Martin Luther King Day is the perfect time to celebrate the life and work of Dr. King. Here are some activities and resources for you to enjoy. Choose a few that are best for your family.
1. Learn about Martin Luther King's life. The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King has a short video biography you can watch. And Martin Luther King Jr. for Kids is a cool video that was made by Anna, a five year old girl, and her mom, Lolly. Or you could make a video with your family!
2. The Wrath of a Great Leader tells how Dr. King had to wrestle with his anger and what we can learn from his experience. You might want to read the article with your family, or tell a few stories from the article and discuss some of the questions at the end. This is a great way to help kids understand the power of channeling anger for a higher purpose.
3. Listen to Dr. King's speeches. Here is a link to an excerpt from his I Have a Dream speech. (The text of the full speech is there too.)
4. Make posters or pictures of your dreams for America or write about them in your journal. Discuss how you can help make them come true.
5. Read Martin Luther King's Pledge. Talk about how he and his followers agreed to govern their lives with love. It took great character to live by Dr. King's pledge, but it empowered them to serve.
6. Create your own Family Pledge. Discuss rules and principles your family would like to live. Talk about how those rules can help your family and those around you. Write up your Family Pledge and review it regularly.
7. Read and discuss all or part of Dr. King's earliest recorded sermon in which he said, "Now that’s what we’ve got to do in our world today. We’ve left a lot of precious values behind; we’ve lost a lot of precious values. And if we are to go forward, if we are to make this a better world in which to live, we’ve got to go back. We’ve got to rediscover these precious values that we’ve left behind."
8. Choose a way your family can make a difference in your neighborhood or community. Talk about people who may be struggling, how they might feel, and how you can help. You could help an immigrant family, befriend an elderly neighbor, assist a child who is struggling in school, or help at a local shelter.
If we each make a difference in our own unique way, we can make the world a better place!
1. Learn about Martin Luther King's life. The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King has a short video biography you can watch. And Martin Luther King Jr. for Kids is a cool video that was made by Anna, a five year old girl, and her mom, Lolly. Or you could make a video with your family!
2. The Wrath of a Great Leader tells how Dr. King had to wrestle with his anger and what we can learn from his experience. You might want to read the article with your family, or tell a few stories from the article and discuss some of the questions at the end. This is a great way to help kids understand the power of channeling anger for a higher purpose.
3. Listen to Dr. King's speeches. Here is a link to an excerpt from his I Have a Dream speech. (The text of the full speech is there too.)
4. Make posters or pictures of your dreams for America or write about them in your journal. Discuss how you can help make them come true.
5. Read Martin Luther King's Pledge. Talk about how he and his followers agreed to govern their lives with love. It took great character to live by Dr. King's pledge, but it empowered them to serve.
6. Create your own Family Pledge. Discuss rules and principles your family would like to live. Talk about how those rules can help your family and those around you. Write up your Family Pledge and review it regularly.
7. Read and discuss all or part of Dr. King's earliest recorded sermon in which he said, "Now that’s what we’ve got to do in our world today. We’ve left a lot of precious values behind; we’ve lost a lot of precious values. And if we are to go forward, if we are to make this a better world in which to live, we’ve got to go back. We’ve got to rediscover these precious values that we’ve left behind."
8. Choose a way your family can make a difference in your neighborhood or community. Talk about people who may be struggling, how they might feel, and how you can help. You could help an immigrant family, befriend an elderly neighbor, assist a child who is struggling in school, or help at a local shelter.
If we each make a difference in our own unique way, we can make the world a better place!
