jhistory

MINI-HISTORY:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

From Stormie:
In addition to introducing a great man, my own personal teaching goal for this unit is to be positive in my approach and present "black and white" together as was Dr. King's dream:

Room preparation: Hang pictures/posters of Dr. King and his family throughout the room. Yes, it's important to post pictures of people from various cultures throughout the school year, but during this particular unit, post more pictures than usual of Black and White Americans doing things together (especially children) in honor of Dr. King's message. (If you don't have posters, use pictures from magazines, calendars, and the library.)
Discussion: Who was Dr. King?: Begin this discussion by asking the children a "how they would feel if" question (How would you feel if someone said you were not allowed to play with playdoh because you have blonde hair, or you were not allowed to look at storybooks because you have blue eyes, etc). This then leads to explaining that some children once were (and sometimes still are) not allowed to do things other children did because their skin was a different color. After more discussion, introduce Dr. King as being someone who tried to get people who were doing these wrong things to stop, and that's why we celebrate his birthday.
Play audio and/or video of Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech so children can hear his voice and know that he was real: I believe they can especially understand when Dr. King says, "I have a dream that one day.........little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together."
Songs:
**Sing "Happy Birthday" to Dr. King.
**Sing this song:

Let's Be Friends
by Jackie Silberg
(Tune: London Bridges) Let's be friends with one another, one another, one another, Let's be friends with one another, Let's be friends today. I can wave to a friend, wave to a friend, wave to a friend I can wave to a friend, Let's be friends today. Other verses: laugh with a friend, hug a friend, smile at a friend, and/or have children think of what we can do with friends before singing the words.

Activities:
**Black and White Collages:
1. Provide children with black and white paper. They tear black pieces for gluing on white paper and white pieces for gluing on black paper. All the while, discuss how the torn pieces are all different -- just like people. Discuss how good black and white looks together.
2. Let children cut pictures of Black and White Americans from magazines and glue them on paper along with beautiful black velvet scraps and white satin pieces (or cotton). Talk about how the velvet is black and the satin is white but both are nice -- just like people. At grouptime, let children name (or find in the classroom) objects that are both black and white -- a team, if you will. Discuss the items, always coming back to the point -- black and white people need each other too.
**Piano Keyboard: The song "Ebony and Ivory" gave me this idea: Let children see and experiment with a piano keyboard, listening to both sets of keys. Talk about how the black and white keys need each other to make beautiful music -- just like all colors of people need each other to make a beautiful world.
**Puzzles: In advance, glue a sheet of black and a sheet of white paper on cardboard. Once it's dry, draw irregular shapes on it, forming puzzle pieces. Try drawing in such a way that the pieces that will interlock are both black and white. Cut out the pieces then let children put the "puzzles" together during Free Choice Play. Again, notice how good the black and white pieces look together once the puzzle is completed.

Story: Read "Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King" by Jean Marzollo; illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney. This book tells young children about Dr. King's desire for peace with all men and it celebrates his accomplishments.

Snack: Let children layer spoonfuls of chocolate and banana (or vanilla) puddings into their bowls. How beautiful they look together! I love how both of them taste too even though one is banana and one is chocolate! People can be of different colors too but that's what makes the world a neat place!

*From Karen
Hello Stormie - There is a wonderful children's song on the "Greg and Steve" tape "Holidays and Special Times" called "A Man Named King." It's a beautiful piece of music, and in the middle, they break and have a few lines of "I have a dream" ... in King's voice. My children really love it and the message is wonderful.
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Reminder from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here to check them out.

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