Black History Month Research Project in Spanish Class

Research projects are an amazing way to engage students with the language and give them an opportunity to explore culture, history, geography, and important figures. These projects allow for creativity, critical thinking, research skills, and possibly collaboration. Unfortunately, they can ALSO be a total headache to organize, so I wanted to share tips for a successful Black History Month research project in Spanish class!

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Click here to download a research project template for your students!

Personalizing the Black History Month Research Project in Spanish Class

By the time February rolls around, students are often looking for something that feels different and personal. That is why this Black History Month research project in Spanish class is such a great opportunity. It gives students the chance to explore stories that don’t always get center stage—and to do so in a language they are learning to love.

One thing that has worked really well for me is giving students space to share their own interests within the project. Maybe they love sports, music, activism, or science. Great. Let them choose someone whose story connects to that theme. When students can tie their research to something they already care about, the project becomes more than just a grade.

And even though it takes a little time to check in with each student or group along the way, those mini conversations make all the difference. Ask them what they’ve discovered. Ask them what surprised them. Those are the moments that show you this is more than just another assignment.

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How to Do a Successful Black History Month Research Project in Spanish Class

1. Have clear expectations
2. Allow choice
3. Check in with students along the way 
4. Bring in a media specialist or expert to help your students research
5. Celebrate their work

Tip #1 Have Clear Expectations

Make sure your students understand what you want the final projects to look like and the language you expect from them. A great start is discussing proficiency levels, like I mention in my post on How to Keep Students from Using Google Translate here. Another is just showing them an example of a completed project, or using readings as a mentor text to help model what they are capable of. These expectations will of course vary depending on the level doing the project!

Tip #2 Allow Choice

Within reason, it’s a great idea to include student choice! It’s one of the reasons choice boards can be so effective – students like being able to pick! I love to give students a choice as to where or what they are researching to help with student buy in. I always include a blank poster template for students to add another option, in case there’s a topic they’d like to research that I didn’t think of ahead of time.

Of course, this is within reason. Sometimes they want to research someone who just isn’t appropriate for the setting. If you let your students choose, make sure they know that you will approve their choices before they continue with the Black History Month research project in Spanish class. This helps keep the project focused and ensures the content stays relevant and respectful.

This pre-made research poster template includes the following options:

• Miriam Jiménez Román
• Piri Thomas
• José Celso Barbosa
• Gwen Ifill
• Sylvia del Villard
• Felipe Luciano
• Julia de Burgos
• Arturo Schomburg
• Tatyana Ali
• Gina Torres
• Roberto Alomar
• Laz Alonso
• Nanshon Dion Anderson
• Carmelo Anthony
• La La Anthony
• Eva Ayllón
• AZ
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Ursula Burns
• Miguel Cabrera
• Ilia Calderón
• Mariah Carey
• John Carlos
• Orlando Cepeda
• Roberto Clemente
• Celia Cruz
• Victor Cruz
• Taio Cruz
• Christina Milian
• Naya Rivera
• Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
• Rosario Dawson
• Joan Smalls
• Jaime Hurtado
• Marin de Porres
• Cecilia Tait
• Edgardo Armando Franco
• Nicolás Guillén
• Lupita Nyong’o
• Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

And, of course, the blank template to add their own!

Tip #3 Check in with students

If you want your students to be successful with their research project, you want to check in with them along the way. Don’t just hand them the expectations and set them off to researching! Make sure you set points to visit with them to make sure they understand what they are supposed to do, and no one is surprised when it’s time to present.

Tip #4 Bring in an expert for your Black History Month Research Project

If you want your students to be successful with their Black History Month research project in Spanish class, you want to check in with them along the way. Don’t just hand them the expectations and set them off to researching. Make sure you set points to visit with them to be sure they understand what they are supposed to do, and no one is surprised when it’s time to present.

If there’s no librarian or media specialist, connect with your co-workers and admin. Other subject areas do research projects, too. Does the social studies teacher have a list of sites you could snag? Is one of your admin a former English teacher who might help with a lesson on evaluating sources? You don’t have to do everything alone, especially when organizing a Black History Month research project in Spanish class. A little collaboration can go a long way in making the process smoother for you and more meaningful for your students.

Websites for your Black History Month Research Project in Spanish Class

While every school will have different security settings, I thought I might share a few options for researching. It’s up to you whether you want your students to research in Spanish or English, of course, just like you can choose which language they complete their project in!

• https://www.factmonster.com/
• https://www.history.com/speeches
• https://kids.britannica.com/
• https://www.ducksters.com/biography/
• https://www.loc.gov/
• https://www.archives.gov/education

Tip #5 Show off their Work

Once your students are done, it’s important to celebrate their hard work! Here’s an example:

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Showing off their work can be as simple or complex as you like. Two of my favorite simple options are to just hang their work on a display in the hallway or to do a rotating presentation. Put students in pairs, have them present to each other, and then swap partners. It’s much lower stress than presenting in front of the whole class and doesn’t take as much time. Celebrating the end of a Black History Month research project in Spanish class this way helps students feel proud of what they created without the pressure of a formal presentation.

Celebrating What They Create

When students finish their Black History Month research project in Spanish class, make sure they know it matters. You do not need a fancy event. Even a simple gallery walk in your own classroom can feel special. Play soft music, give students sticky notes to leave kind comments, and just let them browse and take it all in.

I have also done partner presentations where students take turns sharing and listening in small groups. It is low-pressure and gives everyone a voice. And honestly, some of the best learning happens when students explain their thinking to each other.

These kinds of projects remind me why I love teaching. They give students a voice, bring culture into the classroom in a real way, and make the language come alive.

Let me know if you want a printable reflection sheet or extension ideas, I’ve got a few favorites I’d be happy to share.

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More for Black History Month

Looking for more lesson plans and tips to help you celebrate Black History Month in Spanish class? Check out these posts!