Black History Month Reading List: 100+ Articles for Middle Schoolers

At ReadWorks, we believe that every student deserves access to high-quality reading resources that support real learning. That’s why our mission is to provide research-backed materials completely free for teachers so you can focus on what matters most: helping your students grow.

February brings an important opportunity to highlight voices, stories, and achievements that have shaped our world in powerful ways. Black History Month gives students the chance to see history through a broader lens and reflect on the contributions of Black individuals in science, the arts, politics, activism, and beyond.

As fellow educators, we also know the challenges of finding resources that are both meaningful and aligned with your literacy goals. That’s why we’ve developed a Black History Month reading list with more than 100 articles and stories for grades 5-8. These passages are not only relevant and engaging, but also built to strengthen reading comprehension, spark thoughtful discussions, and support writing and critical thinking in your classroom.
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Whether you have five minutes for a mini-lesson or are building a full month of activities, these resources are designed to fit your schedule, your goals, and your students’ needs.

How ReadWorks Supports Literacy and Deeper Learning

ReadWorks is grounded in research about how students can grow in reading comprehension. Each text in this Black History Month reading list is built to support the building of background knowledge and vocabulary, while also encouraging meaningful classroom conversations.

Here are a few ways you can support your students’ literacy goals with these resources:
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• Develop Reading Comprehension: The texts come with vocabulary aids, question sets, and paired reading options that help students deepen their understanding of what they read.
  
  
• Strengthen Writing and Critical Thinking: Students are encouraged to analyze characters, themes, and events. Many texts are ideal for compare and contrast assignments, persuasive writing, or short responses.
  
  
• Connect with Social-Emotional Learning: Learning about people who have overcome challenges, stood up for what they believed in, or made lasting contributions to their communities helps students grow in empathy, perspective-taking, and reflection.
  
  

Flexible for Any Schedule: Whether you have 15 minutes or are planning a multi-day lesson, ReadWorks materials are easy to adapt to your classroom needs.

​A Black History Month Reading List for Grades 5–8

→ Explore All 100+ Articles

​This comprehensive Black History Month reading list includes a variety of genres and reading levels for grades 5-8. Every article supports grade-level skills and comes with built-in tools for reading support.

Teaching Black History Month in Grades 5–6

→ Explore Texts for Grades 5–6
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Students in grades 5 and 6 often respond well to stories that help them connect personally with history. The texts selected for this age group offer a mix of well-known figures and everyday people whose actions made a difference.
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Classroom Ideas for Grades 5–6

• Character Journals: After reading a biography, students can write a journal entry from the perspective of the historical figure.
  
  
• Group Gallery Walk: Choose quotes or key facts from several articles. Post them around the room and have students rotate, write reflections, or ask questions at each station.
  
  
• Reading and Art Integration: Students can illustrate a powerful moment from one of the stories and write a short description explaining its significance.
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• Mini Research Projects: Let students choose a person or topic from the readings to explore further and present to the class through posters, slideshows, or short written reports.
  
  

These activities help students connect more deeply with what they read while supporting different learner needs.

Teaching Black History Month in Grades 7–8

→ Explore Texts for Grades 7–8

Older middle school students are ready for more complex texts and thoughtful conversations. Our selections for grades 7 and 8 include stories that encourage students to think about identity, leadership, and how history connects to today’s world.
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Classroom Ideas for Grades 7–8

• Socratic Seminars: Choose two texts with related themes, such as leadership or activism. Encourage students to prepare discussion questions and lead a respectful conversation with peers.
  
  
• Compare and Contrast Essays: Ask students to compare how two individuals or time periods addressed a similar issue or challenge.
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• Magazine Project: In small groups, students can create a mini magazine that includes summaries of texts, personal reflections, and creative pieces inspired by the readings.
  
  
• Making Historical Connections: Invite students to research a current event or issue and connect it to a topic or person they read about from the Black History Month reading list.
  
  ​These activities encourage students to apply reading, writing, and critical thinking skills while exploring real-world connections.

Wrap-Up: Teaching Beyond February

Black History Month offers a powerful time to introduce new stories and perspectives into your classroom. But these lessons don’t have to stop at the end of the month. The texts in the ReadWorks Black History Month reading list can be used throughout the year to celebrate diverse voices, support literacy goals, and foster inclusive learning environments.

Whether you're planning a single lesson or a full unit, these resources make it easy to bring important conversations and rich content into your classroom.

Ready to get started?
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• Explore All Resources for Grades 5–8
• Grades 5–6 Texts
• Grades 7–8 Texts
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If you're looking for a meaningful and engaging way to bring Black history into your classroom, this Black History Month reading list is a great place to begin.