Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January every year - which means it is approaching quickly! You may be wondering how to teach your toddlers or preschoolers about Martin Luther King Day while sparing the deep dive into American History. Martin Luther King Day is a day to celebrate equal rights and peace for all Americans. It's also meant to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (although it's not on his actual birthday).
It is important to introduce Martin Luther King Day to your preschoolers in a developmentally appropriate way because they will learn and soak in the most information this way. Doing crafts, singing songs, and reading books together are all great ways to teach preschoolers about MLK!
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My Pre-K Box is a fun, educational subscription box for preschoolers filled with different Kindergarten readiness activities! Each box is created around a different theme and is focused on play-based learning. Your kids will love exploring new activities each month while practicing math and literacy skills!
This paper plate peace sign craft is a great way to introduce Martin Luther King Day to preschoolers! Take this opportunity to talk to them about why Martin Luther King is an important historical figure and why we celebrate him.
You may also like our FREE printable Martin Luther King Jr. Craft!
Creating the Paper Plate Peace Sign Craft
Supplies:
- Paper plates
- Tape
- Watercolor paint
- Paintbrush
Step 1
Tape a peace sign on the back of the paper plate ensuring all of the edges are pressed down so the paint doesn’t seep through.
Step 2
Have your preschooler paint the paper plate with their watercolors. You can use pretty much any color just avoid using black, brown, or gray to keep the craft vibrant and colorful.
Step 3
Once the paint dries, peel the tape off and carefully outline the peace sign with a black marker.
This is a simple craft but can be very impactful to your preschoolers while they learn about Martin Luther King Day!
Skills
Fine Motor
Painting is a fun and easy way to get your preschoolers to practice their fine motor skills. You can also get them to help peel the tape off the plate once the paint is dry to incorporate more fine motor skills.
Color blending
While painting, some of the colors are sure to mix with other colors on the plate. You can talk about mixing colors together to create new colors.
Extend the Learning
Playing and engaging in hands-on activities are great ways to help your preschooler retain more information. Adding additional things like songs, stories, and crafts while talking to your preschooler about Martin Luther King Jr. can help them better understand why he was an important person. While they are doing the craft you can sing a song about Martin Luther King day or talk to them about heroes or the meaning of peace.
Martin Luther King Day song for preschoolers
Martin Luther King Had a Dream (sung to If You're Happy and You Know It)
Martin Luther King had a dream, yes he did
Martin Luther King had a dream, yes he did
He dreamed we'd live as brothers
Having love for one another
And his dream is still alive through you and me ... you and me!
Discussion prompts Martin Luther King Jr:
- Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to making sure everyone was treated equally
- Martin Luther King Jr. wanted peace and is considered a hero to many which is why he gets his own special day
- Ask them if they have a hero in their life and ask them why they consider that person a hero
Don't forget y FREE printable Martin Luther King Jr. Craft!
Let's Connect!
We absolutely LOVE seeing your preschoolers learning through play! Please take photos and videos of your child creating and displaying their peace sign craft and share them with us on Facebook and Instagram!
Also, if you aren't already, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more fun activities to do at home with your preschooler!
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