February is a big month in the classroom—it’s Black History Month and Valentine’s Day all in one. Teachers are balancing history lessons, student excitement, and creative classroom activities. But what if we combined the two? These Black History Month Valentine’s Day activities shift the focus from just candy to a celebration of love, justice, and legacy.
Love & Legacy: Black History Month Through the Lens of Love
This year, try shifting the Valentine’s Day conversation from superficial love to something deeper—the love of community, justice, and humanity.
The Black leaders featured in my poster set exemplify different kinds of love—love for justice, love for knowledge, love for art, love for their people, and love for progress.
Here are a few topics to tie a some individuals into your Valentine’s Day & Black History Month lessons:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Love Through Justice & Peace
- Instead of talking about just romantic love, have students discuss how MLK’s love for justice led to real change.
- Activity: Have students write Valentines for Justice—letters to historical figures (or modern activists) expressing gratitude for their work.
Maya Angelou – Love Through Words & Storytelling
- Valentine’s Day is about expressing feelings, and who better to highlight than Maya Angelou, whose poetry and activism changed the world?
- Activity: Have students write their own “love letter” poems—not about romance, but about self-love, love for their heritage, or love for change.
Ruby Bridges – Love Through Courage & Strength
- Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she helped desegregate an all-white school in 1960.
- Activity: Discuss how her parents’ love and belief in her future gave her the strength to face incredible challenges.
Harriet Tubman – Love Through Liberation
- Harriet Tubman risked her life because of her deep love for her people—a love that fueled her bravery in leading hundreds to freedom.
- Activity: Have students reflect on the difference between loving someone and truly fighting for them.
How to Bring This to Life in Your Classroom (Without Extra Work)
I know teachers don’t have time to DIY another bulletin board from scratch—which is why I created my Black History Month + Valentine’s Day Bulletin Board Set to do the work for you. The set includes twelve ready to print posters.
- Beautifully illustrated posters featuring influential Black historical and literary figures who have shaped history with their voices, actions, and courage.
- A compelling narrative statement that captures the essence of each figure—an evocative, poetic tribute to their legacy.
- -A thought-provoking quote that reflects their influence, wisdom, and the power of love, justice, or perseverance.
- A succinct yet impactful bio highlighting their greatest accomplishments, so students instantly recognize their significance.
- A fresh, meaningful take on Valentine’s Day—one that shifts the focus from candy hearts to the kind of love that changes the world.
Bonus Idea: Print the posters on card stock and turn them into classroom discussion stations—students rotate and reflect on how each figure’s legacy connects to the theme of love.
This February 14th, you don’t have to choose between Black History Month or Valentine’s Day—you can celebrate both in a way that’s powerful and easy to implement. By shifting the conversation from just candy and cards to love as an agent of change, we help students see history through a more personal, engaging lens. So, let’s fill our classrooms with both hearts and history this February—because love and legacy belong together. Grab your Black History Month + Valentine’s Day bulletin board set here → Black History Valentine’s Day Posters
Learn more about the origins of Black History Month from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Looking for more Black History Month Valentine’s Day activities? Check out my Printable Black History Month Valentines for more history-inspired resources!
[…] Looking for easy, ready-to-print resources to celebrate Women’s History Month? Check out my classroom decor sets on Etsy or Teachers Pay Teachers to make your space inclusive and inspiring! Looking for other monthly classroom ideas? Check out this post about Black History Month! […]