I always struggle to find the best activities for my students when it comes to history. I want to make sure that whatever topic is being discussed, they are getting accurate and unbiased information. This is why I worked exhaustively to create Black history units – for not only my own use but to share with other educators as well. Today I’m sharing my newest unit, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. activities for kindergarten, first, second, and third grade. You can grab all of these activities HERE. Check out out the activities below!

–>Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Activities<–

This resource contains 13 activities for your Black history unit. Black history is American history and can be taught during any time of the year – not only in February. We hope that this resource will help you to have rich and engaging conversations with your students. It is our goal to help you educate your students on the challenges faced by African Americans, as well as their contributions to our country. We hope you and your students enjoy these Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. activities. 

Slideshow Presentation

Using real-life pictures, this slideshow shares information about the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Use this slideshow to introduce students to Dr. King. The slideshow comes in a PDF format.

Vocabulary Cards & Vocabulary Check

This unit identifies six vocabulary words that can be studied and discussed throughout the unit. Each vocabulary word is defined in a kid-friendly definition. The words are presented in two different formats: word wall card size and a smaller size for students to cut out and store in a sandwich bag. The children can write the definition on the back of each card. There is a worksheet included with a vocabulary check activity.

Posters

There are three posters with information about Dr. King. The first and second poster are cartoon images (both in color and black & white), the last photo is a real-life image of Dr. King. These posters can be hung around in the room or distributed to students.

Emergent Reader

Students can read and color this book, which coordinates well with the slideshow. There is also a color copy of this book that can be printed and laminated to be used in the classroom library.

Reading Passage & Comprehension Check

There are two reading passages and comprehension pages. Use these reading passages during your social studies lesson or integrate social studies into your reading curriculum with these passages. Read these passages together as a class, in groups, or independently depending on the reading level of your students. After your students read each passage,  they will complete a simple comprehension activity that relates to what they have read.

Was – Had – Wanted  Chart

This graphic organizer is for writing down information that the students learn about Dr. King. After spending some time learning about Dr. King, discuss some of the things he “was”, ”had” and “wanted”. This includes his characteristics, achievements and goals. There are several versions of the graphic organizer; use the one that is best for your students. Use the words on the last three pages to create an anchor chart together with the students.

Word Web

Use this graphic organizer to write down information about Dr. King, such as “civil rights activist”, “Georgia” or “Minister”. This word web can be used as part of the pre-writing process or can be filled out after viewing the slideshow.

Research Report

These research report pages are for the students to document the information they learned about Dr. King.  Use these pages after viewing the slideshow or in combination with the reading passages. Alternatively, students can collect information by working in groups or independently, or reading relevant non-fiction books. These pages can also be used to plan and brainstorm ideas in the pre-writing process.

Writing

There are 20 blank writing pages to choose from. Some pages have a clip art picture of Dr. King, others have real-life images. Students can use the pages with real-life images and write about what they think may be happening in the picture. These pages can be used at the end of the unit to assess what students have learned.

Crossword Puzzle

This crossword puzzle will provide students with a fun and engaging way to review vocabulary words from this unit. Students use the pictures to complete the crossword puzzle. This crossword puzzle is great for early finishers or can be used during small groups, centers, morning work or homework.

Word Search

This is a fun activity for early finishers or can be used during centers, morning work or homework. The words are created in a clear font and words appear across and down only. No words are diagonal, backwards or overlapped. Perfect for students to reinforce their vocabulary words!

Write the Room

Write the room is a favorite in my kindergarten classroom. To prepare this activity, simply print, cut, and laminate the themed cards and then print a recording sheet. Place cards around the room. Students will walk with a clipboard around the room to find the cards. Then they will match the picture on the card to the one of their recording sheets and write the word from the card. There are several different variations of the recording sheet for differentiation.

Craft

This craft is a fun way for the students to display what they have learned. Print one page for each student, then  have them color and cut on the dotted lines. Take one piece of construction paper and fold it into three equal parts. First, glue the words “Who, what, when, where, why” at the top of each page. Then, sort the pictures in the appropriate categories and glue them to the page.

These Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. activities are perfect for teaching your students about the life and achievements of Dr. King. I hope you found these resources useful, let me know which activity you’re looking forward to using in your classroom.

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The post Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Activities for Kindergarten – 3rd Grade first appeared on Smells Like Teach Spirit.

Explaining Memorial Day to your students or children can be a challenge but it can be fun too! We want our children to know why they have the day off of school and understand why we celebrate this day. Memorial Day is a time to honor all those who have died while serving in the armed forces. Teaching about Memorial Day opens the opportunity for many great conversations. Help your students to understand the importance of this day by teaching them the meaning of Memorial Day.

Here are ten simple and easy ways to teach your students about Memorial Day in the classroom:

10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day in the Classroom.

1. Read children’s books about Memorial Day

Children love a good read aloud. Selecting books that capture the meaning of Memorial Day will help children understand the reason we celebrate this day. Click on one of the links below to find a selection of books about Memorial Day.

Children’s Activities & Books for Memorial Day

Top 10 Books for Memorial Day

2. Make Patriotic Crafts

Crafts are always fun for kids and it’s even better when you can tie in some kind of meaning or lesson with the craft. Click on the links below to find some patriotic crafts perfect for Memorial day.

15 Patriotic Crafts for Kids

7 Patriotic Kids Crafts for Memorial Day

3. Sing Patriotic Songs

There’s just something about singing that makes the heart happy. Singing is a great way to learn and memorize new information. There are plenty of of songs to choose from click the link below to find one.

10 Patriotic Songs for Children

Patriotic USA Songs for Kids

4. Attend a Parade

Celebrate Memorial Day with a parade, you can attend one or watch one on television. If you’re not sure if your town has a parade visit vetfiends.com to find out.

5. Visit a Memorial

Visit a memorial with flowers or flags to show honor and respect. Spend time to remember those who died while serving in the armed forces.

I hope you enjoy these simple ideas, if you have any additional ideas for celebrating Memorial Day with children please put them in the comment box below.

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For more ideas and activities on teaching about Memorial day click here!

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Memorial Day Craft and Song for Kids

Materials

• Twine
• Mod Podge
• 3 Glass Jars
• White Paper
• Painters Tape
• Foam Brushes
• Sanding Block
• Star Hole Puncher
• Flowers (fake or real)
• Paint (red, white, blue)

Directions

1. First paint your glass jars.

2. Be creative, if you want to add stripes paint your jar one color and then when it is dry use the painters tape to make stripes. Remove the painters tape before the paint completely dries.

3. When the paint is dry you can use the sanding block to give the jar a distressed look, I decided not to. Next I used the star hole puncher to cut out stars to put on the blue jar.

4. Use Mod Podge and a foam brush to glue the stars to the blue jar. I applied the Mod Podge first, the the stars, and then I put one more layer of Mod Podge on top.

5. Tie a bow at the top of each jar with twine.

6. Take your flowers and cut them the appropriate length so they fit in the jar.

The song we’re sharing today is named “Semper Fidelis” by American composer John Philip Sousa, we also learn about military marching.

Click here to watch our Fun Friday video to learn more!

Share your picture with me on social media if you decide to do this easy Memorial day craft for kids!

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For more ideas and activities on teaching about Memorial day click here!

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The post Fun Fridays with Mrs. Pankau: Memorial Day Craft and Song for Kids first appeared on Smells Like Teach Spirit.

November is here and it’s passing by just as quickly as it came! The days are shorter, it gets darker sooner and with the Thanksgiving holiday it’s a very short month for the kids. Continue reading for Thanksgiving Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade!

Usually we spend November discussing Veterans Day, Turkeys and Thankfulness. Thanksgiving is always such a fun time of the year for my students. There are so many great books, crafts, writing activities, and discussion for this time of year! Keep reading to learn about some of the activities I do with my kindergarteners during this time of the year.

BOOKS

As soon as November hits I change all of our Halloween and Fall books for books about Turkeys and Thanksgiving. The students always get excited when they come back the next day to find new books. We read books about being thankful and we spend some time discussing what exactly thankfulness looks and feels like.

If you’re wondering how I have so many Turkey and Thanksgiving books, I got them from eBay! I searched “Thanksgiving Book Lot for Children” and voilà! I was able to get a package of books for around 15-20 dollars as opposed to buying individual books on Amazon for 3-5 dollars each or hoping to stumble upon some at the Goodwill. These books will compliment your thanksgiving activities for kindergarten very well!

ANCHOR CHARTS

Anchor charts are my favorite things to use with my kindergartners, they are a great way to provide a visual representation of concepts being taught. Afterwards, we make an a list of all the things we are thankful for. I model for my students for by naming a few things I am thankful for. Then I have the students turn and talk with a partner and share what they are thankful for. Then I call on 15-16 students to share with the class what they are thankful for. There are so many different anchor charts that you can find on Pinterest that will go along with your Thanksgiving Activities for Kindergarten.

EMERGENT READERS

By this time of year I have a good number of students who are able to read simple sight words and use the pictures in books as clues to read new words. I created a mini book/emergent reader for my students to reinforce they skills they have learned so far this year.

My students loved reading and sharing what they were thankful for with this emergent reader. This booklet is 10-12 pages in length, with new vocabulary, predictable text patterns, picture supports as well as familiar sight words.

This emergent reader will go along great with your Thanksgiving unit. Use this emergent readers in guided reading, small groups, or send home to reinforce reading skills. There are both color and black & white copies!

If you’re interested in this emergent reader, click here!

WRITING

After we have read a few books about being thankful, we write about being thankful. By this point the children are clear regarding the definition of “thankfulness” and are able to state what they are thankful for.

I wanted to create a resource for my students that allowed them to share what they were thankful for so I created a collection of differentiated writing prompts that served this propose. These writing prompts are for students who are not yet writing as well as those who are writing independently without sentence starters. When the students began writing about what they were thankful for I displaced a page from the Thanksgiving Writing Prompts on the SmartBoard. The students looked at the pictures and turned and talked with a partner what they were most thankful for.

What I like about these writing prompts is that there is something for every student. The students are able to communicate what they are thankful for no matter what their ability. Take a look at the pictures below to view the differentiation.

Click here to view all the pages of this resource!

TURKEYS

We also do a unit on Turkeys, A Dab of Glue has a great resource that I like using, click here to check it out. In our classroom the students decorate their own turkey feathers and we make a turkey for our classroom. In the past I’ve sent the feather home as an activity for the parents and students to complete together but the feathers can also be decorated at school. I used butcher paper to make the turkey body and construction paper to make the face, then I laminated it so I can use it year after year. The turkey feathers are cut out from 18 by 12 inch construction paper. I love seeing each student’s designs!

TURKEY IN DISGUISE

My school does “Turkey in Disguise”, which is where the students are given a picture of a Turkey and they have to decorate the turkey so it does not look like a Turkey. This activity was sent home during Veterans day weekend as a family project. I can’t believe how creative all of my students were, they all turned out great!

And that’s pretty much everything we do! I’d love to know what you do in your classroom. Comment below and let me know what kind of activities you plan on doing with your students.

For more ideas and activities from our unit themes click here!

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