Classroom Ideas
Decorating your classroom door is a great way to get kids excited about learning. We found a great selection of inspiring classroom door designs to help inspire your class to learn about and celebrate Black history! From historical figures to modern leaders, to your students themselves, there’s a door to honor a wide range of amazing accomplishments.
1. Grow our roots
Marcus Garvey once said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Remind students to be proud of their roots with this root-inspired door decoration.
2. Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.” Remind your students that they have the power to change the world with a door dedicated to the incredible work of Harriet Tubman.
3. Representation matters
Representation matters and this door will impact both children and adults beyond those on your class roster.
4. Africa door
This door features the continent of Africa and is perfect for merging geography andhistory.
5. Brave like Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to be integrated into an all-white elementary school during Jim Crow, is rightfully an icon of bravery. Her life showcases the historical accomplishments of Black Americans and encourages young people to be brave and stand up for what is right. Create a door to honor the accomplishments of Ruby Bridges and inspire your students!
6. Putting the pieces together
Create a puzzle-piece themed door showcasing the important accomplishments of Black inventors, scientists, leaders, educators, etc.
7. Dress up your door
This teacher used fabric, paper, and glitter to create an image that screams strength, beauty, and power.
8. From chains to change
It wasn’t that long ago in the grand scheme of US history that Black people were enslaved. Talk about the power of standing up for change. Have students write about changes they want to see happen and post them on the door.
9. Feature an icon with butcher paper
Highlight one specific person on your door. Create their image out of butcher paper. Then print out quotes from them to add to the door. Get everyone in your wing involved with a different person on each classroom door to showcase for your very own miniature Black history museum.
(Note: Tupac Shakur is featured on this door. The popular YA novel The Hate U Give gets the title from his words. Check out this list of great books to read about Black history HERE.
10. Visual timeline
Make a timeline of an iconic Black person. Create an image of the person you choose and then have your students draw pictures or write paragraphs about what they can or have learned from that person.
11. Picture collage
Create an “I love being Black” photo collage on your door. Include pictures of Black people throughout history, as well as modern-day figures, including actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, etc.
12. Clothed in history
Create a giant paper portrait of a figure wearing a shirt made up of photographs of Black people who made history.
13. Showcase student learning
Engage your students in the decorating and learning process by assigning them each a famous person relevant to Black history to research. Hang their research on your door in celebration of these amazing contributions.
14. Fulfilling the dream
Celebrate a current Black celebrity or well-known figure with a crown above their head. Cover the crown with images of crucial moments and people in Black history to remind students of all the people whose work led up to our current place in time.
15. Mixed media masterpiece
Make your door a mixed media masterpiece featuring images of Black leaders who paved the way for racial equality in the United States.
16. Drawing connections
Bring your door to life with some creative photo printing! Choose two important Black history icons for your students to learn about. This door features Ruby Bridges and Barack Obama. Clothe the famous figures in photo collages. Then add their faces and other fun details. Use the display to help students draw connections between the efforts for equality, past and present.
17. Power words
Have students describe the iconic players in Black history. Put those words on your door.
18. Black “Herstory” Month
Celebrate Black women with a door dedicated to Black “Herstory” Month! Put the responsibility for research in the students’ hands and collaborate to create an amazing door celebration.
19. “I Have a Dream” student stories showcase
Recognize the diversity among your students as you teach them about Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Hang up this famous quote by King and have your students decorate cut-outs of their arms and hands that tell their story
20. Celebrate Katherine Johnson
Read (or watch) Hidden Figures and then create a door celebrating Katherine Johnson. Show your students that the possibilities for their future are only limited by their desires and imagination!
21. Celebrate through music
Use your door to show children how Black musicians have shaped and continue to influence American pop culture.
22. Guess who
Everyone loves a game of “Guess Who!” Create a guessing game on your door that teaches students about Black history.
23. Phenomenal women
Celebrate the contributions of Black women to the world of literature, poetry, and beyond! For example, this quote collage features Maya Angelou’s powerful and iconic poem, “Phenomenal Woman.”
24. Send an uplifting message
Encourage students to lift one another up with the quote, “But still, like dust, I’ll rise!” from Maya Angelou.
25. We matter
The message of this door is simple and powerful. Black history matters.
Teaching and discussing Black history needs to be happening all year – not just in February. Life coach and homeschooling mom, Dani Faust, says, “Every month is Black History Month. We’re Black all year and celebrate Black history year-round. February is just our anniversary!”
