Written by Maisie Waylett, Class Teacher

Black History Month in the UK, celebrated every October, is an essential opportunity for Key Stage 2 pupils to learn about the diverse contributions of Black individuals throughout history and today. Literature can be a powerful tool to bring these stories to life, spark meaningful conversations, encourage understanding and create inclusive classrooms that honour Black voices and celebrate resilience, creativity, and achievement.

The theme for Black History Month 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” and the books below have been carefully chosen to help promote learning in your KS2 classroom as you celebrate this important month.

Books to use during Black History Month and beyond

1. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman

Book Theme: Hope, activism, identity, social change
Why it works for KS2: This lyrical picture book, written by inaugural US youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman, celebrates the power of young voices to spark change. With vibrant illustrations and poetic language, Change Sings encourages children to believe in their ability to make a difference.

Classroom Ideas:

Discussion Prompt: “What would you like to change in your community, and how could you begin?”

Poetry Workshop: Invite pupils to write their own “I can change the world” poems, focusing on what change means to them.

Music & Art Integration: Explore how art and song have supported movements for equality.

1. Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson

Book Theme: Hidden Black history, perseverance, historical injustice
Why it works for KS2: Based on the true story of Matthew Henson, a Black American explorer who played a vital role in reaching the North Pole, this book is compelling historical narrative that reveals how racism erased Henson’s achievements for decades. This story stuck with my class for months and sparked many ongoing conversations about the reliability of history-tellers, prejudices and bias. It’s a longer read and more appropriate for UKS2, but a great option as a class reading book.

Classroom Ideas:

Discussion Prompt: “Why is it important to remember people whose stories have been forgotten?”

Timeline Activity: Create a visual timeline of Henson’s life and expeditions.

Compare & Contrast: Compare Henson’s story to more commonly celebrated explorers such as Christopher Columbus and James Cook. Why was Henson’s contribution overlooked? Why is it important for us to learn about everyone’s contributions?

3. These Hands by Margaret H. Mason

Book Theme: Racism, civil rights, community, empowerment
Why it works for KS2: This poignant picture book, inspired by real events, tells the story of African American workers at a bakery who were once banned from baking bread. It’s a gentle but powerful way to introduce civil rights themes to children aged 7–11.

Classroom Ideas:

Discussion Prompt: “How have people used peaceful actions to fight for fairness?”

Role-Play Exercise: Re-enact scenes from the book to explore fairness and teamwork.

Writing Task: Have students draw around their own hands and write 5 things they can do to help others or inspire change on each finger. These could be used for a display highlighting the importance of everyone’s actions to create change.

4. Look Up! by Nathan Byron and Dapo Adeola

Book Theme: Aspiration, science, role models, sibling relationships
Why it works for KS2: While written for a slightly younger audience, this joyful book is ideal for LKS2 discussions about representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). The main character, Rocket, dreams of becoming an astronaut like Mae Jemison — the first Black woman to travel to space.

We especially love this story because it also used in our primary curriculum, which you can find out more about here.

Classroom Ideas:

Discussion Prompt: “Why is it important for everyone to see people who look like them doing amazing things?”

STEM Link: Explore Mae Jemison’s biography and women in space exploration.

Creative Writing: Ask students to imagine their future careers and write short stories set in those roles. Make links to positive role models who challenge stereotypes such as mathematician and scientist Katherine Johnson, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles or BAFTA award winning poet, Benjamin Zephaniah.

How to embed Black History Month into the Curriculum

While Black History Month provides a focused time for celebration and education, these books can and should be used throughout the year. Here are some top tips for embedding Black history and voices into KS2 learning:

Diversify your classroom library: Ensure it includes books by Black authors across genres — not just during October (check out the rest of our site, for more authors we love!)

Link to national curriculum topics: For example, when teaching exploration, science, or social justice, include figures like Matthew Henson or Mae Jemison.

Use cross-curricular approaches: Consciously include diverse contributions to the science, history and the arts to ensure that lessons reflect our diverse classrooms.

Encourage pupil voice: Allow children to ask questions, share reflections, and celebrate their learning.

FAQs

When is Black History Month in the UK?

Black History Month is celebrated in October in the UK, which differs to the US, where it is celebrated in February.

Why do we celebrate Black History Month in schools in the UK?

Whilst the celebration of Black History Month began in the US, since 1987 it has also been celebrated annually in the UK. It’s primary purpose is to educate and recognise overlooked contributions of black individuals in the UK and beyond, to celebrate Black culture and identity, to promote equality and inclusion in our classrooms and ultimately because Black History Is British History. This said, promoting diversity in our classrooms doesn’t begin and end in October: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/ offers support, news and resources all year round and is a fantastic resources for educators in the classroom.

What does the curriculum say about Black History Month in the UK?

In 2022, the Welsh Government made mandatory the teaching of diverse perspectives for all schools and early years settings in Wales. As the curriculum remains a devolved issue, across the rest of the UK, the curriculum encourages teaching Black history, but it’s not specifically mandated for all schools. The department of Education does however encourage all schools to promote a broad curriculum and to promote all voices and experiences throughout the year and not just during Black History Month. For more information on this this Gov.uk blog post.

It is also a legal requirement for for schools in the UK to teach children about the Protected Characteristics throughout their education and not just as a stand alone topic. This includes race and skin colour.

More about The Story Project

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What’s more our curriculum is filled with beautifully diverse books that tell stories from around the world, so if you’re looking for a way to embed Black History Month and similar celebrations in to your curriculum we can help!

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