Every year, I share my family’s Black history book selections as a resource for the homeschooling and classroom communities, and the response has been incredible. For the past five years, I’ve offered in-depth posts, complete with links and sometimes videos, to help educators and parents integrate meaningful, robust Black history studies into their teaching. But one question kept coming up:

“Can you share your exact lesson plans?”

And that’s where my hippie homeschooler ways were exposed. The truth is, I didn’t plan every book down to the chapter and page number for the entire year. I embraced a flexible, organic approach—one that allowed us to follow our interests and immerse ourselves fully in the stories as we encountered them. Each term (we have three a year), I’d give my kids their books from the list I curated at the start of the year and roughly map out the number of pages needed to complete them within the term. We often spilled over into the next term, which was completely fine.

A Game-Changer: Curated Black History Lesson Plans

But then came my friend Laura Marshall, an organizational genius who transformed my book lists into detailed, beautifully structured Black history lesson plans. Laura’s meticulous work makes it possible for home educators to have a clear, well-organized reading guides to study Black history, whether as a standalone year of learning or woven into an existing history curriculum. Now, with our partnership, we’ve curated a full historical rotation, making it easier than ever to bring Black history to life in your home or classroom.

Full disclosure: Sometimes, I still prefer to fly by the seat of my pants and wing it when it comes to integrating these Black history books into our days, but I certainly appreciate having a guide available for when I want it. And I know many of you do, too!

How to Use These Black History Lesson Plans

These lesson plans can serve a variety of needs:

• A dedicated Black history year – Maybe you love Black history so much that you want to spend an entire year focusing solely on it. These plans give you the structure to do that!
• A much-needed deep dive – If you’ve realized your previous history studies have left out critical voices and events, this is your chance to catch up and fill in some of the gaps.
• A permanent stream of Black history – Like our family, you may choose to always include Black history alongside your other studies, ensuring a full, rich perspective on history.
• A supplement to a traditional curriculum – Almost all mainstream history curricula severely lack Black history. These plans can be added to expand and balance what you’re already using.
• An eclectic mix – If you’re pulling together your own unique history studies, these plans can fit right in with your holistic approach.

All the Lesson Plans in One Place

Now that we’ve completed an entire historical cycle, I wanted to create this recap post so that home educators can easily access all the lesson plans in one place. No more searching through past posts—everything you need to dive deep into Black history is now at your fingertips.

Rotation 1: 800-1650 AD – African & African-American Resources for Early Modern History

This period explores the great empires of Africa, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, as well as the trans-Saharan trade routes that connected African societies to the world. It also covers the early presence of Africans in the Americas, long before the transatlantic slave trade reached its peak.

Rotation 2: 1650-1800 AD – Black History Books Covering Colonial America and Revolutionary War Time Period

During this time, Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, shaping the development of the American colonies. This era also highlights the resistance and resilience of enslaved people, the role of Black individuals in the Revolutionary War, and the early abolitionist movements that began to take root.

Rotation 3: 1800 – 1900 AD: 1800s Black History Books

The 19th century was marked by the fight for freedom and citizenship. This era explores the abolitionist movement, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction period—when newly freed Black Americans faced both newfound opportunities and violent opposition. The foundation of Black colleges, churches, and businesses during this time helped shape the future of Black communities in America.

Rotation 4 (Round 1): 1900 – Present – 20th-Century Black History Books and Infusing Black History Into a Traditional Charlotte Mason Homeschool

As the 20th century began, Jim Crow laws solidified racial segregation, leading to increased civil rights activism. This era includes the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, and the early legal battles that laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. The mid-to-late 20th century was a time of massive social change and cultural expression. From the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Power era and from the rise of Black political leaders to groundbreaking contributions in music, art, and literature, this period highlights both struggle and triumph in the ongoing quest for equality and representation. The lesson plans below are designed to accompany the Round 2 books, but be sure to check out the Round 1 books for some real gems.

Follow Your Curiosity

I invite you to follow your curiosity, explore new stories, revisit familiar ones with fresh eyes, and allow yourself to be led down fascinating rabbit trails. Black history is vast, complex, and deeply intertwined with the broader human experience. Whether you’re new to this journey or have been on it for years, there’s always something more to discover.

Enjoy the adventure, and let’s keep learning together!

If you’re looking for additional books to enjoy with kids of all ages – toddlers to teens – with rich discussion questions, project ideas, and more, check out my book Soul School!