1-2-3 Come Do Some MLK Activities With Me

Dr. King used nonviolent protest and the power of words, as a weapon for social justice.

The vocabulary associated with this period in history, involves all sorts of “big words”; without knowing these words, one cannot begin to understand the times or Martin's life.

To break it down for my kiddos, I read a variety of stories, so I designed the "Building Vocabulary and Making Connections With Martin Luther King Stories" packet.

I use Martin’s Big Words, by Doreen Rapport to introduce his life.  Ms Rappaport has taken the words of MLK and woven in her own, creating an easy-to-understand book for youngsters.

My students also enjoy Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches. It’s the perfect illustration of how unfair and ridiculous prejudice is.

What if the Zebra’s Lost Their Stripes is another favorite, as well as The Crayon Box that Talked, and Sesame Street’s We’re Different, We’re the Same. The packet includes a list of 24 other favorites.

Later, we discuss words like discrimination, prejudice, injustice, unfairness, race, diversity etc.
After reading the books, and referring to the stories, my students understand more clearing these difficult concepts. 

Our discussion takes us through connections that we can make with the stories and characters. (Text to Self, Text to Text, and Text to World)
I’ve included worksheets for this that can be done as a whole group, or individual activity.

Encourage students to use some of the “big words” you’ve discussed. I designed this word work packet to reinforce that new vocabulary. Pick and choose what’s appropriate for your kiddos.
The packet also includes: Worksheets, a word search, student-made dictionary, plus 63 trace & write word cards.

From Dr. King’s words, and our word work, we turn to their personal hopes and dreams for the future. They express things in their own words (big and small) through writing prompts and craftivities.  

The "67 Martin Luther King Writing Prompts"   packet is loaded with ideas.  I truly believe that if you provide students with interesting and intriguing prompts, they’ll get excited and want to get right down to the business of writing.

To jump start their thoughts, I’ve included 2 Venn diagrams, which are a quick, easy and fun way to introduce comparison and contrast.
There’s also a set of four, thought-provoking, poster-like worksheets, as well as a list of 60 other writing prompts to choose from.

Because I find quotations very motivational, I often use them to provoke discussion, which leads to writing what the quote means and if you agree or disagree with it and why.
With this in mind, I’ve included a list of my 35 all-time favorite quotations by Dr. King.

Print a copy and pass it around. Students choose one or two to write about. You could also write one each day on the board. Students comment on it in their writing journals. 

Another quick, easy and fun thing you can do for Martin Luther King Day is an MLK number puzzle. 

If you'd like to mix math with literacy, have children color, cut and glue their puzzle to a sheet of construction paper, leaving a small gap in-between each piece to create a cool mosaic effect, then complete a writing prompt on the back. 

Punch a hole at the top and suspend from the ceiling. There are 31 puzzles to choose from.  They come in black and white as well as color, reinforcing sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10 to 1, plus skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is an MLK crafty pinwheel prompt.

The results are awesome and look complicated, but are very simple.  Just follow my step-by-step picture tutorial.

I used black and white scrapbook paper, but a variety of color options would create vibrant results.  Punch a hole at the top, and suspend from the ceiling. 

If you missed yesterday's blog featuring lots more MLK writing prompt craftivities, simply scroll down.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful MLK Day with your students next week. 

As for me, the wind is howling outside my window, whipping the dusty snow cover into swirling twirling patterns.  A good day to snuggle in and craft, a truly rewarding winter "sport".

"In crafting there are no mistakes.  Just unique creations." -Unknown