It's the first day of February and students in Ms. Hall's class are getting ready to learn...

Good morning class! Does anyone know what month it is?

It's February!!

It's the month of Valentine's day!

You're both right! However, today we're going to talk about how February is also Black History month.

Let's start our conversation with Mae Jemison. Mae is an American engineer, a physician, and an astronaut.

And so, Ms. Hall began her lesson. She told the class all about how Jemison knew she wanted to study science from an early age. At just sixteen, Jemison left home to go to Stanford University. In 1987, she was selected by NASA to be the first black female astronaut.

“Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.”

-- Mae Jemison

Next on our list? Serena Williams!

Serena Williams was born in Michigan, in 1981. She has won thirty-nine Grand Slam titles and has earned almost $29 million in prize money and endorsements.

I want to be like her when I grow up!

She sounds really cool!

That's not all class! Serena has also won four Olympic gold medals.

Here is a famous quote from her:

"I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall."

Serena Williams

"Let's time travel back to the 1800s. To give you a hint, the next person we are going to discuss is an abolitionist. Can anyone here tell me what an abolitionist is?"

An abolitionist is someone who wants to get rid of something, right?

You're right, Clara. Specifically, this person strived to get rid of slavery.

Her name was Harriet Tubman. She was born into slavery and after finding a route to freedom, she made 13 trips to save 70 slaves.

Harriet, born Araminta Ross, used a network of safehouses called the Underground Railroad during her journeys from the south to the north.