrate the importance of proof-reading, and challenge pupils to write about their dreams for a better world.

The life and work of Rosa Parks
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The life and work of Rosa Parks

This short film explains how Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus changed the rules of American society.

The life and work of Harriet Tubman
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The life and work of Harriet Tubman

In this short drama Harriet Tubman explains how she escaped slavery and then helped others to do so.

Pablo Fanque – The greatest Victorian showman
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Pablo Fanque – The greatest Victorian showman

A short film about the life and work of Pablo Fanque, a famous equestrian performer from the Victorian era.

The life and work of Florence Price
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The life and work of Florence Price

Trailblazing composer Florence Price was the first black female to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Discover more about Florence and her music with BBC Ten Pieces.

The life and work of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
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The life and work of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Composer, sportsman, fashionista - Joseph Bologne was an 18th century superstar. Find out more about the man and his music with BBC Ten Pieces.

School Radio - The memory of Dr Martin Luther King's speech
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School Radio - The memory of Dr Martin Luther King's speech

In this short audio clip we hear from a woman who remembers, as a girl, being taken by her father to hear Dr Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech.

Newsround - International Day for the Abolition of the Slave Trade: What does this mean?
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Newsround - International Day for the Abolition of the Slave Trade: What does this mean?

What was the slave trade, how were slaves treated and how was it abolished?

Horrible Histories - Black History Month
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Horrible Histories - Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, Oti Mabuse brings you a selection of Horrible Histories sketches and songs featuring Rosa Parks, Civil War spy Mary Bowser, pioneering boxer Bill Richmond, plus Mary Seacole and Martin Luther King Jr.

Horrible Histories - British Black History
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Horrible Histories - British Black History

Horrible Histories charts the contribution of Black people to British life throughout history. How did African soldiers come to be guarding Hadrian’s Wall? Why was a West African diver asked to help salvage Henry VIII's ship, the Mary Rose? And the actor Ira Aldridge tells us how he came to leave New York to find fame in 19th-century England.

Our Black History Heroes
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Our Black History Heroes

Children's series celebrating inspirational and history-making figures from the past 200 years.

News

CBeebies special for Black History Month
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CBeebies special for Black History Month

Watch these dads and daughters discussing everything from Rosa Parks to the Jamaican football team together during Black History Month.

Newsround special on US protests and racism (9 June 2020)
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Newsround special on US protests and racism (9 June 2020)

De-Graft Mensah presents a Newsround special all about fairness, protest and people coming together to reject racism.

PSHE

Newsround presenter De’Graft Mensah: How my Ghanaian heritage shaped me
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Newsround presenter De’Graft Mensah: How my Ghanaian heritage shaped me

De’Graft Mensah talks about his family’s Ghanaian heritage, how much it has influenced his own life and career, and how, when the cameras roll on every bulletin, he feels he also has another big job.

The Dengineers
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The Dengineers

Twelve-year-old Luke is passionate about black history and wants people to realise how important it is. He reads black history books and has even written poetry about it. He wants the den to be built at his nan’s house so he can share it with all his cousins.

Learn at BBC Scotland: Race Matters
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Learn at BBC Scotland: Race Matters

A collection of learning resources about race from BBC Scotland.

Secondary

History

Subnormal - A British Scandal
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Subnormal - A British Scandal

This short film for secondary schools examines how black children in the 1960s and 1970s were disproportionately sent to schools for the so-called ‘educationally subnormal’.

Black Power - A British Story of Resistance
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Black Power - A British Story of Resistance

This short film for secondary schools looks at the Black Power movement in the 1960s in the UK, surveying both the individuals and the cultural forces that defined the era.

Small Axe
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Small Axe

Short educational films exploring the lives of London's West Indian community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, produced alongside the BBC One collection of films directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen. These films combine extracts from Steve McQueen's collection of films with archive and bespoke narration, to bring significant moments from recent black British history to life for students.

Dr Martin Luther King - American Civil Rights leader
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Dr Martin Luther King - American Civil Rights leader

Sanjeev Bhaskar finds out how Dr Martin Luther King advanced the Civil Rights movement in America through non-violent resistance.

Nelson Mandela - Freedom fighter and South Africa's first black president
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Nelson Mandela - Freedom fighter and South Africa's first black president

Sir Trevor McDonald reports on Nelson Mandela, who went from freedom fighter to become South Africa's first black president.

Stephen: The murder that changed a nation
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Stephen: The murder that changed a nation

A series of short films examining the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Exploring identity, diversity, institutional racism and justice.

'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard
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'Checking Out Me History' by John Agard

John Agard explores and performs his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.

Immigration to London from Ghana and Jamaica
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Immigration to London from Ghana and Jamaica

Teenager Elliott talks to his grandfather about his first impressions of London as an immigrant from Ghana and his grandmother about the racism they experienced because of their mixed race marriage.

Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners
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Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners

In this series of short documentary-style films, historian David Olusoga explores new historical evidence of slavery in 1830s Britain.

Black and British: A Forgotten History
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Black and British: A Forgotten History

Historian David Olusoga explores the enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Africa.

What made WW1 a truly global war?
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What made WW1 a truly global war?

David Olusoga explores stories of colonial troops serving in World War One in these short films for secondary schools.

Migration
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Migration

A series of short films where David Olusoga investigates the lives and experiences of migrants to and from Britain throughout history.

The American Civil War
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The American Civil War

Andrew Marr analyses 1860s America and the American Civil War, explaining how the conflict, and Abraham Lincoln, changed American history forever.

The origins of blues and ragtime
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The origins of blues and ragtime

Howard Goodall explores the origins of blues music and ragtime and looks at how the invention of recorded music popularised folk and spiritual African American music.

Bitesize - Six key events in black history you may not know about
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Bitesize - Six key events in black history you may not know about

Six key events in black history which you may have not heard of, as highlighted by Prof Kehinde Andrews, who teaches Black Studies at Birmingham City School of Social Sciences.

Alt History - Black to Life: Rethinking the Black Presence within British History
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Alt History - Black to Life: Rethinking the Black Presence within British History

Director Akinola Davies unearths forgotten Black British histories in this visually compelling series.

BBC World Service - Witness Black History
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BBC World Service - Witness Black History

Interviews with people who were there at key moments in black and civil rights history.

News

Bitesize - George Floyd protests: Misleading images and videos that have been shared on social media
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Bitesize - George Floyd protests: Misleading images and videos that have been shared on social media

Fact-checkers from the BBC’s anti-disinformation team investigate viral posts on social media

Newsbeat - The black British history you may not know about
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Newsbeat - The black British history you may not know about

Some of the lesser known episodes in black British history from BBC Newsbeat.

Bitesize - Not-racist v anti-racist: what’s the difference?
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Bitesize - Not-racist v anti-racist: what’s the difference?

John Amaechi is a psychologist, a New York Times best-selling author and a former NBA basketball player. He talks about what it means to be anti-racist.

PSHE

Ade Adepitan: Becoming a Paralympic champion
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Ade Adepitan: Becoming a Paralympic champion

Paralympic champion Ade Adepitan explains that he lost the use of his legs as a result of childhood polio, but decided to become an athlete after becoming obsessed with the Olympic Games as a boy.

Christine Ohuruogu: Becoming an Olympic champion
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Christine Ohuruogu: Becoming an Olympic champion

In her own words, Christine Ohuruogu tells the story of how she became a top athlete.

Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Becoming a space scientist
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Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Becoming a space scientist

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock explains why being different is no barrier to success if you are passionate about something.

Aiyshat Akanbi: Becoming a fashion stylist
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Aiyshat Akanbi: Becoming a fashion stylist

Meet Aiyshat Akanbi. She’s a determined, fashion-forward young stylist. In this short film we see her attention to detail and passion for fabric and colour put to good use, as we follow her at work designing ‘tour’ looks for her client, the rapper Labrinth.

Ronnie Ochero: Becoming a games artist
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Ronnie Ochero: Becoming a games artist

Ronnie Ochero turned his childhood obsession of playing video games into a career, by making them. For Ronnie, it was a natural process to go from playing games to inventing them.

BBC Three - Things not to say to someone with afro hair
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BBC Three - Things not to say to someone with afro hair

A humorous but important take on how people with afro hair feel then people ask them questions about their hair.

Learn at BBC Scotland: Race Matters
collection

Learn at BBC Scotland: Race Matters

A collection of learning resources about race from BBC Scotland.

BBC social media

Frankie Boyle's tour of Scotland - on Facebook Much of Glasgow's grandest architecture was created off the back of slavery. Frankie Boyle finds out more.

BBC Stories YouTube channel:

Alt History: Black British History We’re Not Taught in Schools - BBC Stories Writer and historian David Olusoga presents a series of short films exploring critical moments in Black British history from 1919 that have been forgotten or rarely discussed.

Alt History: A Forgotten Regiment - BBC Stories Historian Olivette Otele explores the untold story of a black regiment in the First World War.

Alt History: White-washing black soldiers from WW1- BBC Stories Emma Dabiri looks at how many black subjects who fought in World War I had their stories white-washed out of the history books.

Alt History: A British lynching - BBC Stories Artist and writer GAIKA unearths the tragic story of a British lynching that took place during the 1919 race riots.