Famous African American Scientists to Study during Black History Month
February is Black History Month. Black History Month can expand into all subject areas. Science is a great place to start. Below is a list of African American scientists and inventors that made great contributions to our society. There are so many more scientists you can research.
Have fun learning about these scientists and inventors and the science behind their inventions. Don't forget to take the time to research even more and expand into other minority groups as well. Learning about these scientists and inventors is a great lead in to learning about the science concepts they specialized in.
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
Born: January 18, 1956, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Famous For: In 1893 he performed the first successful open-heart surgery in the United States.
Class Activities:
1. Learn the parts of the heart and their function.
2. Research the type of surgery Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed.
3. Research the other great things he did. Did you know he helped open a hospital?
4. Learn how to take your pulse and measure what happens to your heart rate when you exercise.
Garrett A. Morgan
Born: March 4, 1877, Paris, Kentucky
Famous For: In 1914 Garrett Morgan invented a gas mask. Until then gas masks were very unsuccessful. He is credited with saving lives.
He was an inventor of many things. He also created the first 3-way traffic signal.
Class Activities:
1. Learn about the property of gases and why some are dangerous.
2. Perform a STEM challenge trying to create your own traffic signal system.
3. Research other inventions Garrett A. Morgan created and how they were helpful.
Lonnie Johnson
Born: October 6, 1949, Mobile, Alabama
Famous For: Lonnie George Johnson is an inventor and engineer with over 120 patents. His engineering background led to the invention of the famous toy the "Super Soaker." How fun is that!
Class Activities:
1. Research how a super soaker works.
2. Perform some experiments on water and air pressure.
3. Bring in some Super Soakers to explore and set up some targets for fun. Try to discover if the amount of water in a Super Soak affects how far the water travels.
Madam C.J. Walker
Born: December 23, 1867, Delta, Louisana
Famous For: After working for a pharmacist, Madam C.J. Walker took what she learned to create beauty products to help improve her dry, itchy skin and hair issues. It worked so well she began to sell it and created other products. She became the first black woman millionaire and was the wealthiest woman in America at the time of her death in 1919.
Class Activities:
1. Research the type of hair care products she created and how the ingredients worked.
2. Learn about the sales techniques she used to grow her company.
3. Research about soap and what makes a good shampoo. Learn about the properties of soap by playing with bubbles.
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Below are some hands-on science activities that may go well with the topics the scientists and inventors studied. Click each to check out the details.
