We recently celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The third Monday in January is an annual national holiday celebrated across America. Your child might be wondering why they had a day off from school, and it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss the history of the holiday.
When talking to little ones, we must use language and storytelling in a way that they can understand. Start by telling them today is a holiday when we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.!
Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate, someone who stands up for what they believe in, and he used his influence to fight for equality in the United States. He defended civil rights. Civil rights are the rights that protect and guarantee that everyone gets treated equally and fairly. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that everyone, regardless of skin color, should be treated with kindness and respect.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. His dream was to share his vision of a better world where people are judged by their character, not their skin color. He wanted everyone in America to have equal access to education, voting, housing, public facilities, economic opportunities, and much more. He wanted a country with peace, equality, and justice. He shared his dreams with the world by traveling and giving speeches, and leading organized, peaceful protests.
Today, we can focus on values like peace, courage, fairness, empathy, and sharing. Ask your child what their dreams are! While your child may not be able to fully understand the impact and importance of this holiday at their age, it’s important to introduce these concepts in an appropriate way. It’s a great opportunity to teach them the importance of treating everyone fairly, and why it is important. You can integrate fun activities that promote equality and fairness. An example for younger children is the MLK Jr. Day Egg Activity. This activity aims to promote critical thinking surrounding the question: How different are we really? This activity helps answer the question. You’ll need one white egg and one brown egg. Students should investigate the eggs before and after cracking them and record their findings. This activity is a great way to open a dialogue about our similarities and differences!
Here are some more MLK Jr. inspired activities for different age groups. ↓
For grades K-2
We recommend age appropriate books, art, and activities.
- For this age range, we suggest the book I am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos.
- Arts and crafts activities that focus on peace, love, fairness, etc. Click here for some ideas.
For grades 3-5
We recommend educational activities, readings, books, and short videos.
- This lesson includes a video about how Dr. King emphasized his commitment to nonviolence, and an activity with questions. Click here!
- In this video, historians reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. Click here!
For grades 6-8
We recommend reading and watching excerpts, reading non-fiction books, and answering questionnaires.
- This video includes a short excerpt of King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Click here!
- Learn about Dr. Martin Luther King’s efforts to address systemic poverty and economic injustice in the late 1960s with the launch of his Poor People’s Campaign. Click here!
For grades 9-12
We recommend doing deeper research into the life of MLK Jr., analysing the strategies he used, and drawing connections to current and past historical events.
- In this video, historians reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. Click here.
- This video includes real stories from ten attendees of the March on Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1964, where an estimated 10,000 people gathered in a peaceful protest for civil rights. Listen to their stories here.
