Here are inspirational projects that can be a great way to bring some of the beliefs of Martin Luther King to life.
1) An Inspirational Board is a great craft with older kids, or a way to inspire yourself. Print an inspirational quote from Dr. King in a nice font. Place it on a large piece of poster board or cork. Now go through magazines or websites you find inspirational. Choose pictures which inspire you and remind you of the quote. Try ‘I have a dream’ theme, or ‘hatred paralyzes life, love releases it.’
You can choose a wide variety of artwork. You can make the theme your own personal dreams or a testament to the love in your life. You can use inspirational images from history and blend them with your chosen artwork, or you can mix in more quotes.
Hang your scrapbook-style artwork in a place where it can continue to inspire you.
2) A Historical Timeline is a great craft to do with older kids. Create a timeline in paper or poster board for the entire history of the United States. You can begin with 1776 or another date if you prefer. Now research online with your kids to find significant moments in black history. Make sure to include Martin Luther King’s march on Washington and the assassination, but try to see what your children find and place these events along your timeline. This can be a great way to make learning about history fun and start a great dialogue on black history.
3) Coloring Pages are for younger kids, and a great way to learn about Martin Luther King. Find some good coloring sheets online and fill them in together. It is also a good opportunity to discuss King’s history while having fun coloring. To make it a little more interesting you can use watercolors instead of crayons.
4) Peace Sign Mosaics work for even the littlest ones. One of Dr. King’s main messages was the importance of peace, so what a great way to commemorate this by making peace sign mosaics. Cut up colored tissue paper into one inch squares. Print out a paper peace sign. Use a glue stick to apply glue on a section of the peace sign and stick a variety of colored tissue paper to the glue. Continue to add mosaic pieces until the peace sign is completely colored. If you like, you can cut out your peace sign and glue a magnet on the back. Looks great on the fridge!
