Martin Luther King Jr. Activities For Preschoolers
Posted: Monday, January 11, 2010
by Stephany Springer
Martin Luther King Day is fast approaching and it gives an opportunity to emphasize the freedoms and peace of the man in the preschool classroom.
Here are some activities to teach about love, equality and peace in the preschool classroom and remember the great man that once lived.
Story time
I include story time first because there are some great books written on a preschooler's level that tell who this great man was and will put the activities in perspective for the kids. Here are some books that will appeal to preschoolers.
These books hold their attention and explain about a very complex subject on their level.
Art Activities
I love art so these are without a doubt some of the funnest activities I have found to do with this theme.
Hands On The Wall
I cut butcher paper long enough to cover two sides of the room. I then take pie pans and place all different colors in the tins. Kids are allowed to roam from each area making handprints on the wall in the various colors. You can also do this with stamp pads for less mess. Write each kids name under a set of handprints. Ask them how they help others and write that as well. Makes a great wall display. Title it “Helping Hands." When you take it down, be sure to laminate and send home as a keepsake.
Doves for Peace
Our class also makes handprint doves using white paint, googly eyes (or dip pinkies into black to make eyes) and paint an orange beak or glue on a small orange felt triangle. Paint both hands white, but only one thumb should be used (as the dove's head). stamp splayed hands onto construction paper and decorate with eyes and beak.
Life Size People
Have each child pick out a color of butcher paper. Then trace their bodies out and allow them to decorate to look like who they are. Then on their shirt, write the words, “I have a dream and let the kids tell you their dreams to finish the sentence. This part can be skipped if short on time. Do one for yourself as well. Then tape them all together on the wall.
Sensory Table
Buy brown eggs and white eggs for the children to investigate. Talk about the differences on the outside. Then allow each kid to crack into the sensory table. Discuss how the brown eggs and white eggs were the same on the inside.
Music
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.
To the tune of Twinkle Twinkle: Freedom, freedom, let it ring. Let it ring said Dr King Let us live in harmony. Peace and love for you and me. Freedom, freedom let it ring. Let it ring said Dr King. (song by by Jacqueline Woodson)
Snacks
Each child brings a fruit. We cut up the fruit and mix them into a salad. We eat it and then share with another class at the center. We usually do fruit cups of peaches, pears and bananas and grapes. I also add whip cream sometimes.
These are just suggestions for your own classroom. Feel free to leave your own in the comment section. Remember to emphasize love and sharing which is definitely something you do with preschoolers every day anyhow.
This Article has been viewed 1,285 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Awesome ideas!
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.