The 2012 theme for Black History Month is “Black Women in American Culture and History.” At Howtomile.org, learners can explore the connection between culture and science, including the kind of scientific work done by African American plant scientist Dr. Fatimah Jackson, who is both a biologist and anthropologist.
In activities like African Arts and Green Travelers, learners can take a scientific look at how a plant such as cassava spread to Africa, and became both a vital food crop and source of dye for African art. They can also make their own cassava gel and fabric art projects. These activities and more come from the African Plant Explorer Activity Book, in the WonderwiseSeries produced by the University of Nebraska State Museum and Nebraska 4-H Youth Development.
Activities in the SMILE collection like Forgotten Genius and Seeing is Believing give learners hands-on insight into the accomplishments of another African American scientist, chemist Percy Julian. Julian helped make an eye medicine for people with glaucoma, a serious disease which affects peripheral vision.
For more information about African Americans in science, visit ScienceNetLinks: Black History Month from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).