Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Preschoolers

12/15/2023

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Preschoolers

As we step into the new year, there's a special day on the horizon that invites us to explore profound lessons of equality, justice, and kindness with our little ones. Martin Luther King Jr. Day serves as a poignant reminder to make the world a better place. For preschoolers, breaking down the big concepts into small lessons can make a great impact. We can begin by introducing who Martin Luther King Jr was and how he had great hopes and dreams for the world children grew up in. In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of introducing preschoolers to the legacy of Dr. King through age-appropriate activities.

Why Teach Martin Luther King Jr. to Preschoolers?

Learning about Martin Luther King Jr. helps preschoolers appreciate and celebrate diversity. It offers an opportunity to explore differences in a positive light, emphasizing that every person deserves respect and kindness.

While the beliefs and concepts that Martin Luther King Jr. stood behind can be complex for our preschool students, this is an incredible opportunity to teach about the importance of love and acceptance and putting kindness at the forefront of our actions.

Storytime with Dr. King

Preschoolers are often visual learners, and books provide colorful illustrations and images that help bring historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. to life.

Children's books are designed with age-appropriate language and simplified narratives, making it easier for preschoolers to grasp the essential ideas and concepts associated with Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy.

Here are some book recommendations we have to read with your preschool students:

I Am Martin Luther King Jr. is an informative picture book that really allows preschoolers to understand history in an easy way.

My Little Golden Book about Martin Luther King Jr. is another great picture book geared towards younger children. The illustrations and informative text gives preschoolers a history lesson that is less complex.

Goodnight Martin Luther King Jr is a fun and simple book to give preschoolers context about MLK and his impact on the world. Another great book to include in your rotation or to recommend to parents.

More MLK book recommendations:

A picture book of Martin Luther King Jr. by David A. Adler
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore
Martin Luther King Jr by Isabel Sanchez
Martin Luther King Jr by Elizabeth Cook
Martin Luther King Jr Day by Melissa Ferguson
Who Was Martin Luther King Jr by Lisbeth Kaiser
I Am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer
All Are Welcome by Alexandria Penfold
Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton
That is my Dream by Langston Hughes
Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara

Incorporating Kindness Books is another great way to tie in MLK Jr and his impact on the world and his beliefs in equality for all.

Suggested Preschool Activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"I Have A Dream Craft"

MLK Jr had a dream that he eloquently shared in his famous “I have a Dream,” speech. He worked hard towards bringing that dream to life. Ask your preschoolers about how they would dream of making the world a better place.

Provide your preschoolers with:

Paper, crayons/markers, craft sticks
Encourage preschoolers to create their own "I Have a Dream" signs with drawings and simple phrases

Collaborative Activities for Students to Create Together

Make a Unity Paper Chain

Encourage your preschool students to create a unity chain with the following materials and instructions.

Cut strips of colored paper.
Have each child decorate a strip with drawings or messages.
Connect the strips to create a paper chain, symbolizing unity and interconnectedness.

Handprint Wreath

Add to your classroom decorations by creating a classroom handprint wreath.

Trace and cut out handprints from colored construction paper.
Decorate each handprint with drawings or messages.
Arrange and glue the handprints in a circle to create a unity wreath.

Unity Collage

Talk to your preschoolers about the word unity and what it means. Give them different examples and allow them to create their own collage.

Provide magazines, colored paper, and glue.
Encourage children to cut out pictures of diverse individuals and elements that represent unity.
Create a collage on a large poster board.

Make Friendship Bracelets

Dr. King stood for kindness and truly wanted the world to be a place where we are all friends. Allow your preschoolers the chance to make friendship bracelets for their peers. Provide them with different beads, and yarn allowing them to string their beads reminding them that each bead represents a friend in the group. Exchange bracelets with classmates to strengthen the sense of unity.
Teacher Tip: Younger preschoolers can benefit from using a firmer base such as a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) and pony beads.

Unity Puzzle

Cut out puzzle pieces from colored paper or cardboard.
Have each child decorate a puzzle piece with drawings or their name.
Put together and display as a reminder how individually we all are put together to make one big place.
You can also grab a blank puzzle piece (snag a free print out on Google) and sit with preschoolers to ask how they can bring peace into the world. Preschoolers can color or decorate their pieces, and once every student has completed their pieces put together one big classroom peace puzzle.

Collaborative Canvas Art

Provide a large canvas or poster board. Let each child contribute to the artwork by painting or drawing, creating a collaborative masterpiece.

Rainbow Handprint Banner

Trace and cut out handprints from colored paper.

Arrange the handprints to form a rainbow and glue them together.
Discuss how each handprint is unique but contributes to the beauty of the rainbow.

What's Inside of an Egg Lesson

Crack them open, and discuss their observations, noting how they look the same on the inside—a simple but highly effective visual lesson for preschoolers.

Unity Flower Garden

Cut out flower shapes from construction paper.
Have children decorate the flowers and write their names on each one.
Arrange the flowers in a garden display to symbolize unity.

Kindness Chain

Using strips of paper and markers have each child write an act of kindness on a strip of paper. Connect the strips to create a kindness chain.

Martin Luther King Jr. Printable Activities

Grab this Free Martin Luther King Jr. Activity Set that contains a variety of preschool hands on activities for your little learners. This set is part of our "Important People" series. Inside you'll find, MLK's biography, a peace and love patterning activity, and collaborative heart mosaic building activity that encourages your students to work together to create something beautiful.

Free Martin Luther King Activity Set

Create a Unity Sand Jar

Discuss unity while layering different colors of sand into a jar, creating a visual representation of diversity. This serves as a great reminder of diversity and equality to display in your classroom.

"I am Special" Mirror Craft

Encourage children to decorate mirrors with positive affirmations, fostering a sense of self-worth and unity.

Ways to Promote Unity, Equality and Kindness in Your Program

Exploring ways to promote unity, equality, and kindness in your preschool programs is crucial for creating a positive and inclusive environment. By incorporating strategies that encourage teamwork, fairness, and empathy, you're not only enhancing the learning experience for young children but also instilling fundamental values that contribute to positive social interactions and a sense of belonging.

Diverse Storytime:
Read books that feature characters from various backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. Choose stories that highlight themes of fairness, friendship, and acceptance.
Multicultural Activities:
Incorporate multicultural activities and crafts that celebrate diversity. Encourage children to create art that reflects their unique backgrounds, allowing them to appreciate and learn from one another.
Role-Playing Games:
Engage preschoolers in role-playing scenarios that emphasize equality and fairness. Use simple stories or situations where characters share, take turns, and treat each other kindly.
Equal Opportunities for Play:
Ensure that all children have equal access to toys, materials, and play spaces. Encourage sharing and taking turns, reinforcing the idea that everyone deserves the same opportunities.
Celebrate Differences:
Emphasize the beauty of differences by celebrating various holidays, traditions, and customs within the classroom. Invite families to share their unique traditions, fostering a sense of appreciation for diversity.
Inclusive Classroom Decor:
Display inclusive and diverse images, posters, and materials in the classroom. This visually reinforces the idea that everyone is welcome and valued.
Language Matters:
Be mindful of the language used in the classroom. Avoid stereotypes and promote inclusive language. Encourage children to use words that celebrate similarities and differences.
Equality Discussions:
Engage preschoolers in simple discussions about equality. Use age-appropriate language to explain that everyone is different, and those differences make the world interesting and special. Suggest reading the book "The World Needs who you were made to be" and linking to our companion.
Interactive Songs:
Incorporate songs and rhymes that celebrate diversity and equality. Songs with simple lyrics that emphasize friendship and cooperation can leave a lasting impression on young minds.
Collaborative Art Projects:
Plan art projects that require collaboration and teamwork. Working together on a group mural or collage reinforces the idea that everyone's contribution is valuable.
Equality Pledge:
Create a simple class pledge that emphasizes treating everyone with kindness and fairness. Repeat the pledge regularly to reinforce the values of equality. Create the pledge together as a class.

Role Models:
Introduce preschoolers to diverse role models from different walks of life. Share stories about historical figures, community leaders, and everyday heroes who have championed equality. Introduce preschoolers to other black inventors and scientists through hands-on activities.

Black Inventors and Scientists Activities

Sharing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Message Through Songs and Educational Videos

Field Trips and Guest Speakers:
Arrange field trips or invite guest speakers who can share experiences related to equality and diversity. This firsthand exposure can make a lasting impact on preschoolers.
Problem-Solving Activities:
Introduce problem-solving activities that require cooperation and teamwork. Emphasize the idea that solutions are reached by working together and respecting each other's ideas.
Parent Involvement:
Involve parents in discussions and activities related to equality. Share resources or book recommendations with parents to continue the conversation at home.

Youtube videos are a great way to take a visual dive into history lessons in a much easier to understand way for preschoolers. They are also a great way to cater to your visual and auditory learners. We've included links to a few of our favorites.

Sesame Street MLK Video.
MLK Jr PBS Kids
Martin Luther King Song by the Kiboomers
Story of MLK Jr by Kid President

Introducing preschoolers to the life and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. is a crucial step in nurturing compassionate, open-minded individuals from an early age. By weaving age-appropriate activities and stories into their educational journey, we lay the foundation for values such as equality, kindness, and understanding

Share some of your favorite Martin Luther King Jr activities in the comments below.