Different, But Oh SO Special!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  What an amazing man that inspired us to treat everyone with kindness and respect.  I am proud to celebrate and honor him today!

So you may be home with the kiddo's and thinking...how can I teach them a little about WHY we are home today?!?!  Try this fun and FREE activity.  My class loved it when we did it together!

Grab that box of old and broken crayons that you probably should throw away but haven't.  They are useful, I promise!

At the top of your thick cardstalk paper write...

 "Everyone is special, just like the colors of the rainbow.  Each one makes the rainbow beautiful!"

Talk about how colors make up the rainbow.  Imagine taking one color away from the rainbow, or more profoundly, what would it look like if we took a color away from nature!  Each color has a purpose.  Each color is unique and important!  Line up your color crayons to make a rainbow.  Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Greens, Blues and Purples.

Grab your handy-dandy glue gun and glue the crayons in place.  {if your glue gun looks more loved than mine...You win a prize ;)}  Keep talking to your kids...ask them how WE are different?  Brainstorm with them.  Get them to think!  Some of us have black hair, others have orange, red, yellow(ish) or brown hair.  We are each different, just like the rainbow!

 

Use a blow dryer and watch those colors run down the page.  The kids LOVE this part!  Be sure to cover your work space.  No need to have wax crayon on the carpet permanently.  :)

They did it!  Even though we are ALL different, we are all Oh SO Special!  Thank you Dr. King!  

I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King day is around the corner and I needed a quick way to talk about him with our class.  Sometimes we make things too complicated.  We really can keep it simple.

Step 1

Print or write up a paper similar to this one

Step 2

Have your students brainstorm about something that would make this world a better place.  Things like...I have a dream that all people would be nice, or that people would help each other, or people would share.  Have them write what they want to say in the speech bubble.  If your children can't write in complete sentences yet have them use one main word.   For example: nice, help or share.

Step 3

Make a simple Marin Luther King Jr. face by having the child cut a large circle from brown paper, and white rectangles for his eyes.  Have them color details on the face.

I told you it could be easy!  Dr. King continues to inspire us.  Remember to use activities that practice handwriting, cutting, gluing, and most importantly...thinking!   Can you imagine a world where ALL the people would share?  Makes me happy thinking about it!