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American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

13 Activities

More from this collaborator

Grades 3 - 5

9 Hours 10 Minutes

Overview

This Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaboration, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens reading comprehension, evidence-based thinking, creativity, and teamwork, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through discussion, design, and gameplay. Designed for flexible facilitation and active learning, this playlist shows that innovation happens in many ways—and that elevating diverse voices deepens our understanding of history.

For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Word Detectives

What is that Tone

Rhythm and Language

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

Arm and Belt Accessories

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

The Animal Spin

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book

Clay Pinch Pot

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

More Tools Are Better Than One

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, We The People

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students engage in a four-week learning experience focused on designing Innovator Trading Cards that highlight lesser-known Black American innovators—past and present—whose ideas, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shaped American history and community life. Each week introduces a new theme aligned to a color, helping learners recognize patterns in how people contribute to communities. This activity focuses on learning about innovators, closely reading informational texts, and creating trading cards that will later be used in a collaborative game during Week 4.

This is the first of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

Word Detectives

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Word Detectives

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Every student will be assigned a secret word. It will be their job to try to get others to say their secret word in conversation. After having many conversations, they will have to use their detective skills to decide who had each secret word.

Discover Activity

What is that Tone

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

What is that Tone

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

Discover Activity

Rhythm and Language

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Rhythm and Language

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

K - 5

30 Minutes

In this activity, students have the opportunity to build, test, and modify self propelled cars using an engineering design grid. Students will build cars with sails, testing them with a fan to see what kinds of sails work best to propel their vehicle.

Discover Activity

Arm & Belt Accessories

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Arm & Belt Accessories

3 - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will be challenged to create a wearable glove, shoulder attachment, wrist or belt attachment using cardboard and crafting techniques. They will be able to explore and/or combine materials to make a unique costume that represents themselves!


This is part 3 of the Cardboard Costumes series from reDiscover Center.


Discover Activity

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students consider how inventions are improved over time. They select an everyday product and work as a team to improve or update it by outlining its new features, sketching a prototype, and comparing it to the original invention. This activity builds design and collaboration skills as well as creative thinking skills.

Discover Activity

The Animal Spin

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

The Animal Spin

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students experience collective improvisation through everyday conversations and vocalizing like animals.

Discover Activity

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will work in pairs to choose a meaningful and memorable scene from literature and then work together to improvise a 2-person dramatic scene based on their selection. This activity will help students develop key skills in collaborative critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and improve literacy skills and motivation for reading.

Discover Activity

Clay Pinch Pot

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Clay Pinch Pot

K - 5

1 Hour

Students learn how to sculpt clay into Pinch Pots. Pinch Pots have a multi purposes and students find out what those are.

Discover Activity

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork, We The People

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

50 Minutes

In this culminating activity, learners use their completed Innovator Trading Cards to play two connected games: first, trading cards to recognize shared themes, and second, applying their learning to identify which types of innovators are best suited to solve community challenges. This activity reinforces collaboration, evidence-based reasoning, and the understanding that communities benefit from many kinds of innovation working together.

This is the second of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

More Tools Are Better Than One

Leadership and Teamwork, Belonging and Community

More Tools Are Better Than One

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In life, there are many tasks that cannot be completed without the help of a team. In this activity, students will attempt to separate a mixture of things by themselves using only a single tool. They will come to find that when they all put their tools together and communicate, the work becomes much easier.

Discover Activity

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

3 - 5

1 Hour

Obstacle courses are fun for all ages. They allow for creativity and get youth moving in inventive ways. In the 6th activity of The Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module, youth explore different types of movement as they build and navigate obstacle courses.


This is activity 6 of 12 in the Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module.


Discover Activity

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, We The People

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students engage in a four-week learning experience focused on designing Innovator Trading Cards that highlight lesser-known Black American innovators—past and present—whose ideas, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shaped American history and community life. Each week introduces a new theme aligned to a color, helping learners recognize patterns in how people contribute to communities. This activity focuses on learning about innovators, closely reading informational texts, and creating trading cards that will later be used in a collaborative game during Week 4.

This is the first of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

Word Detectives

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Word Detectives

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Every student will be assigned a secret word. It will be their job to try to get others to say their secret word in conversation. After having many conversations, they will have to use their detective skills to decide who had each secret word.

Discover Activity

What is that Tone

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

What is that Tone

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

Discover Activity

Rhythm and Language

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Rhythm and Language

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

K - 5

30 Minutes

In this activity, students have the opportunity to build, test, and modify self propelled cars using an engineering design grid. Students will build cars with sails, testing them with a fan to see what kinds of sails work best to propel their vehicle.

Discover Activity

Arm & Belt Accessories

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Arm & Belt Accessories

3 - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will be challenged to create a wearable glove, shoulder attachment, wrist or belt attachment using cardboard and crafting techniques. They will be able to explore and/or combine materials to make a unique costume that represents themselves!


This is part 3 of the Cardboard Costumes series from reDiscover Center.


Discover Activity

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students consider how inventions are improved over time. They select an everyday product and work as a team to improve or update it by outlining its new features, sketching a prototype, and comparing it to the original invention. This activity builds design and collaboration skills as well as creative thinking skills.

Discover Activity

The Animal Spin

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

The Animal Spin

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students experience collective improvisation through everyday conversations and vocalizing like animals.

Discover Activity

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will work in pairs to choose a meaningful and memorable scene from literature and then work together to improvise a 2-person dramatic scene based on their selection. This activity will help students develop key skills in collaborative critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and improve literacy skills and motivation for reading.

Discover Activity

Clay Pinch Pot

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Clay Pinch Pot

K - 5

1 Hour

Students learn how to sculpt clay into Pinch Pots. Pinch Pots have a multi purposes and students find out what those are.

Discover Activity

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork, We The People

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

50 Minutes

In this culminating activity, learners use their completed Innovator Trading Cards to play two connected games: first, trading cards to recognize shared themes, and second, applying their learning to identify which types of innovators are best suited to solve community challenges. This activity reinforces collaboration, evidence-based reasoning, and the understanding that communities benefit from many kinds of innovation working together.

This is the second of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

More Tools Are Better Than One

Leadership and Teamwork, Belonging and Community

More Tools Are Better Than One

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In life, there are many tasks that cannot be completed without the help of a team. In this activity, students will attempt to separate a mixture of things by themselves using only a single tool. They will come to find that when they all put their tools together and communicate, the work becomes much easier.

Discover Activity

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

3 - 5

1 Hour

Obstacle courses are fun for all ages. They allow for creativity and get youth moving in inventive ways. In the 6th activity of The Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module, youth explore different types of movement as they build and navigate obstacle courses.


This is activity 6 of 12 in the Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module.


Discover Activity

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

More from this collaborator

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

Grades 3 - 5

9 Hours 10 Minutes

Overview

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, We The People

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students engage in a four-week learning experience focused on designing Innovator Trading Cards that highlight lesser-known Black American innovators—past and present—whose ideas, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shaped American history and community life. Each week introduces a new theme aligned to a color, helping learners recognize patterns in how people contribute to communities. This activity focuses on learning about innovators, closely reading informational texts, and creating trading cards that will later be used in a collaborative game during Week 4.

This is the first of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

Word Detectives

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Word Detectives

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Every student will be assigned a secret word. It will be their job to try to get others to say their secret word in conversation. After having many conversations, they will have to use their detective skills to decide who had each secret word.

Discover Activity

What is that Tone

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

What is that Tone

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

Discover Activity

Rhythm and Language

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Rhythm and Language

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

K - 5

30 Minutes

In this activity, students have the opportunity to build, test, and modify self propelled cars using an engineering design grid. Students will build cars with sails, testing them with a fan to see what kinds of sails work best to propel their vehicle.

Discover Activity

Arm & Belt Accessories

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Arm & Belt Accessories

3 - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will be challenged to create a wearable glove, shoulder attachment, wrist or belt attachment using cardboard and crafting techniques. They will be able to explore and/or combine materials to make a unique costume that represents themselves!


This is part 3 of the Cardboard Costumes series from reDiscover Center.


Discover Activity

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students consider how inventions are improved over time. They select an everyday product and work as a team to improve or update it by outlining its new features, sketching a prototype, and comparing it to the original invention. This activity builds design and collaboration skills as well as creative thinking skills.

Discover Activity

The Animal Spin

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

The Animal Spin

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students experience collective improvisation through everyday conversations and vocalizing like animals.

Discover Activity

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will work in pairs to choose a meaningful and memorable scene from literature and then work together to improvise a 2-person dramatic scene based on their selection. This activity will help students develop key skills in collaborative critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and improve literacy skills and motivation for reading.

Discover Activity

Clay Pinch Pot

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Clay Pinch Pot

K - 5

1 Hour

Students learn how to sculpt clay into Pinch Pots. Pinch Pots have a multi purposes and students find out what those are.

Discover Activity

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork, We The People

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

50 Minutes

In this culminating activity, learners use their completed Innovator Trading Cards to play two connected games: first, trading cards to recognize shared themes, and second, applying their learning to identify which types of innovators are best suited to solve community challenges. This activity reinforces collaboration, evidence-based reasoning, and the understanding that communities benefit from many kinds of innovation working together.

This is the second of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

More Tools Are Better Than One

Leadership and Teamwork, Belonging and Community

More Tools Are Better Than One

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In life, there are many tasks that cannot be completed without the help of a team. In this activity, students will attempt to separate a mixture of things by themselves using only a single tool. They will come to find that when they all put their tools together and communicate, the work becomes much easier.

Discover Activity

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

3 - 5

1 Hour

Obstacle courses are fun for all ages. They allow for creativity and get youth moving in inventive ways. In the 6th activity of The Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module, youth explore different types of movement as they build and navigate obstacle courses.


This is activity 6 of 12 in the Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module.


Discover Activity

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Stories and Perspectives, We The People

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students engage in a four-week learning experience focused on designing Innovator Trading Cards that highlight lesser-known Black American innovators—past and present—whose ideas, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shaped American history and community life. Each week introduces a new theme aligned to a color, helping learners recognize patterns in how people contribute to communities. This activity focuses on learning about innovators, closely reading informational texts, and creating trading cards that will later be used in a collaborative game during Week 4.

This is the first of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

Word Detectives

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Word Detectives

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Every student will be assigned a secret word. It will be their job to try to get others to say their secret word in conversation. After having many conversations, they will have to use their detective skills to decide who had each secret word.

Discover Activity

What is that Tone

Stories and Perspectives, Digital Voices

What is that Tone

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Uncover the Power of Vocal Tone! In this engaging lesson, students delve into the fascinating world of vocal communication. They learn to alter their vocal tone to convey a specific meaning.

This is lesson 15 in “Building a News Hour,” the second module from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ module series.

Discover Activity

Rhythm and Language

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Rhythm and Language

3 - 8

1 Hour

Students play with sounds to determine their ability to invoke imagery. They then create a soundscape poem using onomatopoeia.

Discover Activity

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, The Natural World

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

K - 5

30 Minutes

In this activity, students have the opportunity to build, test, and modify self propelled cars using an engineering design grid. Students will build cars with sails, testing them with a fan to see what kinds of sails work best to propel their vehicle.

Discover Activity

Arm & Belt Accessories

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Arm & Belt Accessories

3 - 8

1 Hour 30 Minutes

In this activity, students will be challenged to create a wearable glove, shoulder attachment, wrist or belt attachment using cardboard and crafting techniques. They will be able to explore and/or combine materials to make a unique costume that represents themselves!


This is part 3 of the Cardboard Costumes series from reDiscover Center.


Discover Activity

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students consider how inventions are improved over time. They select an everyday product and work as a team to improve or update it by outlining its new features, sketching a prototype, and comparing it to the original invention. This activity builds design and collaboration skills as well as creative thinking skills.

Discover Activity

The Animal Spin

Arts in Action, Belonging and Community

The Animal Spin

3 - 8

2 Hours

Students experience collective improvisation through everyday conversations and vocalizing like animals.

Discover Activity

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Create and Perform a Scene from a Book (Grades 3-5)

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In this activity, students will work in pairs to choose a meaningful and memorable scene from literature and then work together to improvise a 2-person dramatic scene based on their selection. This activity will help students develop key skills in collaborative critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and improve literacy skills and motivation for reading.

Discover Activity

Clay Pinch Pot

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Clay Pinch Pot

K - 5

1 Hour

Students learn how to sculpt clay into Pinch Pots. Pinch Pots have a multi purposes and students find out what those are.

Discover Activity

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Leadership and Teamwork, We The People

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

3 - 5

50 Minutes

In this culminating activity, learners use their completed Innovator Trading Cards to play two connected games: first, trading cards to recognize shared themes, and second, applying their learning to identify which types of innovators are best suited to solve community challenges. This activity reinforces collaboration, evidence-based reasoning, and the understanding that communities benefit from many kinds of innovation working together.

This is the second of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.

Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

Discover Activity

More Tools Are Better Than One

Leadership and Teamwork, Belonging and Community

More Tools Are Better Than One

3 - 5

45 Minutes

In life, there are many tasks that cannot be completed without the help of a team. In this activity, students will attempt to separate a mixture of things by themselves using only a single tool. They will come to find that when they all put their tools together and communicate, the work becomes much easier.

Discover Activity

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

Leadership and Teamwork, Whole Body, Whole Self

Build Your Own Obstacle Course

3 - 5

1 Hour

Obstacle courses are fun for all ages. They allow for creativity and get youth moving in inventive ways. In the 6th activity of The Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module, youth explore different types of movement as they build and navigate obstacle courses.


This is activity 6 of 12 in the Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab Module.


Discover Activity

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Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.

Library

CategoriesCollaboratorsExploreAll ActivitiesAll Collections

Community

Our StoryTeam MizzenEventsThe Mizzen Minute

Engage

NewsroomContact UsPrivacy Policy

Account

Sign InCreate an AccountMizzen for Teams

Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.