HCES students bring Black History to life

Hickman County Elementary staff and students recognized Black History Month in various ways during February. Teachers incorporated research and discussion of African American leaders and achievements into daily lessons, and special projects related to the topic were featured in many classes.

One such example came from library class. Tracy Taylor, librarian and media specialist at HCES, led students in a research project that literally brightened the hallways of HCES. Students in fifth and sixth grades were assigned an African American leader to research; students then created a life-sized portrait of the individual, complete with details regarding that person’s accomplishments.

More than 20 of the life-sized portraits, including those of Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey, Garrett Morgan, Jackie Robinson, and Crispus Attucks, currently decorate the HCES hallways.

Other activities included an oral presentation by Mr. Howard Dillard to fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students regarding the racial integration of schools in the region; themed books and other lessons in various grade levels and subjects related to Black History in the United Stated; and bulletin boards with information regarding African American leaders in America.