The South Plainfield Board of Education recently held a meeting where students from the Grant School were able to take to the podium and recite their favorite poems created by famous African American creatives. The Open Mic Contest was part of the school’s presentation in honor of Black History Month and was sponsored through the school’s guidance department.
for the contest, students had the opportunity to select African American poets whose work had an impact on them. They were then asked to conduct research on the poet’s life and work. As the students worked independently or collaborated in small groups, they learned to recite the poems to perform in front of their peers during ELA classes for a chance to win a small prize.
The school’s Open Mic Contest is one of several Black History Month activities taking place at Grant during the month of February. Other activities, such as trivia games, educational presentations, and more are aimed at helping students learn about the African Americans who have contributed to this country. The educators at the school find it important for students to know not just the history of African Americans in the United States, but their achievements as well.