Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a nonviolent activist and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. King was famous for his "I Have A Dream" speech (1963) and he was the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize (1964). King is honored on the third Monday in January each year (January 16, 2012).
My young daughters and I like to start MLK Day with the free Martin Luther King Jr. BrainPOP video. Older kids may enjoy the archives at the King Center and the Seattle Times special listed below.
MLK Jr Day Coloring Pages
These are a few of my children's favorite MLK coloring pages.
More Coloring Pages, Puzzles, Crafts, and Activity Sheets
These pages provide MLK Jr. Day sections with a variety of coloring pages, activity sheets, and craft pages.
- Celebrate MLK Jr. Day with printable coloring pages, activity sheets, quizzes, lesson plans, the "I Have A Dream" speech, MLK quotes, and Black History Month resources - Kaboose.com.
- Print out some MLK Jr. Day coloring pages and worksheets, puzzles, reading, and lessons - Apples4theTeacher.com.
- Grab more MLK Jr. Day printables and crafts, puzzles, and cryptograms - Activity Village.
Learn More About Martin Luther King, Jr., and The Civil Rights Movement
One of my favorite resources for MLK Jr. Day is The Seattle Times special interest page for Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement. Features include
- Ten years of readers' comments on MLK's influence in their lives
- A selection of speeches, sermons, and letters
- Quizzes on civil rights and Black history in the Northwest
- A photo gallery
- A biography and timeline
- A study guide, lesson plans, educational activities...
You can explore Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s continuing message of peace further through a History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (begun shortly after his death by assassination), the famous MLK writings and speeches (beyond his most famous "I Have A Dream" speech), and MLK and Black History Month activities for kids (such as a soul food feast, sit-in, or diorama of segregation, as well as children's books and movies.
Coloring pages and other printable activity sheets can make a fun, simple, and easy way to introduce and explore the serious topics of peace, prejudice, tolerance, and civil rights with young children.
You can follow up with books, movies, and other MLK, Civil Rights Movement, and Black History Month theme activities for further exploration and discussion about Dr. King's dream of equality, tolerance, and how we can honor and celebrate his message of peace.
You might also enjoy:
- Timeline of Famous Historic Events in January
- Valentine's Day Printable Coloring Pages and Card Crafts
- Gandhi and Holistic Homeschool
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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