In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s essential for elementary teachers to impart lessons of kindness and community to their students. Dr. King’s legacy is not only about equality and justice but also about the small acts of kindness that can make a significant impact. This blog post introduces a simple, no-prep lesson plan centered around a free elementary MLK Day Craft.
The Power of Kindness
Teaching kindness in the classroom is pivotal. It not only honors Dr. King’s legacy but also cultivates a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment. This lesson plan is designed to help students understand and practice kindness in various aspects of their lives.
Lesson Plan Overview
Free Elementary MLK Day Craft: Acts of Kindness
Objective: Students will explore the concept of kindness and demonstrate it in different areas: to themselves, classmates, family, and community.
Materials: ‘Acts of Kindness’ printable PDF craft, coloring materials, scissors, glue.
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Introduction to Martin Luther King Jr. Day (10 minutes)
Begin the lesson by briefly discussing the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Highlight Dr. King’s messages of kindness, compassion, and community.
Discussing Acts of Kindness (5 minutes)
Engage students in a discussion about what kindness means. Ask them to share examples of kind acts they’ve seen or done. This discussion sets the tone for the craft activity.
Craft Activity: Acts of Kindness (20 minutes)
- Craft Explanation: Explain the ‘Acts of Kindness’ craft. Each student will receive a three-page printable representing different areas of kindness.
- Crafting Process: Students will write or draw specific acts of kindness on each graphic: self-kindness, kindness to a classmate, kindness at home, and kindness in the community.
- Assembly: Students will then cut out their graphics and link them together. This represents how individual acts of kindness create a strong, interconnected community.
Reflecting and Sharing (10 minutes)
After completing the craft, allow students to share their acts of kindness. Encourage them to discuss how they can implement these acts in their daily lives.
No-Prep Activity Ideas
To extend the lesson, consider these simple activities:
- Kindness Diary: Students can keep a diary of kind acts they perform or witness over a week.
- Classroom Kindness Tree: Create a tree on a bulletin board where students can add leaves for each act of kindness they observe.
- Kindness Role-Playing: Engage students in role-playing scenarios to practice kindness in different situations.
Conclusion
This ‘Acts of Kindness’ craft for MLK Day is not only a fun activity but also a meaningful way to teach elementary students about kindness and community. It’s a great opportunity to instill values that align with Dr. King’s teachings and to encourage students to be active, compassionate members of their community.
Sample Video
Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!
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Teaching Elementary Students to Understand and Manage Their Feelings
