Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, Sheri offers ideas for celebrating and learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. at home (and if you're looking to get out of the house, there are several MLK activities included here):

Monday, January 16, is a holiday for our school-aged children. It's important for kids to understand why they have the day off and why we celebrate the birthday of one of America's most influential people. Kids can learn the history behind the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the event surrounding a man who changed history through a variety of activities that can be fun, inspiring, creative, and educational. Below is a sampling of ideas; if you have others, feel free to share in the comments!
Books

Read together! Here's a roundup of recommended books for teaching or introducing Martin Luther King, Jr. to children. Make an activity out of visiting your local library or used/new bookstore to look for titles.

Craft

I like this Decorate with Many Colors craft activity from Family Education.

Online Video, Printables, & Quizzes

Check out this powerful, free 4-minute cartoon video about the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. The site also includes printable activities and online quizzes that can be both fun and educational for your kids.

Songs

For younger kids you may want to introduce Martin Luther King, Jr. through song and rhyme. Check out these lyrics that you can apply to favorite kid's songs such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Yankee Doodle, B-I-N-G-O, Skip To My Lou, and This Old Man.

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