MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL MATH RESOURCES FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month math activities provide an opportunity to connect mathematics with meaningful historical stories. That’s one of the reasons we created Person Puzzles.
They started as a way to include a little bit of history and representation inside everyday math practice — without turning math class into a history lecture. What surprised us most was how much even our most reluctant math students connected with the biography-plus-math format.
Students practice core math skills while uncovering the identity and impact of influential figures, letting the math lead while the context adds meaning.
Black History Inspired Math Lessons
Person Puzzle – Integer Addition & Subtraction (Rosa Parks)
Students build integer fluency as they reveal the story of Rosa Parks and her role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Person Puzzle – Simplifying Monomials (Harriet Tubman)
A focused algebra activity paired with learning about Harriet Tubman’s courage, strategy, and leadership.
Person Puzzle – Properties (Katherine Johnson)
Students apply properties of numbers while discovering the mathematical legacy of Katherine Johnson.
Person Puzzle – Areas of Triangles (Michelle Obama)
A geometry-based puzzle that connects area concepts to a modern figure who has influenced education, health, and leadership.
Person Puzzles work especially well because they:
- work smoothly in middle and high school classrooms
- keep math instruction at the core
- naturally support inclusion and representation
- sengage students who usually resist traditional practice
Teachers planning broader Black History Month lessons may also want to explore these Black History Month classroom resources and activities: https://clarkcreativeeducation.com/2025/12/30/black-history-month-resources/
– The Clarks