Activities For Martin Luther King Jr. Day For The Preschool Classroom
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009
by Stephany Springer
It may sound silly to discuss such an important man and the events he created in a class full of preschoolers. It actually is quite the contrary. It is so essential that preschoolers learn a foundation when they are young of the truths Martin Luther King Jr. taught during his life.
This holiday, bring his memory alive in the classroom. Here are some activities to do just that through centers in your classroom.
MLK was famous for promoting peace and unity among people of all colors, shapes and sizes. Why not do art projects that showcase this unity. Fill water bottles us with different watercolors. Go outside. Pin a white sheet of butcher paper up. Allow the kids to spray the different colors together on the sheet. You can also use mustard and ketchup bottles for squeezing. As the kids watch the colors merge together, explain how people are different just like the colors. End the activity with the kids knowing that although they are different, they can work together to make something beautiful.
Another activity to send home to the parents is a footprint painting. Have the kids walk through paint then make footprints on construction paper. Put the word up at top : "I am following in your footsteps. What are you teaching me?" You can leave out the second sentence if appropriate.
Make clouds. Cut out posterboard in cloud shapes. Allow the kids to glue cotton. Place the words "I have a dream just like MLK and it is . . . ." On the back, write each child's dream.
Peace quilt: Give each child a square of construction paper. Allow the children to decorate however they want. Place sequins, macaroni, paint, glitter, glue, etc. Talk with the children about MLK and how he believed different people could come together. Then show the children how their squares can come together to make a peace quilt.
Science
Hold up a brown egg and a white egg and have the children discuss the differences. Crack the eggs open and pour in individual bowls. Then ask what the differences are. There will be none. If you teach in a Christian school, explain that although God made us all different on the outside, what matters is the heart on the inside.
Snack
Have birthday cake. It is MLK's birthday, so have a celebration. Be sure to include birthday hats and banners. Let the kids help decorate and enjoy a celebration of a man who promoted harmony and peace.
Another snack is a Friendship Fruit Salad. Ask each child to bring a fruit cut up. Allow each child to pour their cup in and stir.
Music
Music should be filled with songs of unity. Again if you are in a Christian preschool, songs such as Jesus Loves the little Children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world are great to teach his message.
Another song I found a few years ago is sung to the tune of Song: To The Tune Of He's Got The Whole World In His Hands:
Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream (Song three times)
He had the whole world in his dream. He had me and you, in his dream.He had me and you, in his dream. He had me and you, in his dream. He had the whole world in his dream.
The key to this unit is to promote unity and peace. Teach the kids that outward appearance means nothing, but instead the inner character is more important.
Feel free to leave any other activities in the comment section below.
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