Many people were involved in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became the most famous face of that movement. His speeches, most famous of all being “I Have a Dream,” rallied people into action to create fundamental changes in how people of color were treated under the law. Separate but equal became just equal.
Because of Dr. King's rallying cries and nonviolent protests, people of color were finally able to sit where they wanted to on the bus and at the lunch counter, they could drink at the same water fountain or use the same restroom as whites. Also, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was created, ensuring people of color could vote without unnecessary obstacles. We celebrate Dr. King on the third Monday of January every year as a tribute to him, to remember his great accomplishments, and to use the day as a reflection of how far we have come and what we can do to carry on his dream into the future.
Before you get started on the craft, go to Gale in Context: Elementary and look up Martin Luther King, Jr. Read an article about his life and deeds, then watch the video of Dr. King giving his powerful speech, “I Have a Dream,” located at the bottom of the screen.
This craft project is inspired by a line in “I Have a Dream:” “I have a dream that one day… little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”
Let's begin! First, gather your supplies. You will need:
- Red paper for the heart, a lighter colored paper for the background, and paper in multiple colors for the hands.
- Glue
- Scissors
- A marker, pen, or crayon
- Optionally, a foam brush and nontoxic paint in various colors to make handprints, if you have a younger child who wants to join in.
- Turn the red paper on its side and fold it in half, lengthwise.
- Draw half of a heart along the folded side of the paper.
- Cut along the line.
- Unfold. Now you have a heart!
- Glue the heart to the center of your background paper.
- You have a heart on a piece of paper!
- Write "I have a dream" at the bottom of the page.
- Trace your hands on different colors of paper.
- Cut out the hands.
- Glue the hands onto the paper, around the heart.
- Cut off any excess paper. This is where little ones can put handprints on the page.
- VOILA! You are finished...almost.
Now, turn that paper over. With the writing tool of your choice, write “Dear Dr. King” at the top. Using what you have learned about Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and activism, write a letter to Dr. King about what he means to you, and how you plan to continue his work and keep his dream alive.
For more information about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , check out one of the books below. Just click on the cover to bring you to the catalog, so you can place a copy on hold or to see which copies are availiable at the library closest to you: