How do you celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month in the elementary classroom? Read on for five quick, no-prep Caribbean Heritage Month activities you can quickly implement!
When is Caribbean American Heritage Month?
June is a busy season for teachers (hello, end of the year), but it’s also National Caribbean American Heritage Month!
This is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of lesser-known and famous Caribbean Americans to the rich cultural tapestry of the United States.
Wondering how to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month? Now that you know a bit more, let’s look at my top five ways to celebrate in your classroom!
#1 – Introduce Caribbean Heritage Month
First, use an educational video to address the big overarching questions—why Caribbean American Heritage Month is important, when it started, where it is celebrated, and how students can participate.
Play the video for the class and discuss each question together.
#2 – Discuss Famous Caribbean Americans
One way to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month is to recognize the contributions of famous Caribbean Americans.
I like to expose my students to well-known, lesser-known, and modern figures throughout the month (and beyond).
Some examples include:
- Rihanna
- Usain Bolt
- Brian Lara
- Kirani James
- Edwidge Danticat
Ways to Use Biographies
The most common way to use these biographical posters is on a bulletin board display. Students love learning about new people as they pass by in the hallways.
Another way to utilize biographies during Caribbean American Heritage Month is to do a research project. Here’s how: have students use kid-friendly sites to research a famous Caribbean American.
To support all learners, consider pairing students up or creating small groups so they can collaborate on research and share ideas. To help students otganize their thoughts, provide sentence starters such as:
- “My famous Caribbean American is…”
- “One important fact about them is…”
- “They contributed to…”
You can also give students a simple graphic organizer or template to record key facts such as name, country of origin, early life, major achievements, and contributions.
Guide them in gathering key facts and creating a short presentation to share with the class about their chosen individual.
Of course, a gallery walk is always a great idea, too!
#3 – Explore Caribbean Food
Food is an integral part of Caribbean culture. Introduce students to popular dishes like jerk chicken and rice and peas, and discuss their rich history and cultural significance.
If possible, organize a cooking activity where you and your students cook a Caribbean meal together. Assign roles to each student and discuss the ingredients and cultural significance as you prepare the dish.
Before you begin, be sure to check for any food allergies or dietary restrictions among your students to ensure the activity is safe and inclusive for everyone.
Or, if you have Caribbean restaurants nearby, invite some guests to share their stories and history with your class. What better way to teach than through these fun, interactive experiences and experts!
Alternatively, you can familiarize students with Caribbean recipes, such as this Trinidadian Roti.
# 4- Learn Traditional Caribbean Dance
Have students learn traditional Caribbean dances from YouTube videos by Caribbean dancers.
It’s best to start with an introduction to the dance and its rich history.
For example, start by introducing students to Soca music. Use an educational YouTube video.
Next, follow-along videos are perfect for elementary students to learn. Here’s an example of teaching students soca.
Play the video, pausing as needed to let students practice each dance step together before moving to the next.
Additionally, you could introduce students to SocaKidz on YouTube, which features music videos of kids singing popular soca songs with kid-friendly lyrics. What an inspiration for students today!
Play the Kid’s Caribbean Party Jam Spotify playlist quietly during classroom routines or transitions. Encourage students to notice the rhythms and instruments as they listen.
#5 – Read Books Representing Caribbean American Experiences
The importance and impact of read-alouds should not be overlooked. It’s a quick way to incorporate inclusion and diversity into the classroom while also exposing students to cultures outside their own.
After reading, encourage students to reflect and discuss with questions such as:
- “What did you learn about Caribbean culture or experiences from this story?”
- “How did the characters show resilience or celebrate their culture?”
- “What similarities or differences did you notice between your own experiences and those in the book?”
- “Why is it important to learn about people from different backgrounds?”
These open-ended questions help spark thoughtful conversations about diversity, inclusion, and cultural appreciation.
Check out this book list of Caribbean picture books, each offering a unique perspective on Caribbean American experiences.
Choose a few (or all) to read to your class and spark meaningful discussions about diversity and inclusion.
Caribbean Heritage Month Activities
Remember, you can incorporate these ideas all year, not just in June!
Here are five ways to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month:
- Introduce Caribbean American Heritage Month
- Discuss famous Caribbean Americans
- Explore Caribbean food
- Learn traditional Caribbean dance
- Read books representing Caribbean American experiences
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