Black History Month Resources
Educator Resources
Oregon Black Pioneers offers free, standards-aligned curriculum units that make Oregon's Black history come alive in the classroom.
Three Thematic Curriculum Units:
Oregon Historical Society
Black History Resources
Explore and download the Oregon Historical Society’s educational resources related to Black history. Materials include curriculum, units, lessons, and other resources that are sorted by grade level and resource type.
-
Racing to Change The Racing to Change curriculum features Oregon history units for 6–8 and 9–12 grades and is designed to help educators explore the civil rights movement within an Oregon context. Inspired by the Oregon Black Pioneer’s online exhibit, “Racing to Change,” both units align with the Oregon Social Science Standards Integrated with Ethnic Studies.
-
Early Black Oregonians DBQ In this Document-Based Question for grades 6–12, students analyze primary sources to learn about the history of Black Oregonians and discrimination they faced from the beginning of the Oregon Territory to just before the 1953 Oregon Civil Rights Bill.
iCivics
Civic Star Challenge celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The collection explores how Black Americans have shaped our nation and its civic life from the very beginning..
Featured Resources:
-
Mini-lesson on Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) – Covers the basics of the Supreme Court decision that determined Dred Scott, having lived in a free territory, was not entitled to his freedom. Students learn about the impact of the Court’s decision, and how it contributed to the Civil War. Students also examine the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments which overturned the decision, and the Black Codes that were passed in some states.
- Civil Rights Movement Unit – What tactics did the Civil Rights Movement use to change discriminatory segregation and voting laws? In this WebQuest, students learn about the various tactics that helped the movement meet its goals. Students explore the risks and benefits of employing these tactics.
- Brown v. Board of Education Mini-Lesson – Covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that overturned "separate but equal" in public schools, helping students learn about segregation and "equality under the law".
-
Little Rock Central High School Resources – Explores Executive Order 10730 and how President Eisenhower became the first president since Reconstruction to use federal forces to help enforce equal rights for African Americans with downloadable primary source documents.
Teaching Through Rather than About: Analyzing Black Histories and Geographies with Primary Sources:
This free open-access book, developed through C-GEO in collaboration with Oregon educators and local and national history organizations, includes 11 secondary lesson chapters that model teaching through Black histories rather than about Black histories, utilizing a Black Historical Consciousness framework. Each chapter features:
- Complete lesson plans with essential and supporting questions
- Primary source analysis activities
- Performance tasks
- Adaptation and extension suggestions
The lessons emphasize centering Black voices and experiences as active agents in history rather than treating Black history as a separate topic.
ODE Social Science Framework Resources
Visit the Social Science Framework page for community, teacher, and student resources supporting the implementation of the 2024 Social Science Standards. Click on the discover icon from the home page and use the filters to select grade level and topics. You will find multiple sources on the Civil Rights movement curated to align with Oregon's standards.
PBS Documentary Series:
Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History is a four-part documentary series exploring the rich, complex relationship between Black and Jewish Americans. Drawn together by shared experiences of racism and antisemitism, these communities forged civic and cultural bonds, particularly during the civil rights era. The series examines both the challenges and enduring promise of this alliance.
PBS Streaming
28 Days of Black History: Daily Email Newsletter
28 Days of Black History is a free daily email newsletter that delivers Black history content throughout February. Each day features stories, achievements, and historical moments that celebrate the Black American experience—perfect for teachers looking to integrate daily Black history into their classroom routines.
The 2026 theme is "A Century of Black History Commemorations," tracing the moments throughout history when we've honored the Black American experience, from cultural boundary-breaking to major individual and group achievements.
Teachers can subscribe individually or explore group subscription options for their entire school or department. Archives from previous years are also available for year-round teaching.
Subscribe at www.28daysofblackhistory.com
ODE UPDATE
ODE Social Science Instructional Materials Adoption Webinar & Virtual Caravan Resources Now Available
Planning for the fall 2026 social science instructional materials adoption? The Oregon Department of Education has created a comprehensive Virtual Caravan resource page to support your selection process. This page provides access to presentation videos, demo login credentials, and contact information for all 10 approved publishers across K-12 grade bands. You'll also find webinar recordings, publisher review cards, and additional tools to help you evaluate materials for your district. Visit the 2025 Social Science Virtual Caravan page to explore your options and make informed decisions for your students.
EVENTS
2026 Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series
Series tickets are now on sale for the four-part 2026 Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series. Join in person at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland or via livestream. All lectures begin at 7:00 pm.
Series Speakers:
February 17, 2026 - Keisha Blain Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights
March 10, 2026 - Michael Luo Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
April 14, 2026 - Megan Kate Nelson The Westerners: Myth-Making and Belonging on the American Frontier
May 12, 2026 - Rick Atkinson Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780
Educator and Student Tickets: Educators and students can access discounted in-person or virtual single lecture tickets beginning February 4, 2026. Tickets are $10 for educators and $5 for students.
Purchase $5 Student Tickets
Purchase $10 Educator Tickets
|
Center For Geography Education
Annual Geography Education Conference for K-12 Teachers
The annual Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) GeoFest conference for K-12 teachers will be Saturday, March 7, 2025 at Perrydale High School. Sessions include the screening of an award-winning documentary and a Q&A with the person it’s about; the rural-urban divide; tribal histories; Black Histories & Geographies, teaching primary source through a geographic lens, GeoTech sessions, climate education, and so much more!! Registration for educators is free.
|
Professional Learning Holocaust and Genocide Education
Echoes & Reflections: Holocaust Education Professional Development
Professional development opportunities for middle and high school educators teaching about the Holocaust.
Online Course: Teaching About Antisemitism After the Holocaust
Learn strategies for teaching about contemporary antisemitism and its historical roots through this comprehensive online course.
Dates: February 2–March 1, 2026
Register for the Antisemitism Course
|
Student Opportunities
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
The annual Jakob and Sala Kryszek Art and Writing Competition for middle and high school students encourages students to improve their awareness of the Holocaust. For the competition, students are presented with a prompt about a Holocaust theme in order to create a piece of writing or work of art. Educators are encouraged to promote the contest in their classrooms by demonstrating connection to their course curriculum.
Submissions are open until April 18, 2026
Grand prize winners will have the opportunity to select their prize:
- A trip to Washington D.C. to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for themselves and a chaperone.
- A trip to Los Angeles to visit the Holocaust Museum for themselves and a chaperone.
Both trips include airfare, three nights lodging, a meal stipend, and ground transportation stipend.
This competition is open to students attending school in Oregon and SW Washington.
|
Enter the Civic Star Challenge!
250 years ago, the Declaration of Independence energized the colonies. More than just words on parchment, it was a spark that set the course for a new era… and a new nation.
Now it's your turn to ignite that spark in your students.
Introducing the Civic Star Challenge: A groundbreaking initiative from iCivics and the Bill of Rights Institute
|
Hatfield Futures
Applications are open for Hatfield Futures!
Using the year 2050 to spark our collective imagination, Hatfield Futures invites teams of high-school students from across Oregon to envision Oregon’s future and generate proposals to address important social, environmental, and economic issues.
During a week-long summer camp (July 5 - 11, 2026) at Portland State University, teams will collaborate to craft their visions and proposals and then present to community leaders, elected officials, and other members of the community at the Hatfield Futures Showcase. The 2026 Showcase will take place on July 11, 2026. All lodging and food costs are covered and students will receive $250 stipends for participating. Travel assistance is available.
The program is looking for volunteers, program sponsors, and partners. Please email Nina Pamintuan at ninapami@pdx.edu if you are interested in supporting these inspiring students and joining them in shaping the future
The deadline to apply is Sunday, March 1.
Facebook and Instagram that you can share.
Student Application
More information about Hatfield Futures
|
The 2026 Oregon History Bee and Bowl
This event features individual (Bee) and team (Bowl) competitions covering U.S. and world history, geography, and social studies. Winners from this state-level competition may qualify for national competitions.
-
Host Location: Rainier Jr./Sr. High School, 28170 Old Rainier Rd, Rainier, OR.
-
Event Date: March 14, 2026.
-
Details: The event includes both high school and middle school divisions.
-
Cost: Approximately $99 per Bowl team and $50 per individual player.
-
Structure: Typically includes preliminary rounds and, for high-performing teams, a single-elimination tournament.
-
2025 Highlights: Rainier High School hosted and had teams win state championships, with Ian Warnick taking 1st in the individual Varsity Bee.
For the most up-to-date information, interested teams typically coordinate through school history clubs or directly with the International Academic Competitions website.
|
Oregon Historical Society Survey
Help Shape the Future of OHS!
At OHS, we strive to design exhibitions and programs that inspire curiosity and advance knowledge about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon. As we plan for the future, we need your input — how can we best engage you in 2026 and beyond?
Help build the future of OHS by sharing your thoughts in this short survey
The short survey only takes 9 minutes to complete and will help OHS make better programming decisions. OHS offers a stipend for participation.
The deadline for participating in the survey is Friday, February 27.
|
