Martin Luther King Jr. Day Craft Ideas

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - sometimes referred to as Civil Rights Day, is a uniquely American holiday. MLK Day marks the birth date of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born January 15, 1929, and is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with your kids by creating some of these entertaining and educational craft projects.

Let freedom ring in your home on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by creating a freedom bell with your children.

What you will need:

Poster board

Aluminum foil

Pencil

Draw a bell shape onto the poster board. If you don't want to draw one freehand, click here for a pattern you can print out and trace. Have your child cut the bell out of the poster board and then cover it with the aluminum foil. Your child can then write the word Freedom into the foil using the pencil. Discuss Reverend King's famous speech.

What is your child's dream? Your children will have fun creating this keepsake-worthy Martin Luther King Jr. Day craft.

What you will need:

Poster board or blue construction paper

Glue

Cotton balls

Crayons, markers or colored pencils

Have your child draw an outline of a cloud on the poster board or construction paper and then fill the outline with glued on cotton balls. At the top of the picture, ask your child to write "I Have a Dream". Beneath the cloud ask them to write about what they would like to be when they grow up. Talk with your child about how fortunate we are that here in the United States children can grow up to become whatever they dream of being.

Show your children that difference makes beauty with this Martin Luther King Jr. Day craft that even little hands can create.

What you will need:

One half sheet of black construction paper

One half sheet of white construction paper

One sheet of any color construction paper or colored poster board

Glue

Instruct your child to tear both the black and white paper into small pieces, in any shape they desire. After they have torn up both pieces, have them glue the black and white shapes onto the colored paper or poster board, wherever they want. Once they have created their artwork, talk about how much more interesting and beautiful the results are compared to the plain pieces of paper they started with. Explain that it takes all different shapes, sizes and colors to create the beautiful artwork, just as it takes all different shapes, sizes and colors of people to make up the beautiful world we live in!