Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lesson Activities
Martin Luther King Jr. is an inspirational leader, and it is no wonder that we take a day to honor what he stands for and represents. In honor of Dr. King, we saw it fit to learn about good examples of world leaders. Our unit focus this month is on biographies, which fit perfectly. Using the Epic! reading app we quickly pulled up biographies on the spot, and were able to read a wide variety of role models that displayed good leadership. To prepare for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here are some lesson activities that we incorporated:
- Each day we read one biography of a leader. We started off with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a tribute to his holiday.
- Together we talked about his life: What Kids Need to Know About Martin Luther King Jr. Day (There are basic facts about Dr. King as well as additional learning resources here).
- After reading several biographies during the month, we brainstormed traits of good leaders. The kids made a graphic organizer or checklist.
- We created a mini book on one leader of the child’s choosing.
- Each child published their story and we read them aloud.
- To make stronger connections to their real world, we also came up with a list of leaders in their community or people that they actually knew who they consider as leaders.
Good leaders inspire others
After reading about so many honorable leaders, it inspired my daughter to spread goodness in her community. While not everyone is a born leader, here are ways to instill traits of good leaders in children:
- Model the behavior
- Encourage activities and extracurricular activities with teams and groups. It teaches teamwork, cooperation, and leadership.
- Do volunteer services. This shows generosity, kindness, and provides good role models for those organizing these services.
- Provide opportunities for the child that require decision-making
- Sign up the child as part of a troop where they learn values such as leadership, independence, and cooperation.
Encouraging leadership is such a vital quality in our youth. I am pleased that my children picked up on the importance of Dr. King and the other leaders we learned about this month. Martin Luther King Jr. among many other leaders are valuable role models to continue to teach our youth to further produce the tradition of greatness in our world.
