Martin Luther King Jr. Day

For Martin Luther King Jr. Day (although, honestly anytime would be a good time to discuss the work of Dr. King), we didn't get to do as much as I typically like to do (having the new baby being only 4 days old put a krimp in the plan lol), but we did do one activity. First, we read "Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Honoring a Civil Rights Hero" by Amanda Doering. Then we did the craft suggestion in the back. The craft is called "Chain of Hands." We cut out the kids handprints from various colors (black, brown, yellow, white and red), then wrote words that described Dr. King on them and connected them together.

Other activities (we've done these in the past, and my Daisy troop did one at the last meeting):

Brown Egg/White Egg-Show the child(ren) each egg. Have them describe them, how are they different? Crack them open. Point out that even though they look different on the outside, they are the same!

People collage-Cut out pictures of people of all ethnicities. Glue them together on a poster to hang up.

My Dream-Cut out a rainbow shape with 2 clouds on either end. Have children name "their dream" for our world, or themselves (whatever they wish). Write this on the rainbow, then let them color the rainbow and glue cotton balls on the cloud parts.

Some songs we've used in the past (and I'm sure will use again in the future):

Sung 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

Sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle

Dr. King was a man
Who came from Atlanta, Georgia
Had a dream that he preached
For all me to be equal
Dr. King was so brave
Martin was a hero.
Won the fight for everyone
To end discrimination

Some links:
www.holidays.net/mlk/story.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/