Martin Luther King Jr. day is this Monday. As we enjoy the long weekend, let us all remember to be extra patient with others, exhibit kindness to strangers or even spend the day volunteering. Take the time to teach your children how a great man changed the world, over the three day weekend, with some crafty projects.
I Have a Dream Jar
Break out some acrylic paint, ribbon and glitter and let your kids go crazy decorating a large mason jar. While the jar dries, cut out strips of construction paper. Next, work together to come up with some random acts of kindness, easy enough for anyone to do (See ideas below) and write each one down on a strip of paper. Fill the jar up with the good deeds and make a point to let the whole family pick out a daily good deed every day, until it’s time to refill.
- Open the door for someone.
- Give someone a compliment
- Bring flowers to a neighbor.
- Pay someone a compliment.
- Text a friend to say you’re thinking of them.
- Give away clothing
- Send a card to a relative you don’t see much
- Volunteer at an animal shelter.
- Help an elderly neighbor with chores
- Give someone you love an unexpected hug.
- Shovel someone’s walk or driveway or rake leaves.
Change the World Globe
Create a beautiful customized globe, using paper mache and a little imagination. First, gather up a bunch of old newspapers. Use one newspaper to cover the work area, as this can be messy. Next, cut up 7-10 pages of newspaper into long strips. Blow up a balloon to the desired size of the globe. Whisk together 1 part flour to 1 1/2 parts of water to form a mache paste. Dip the newspaper strips into the mixture, layering along the balloon until the sphere is completely covered. Allow ample dry time (12-24 hours). After the paper mache globe has dried, take a pin to the balloon, to deflate and discard. Let the kids paint the world as they see fit. After the paint has dried, let your kids decide how they will change the world and paint their words across the globe. *This project is long enough to sneak a lesson about all Martin Luther King Jr. did to make the world a better place.
Unity Hand Dishes
In a large bowl add 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of flour. Stir 1/2 cup of water into the bowl slowly until the mixture is a firm, play dough like consistency. Add more flour to the mixture if it is too sticky. Knead the dough and roll out two squares the size of your children’s hands. Use a pencil or a marker to trace the shape of each hand onto the two squares. Cut out the hand shapes with a butter knife. Use a round bowl to press the hands over, to create a dip in each hand. Next dry the hands in the microwave for three minutes or in oven at 200 degrees for a three hours.
Once the hands have dried, let your children paint them different colors (to teach diversity). Use a sharpie marker to write a special message on each hand, such as a famous quote for Martin Luther King or keep it simple, with Love, Peace & Unity. Tip: use metallic gold and silver paint for the hands to create a finished product, similar to the Gold palm dish that retails for $395 at Neiman Marcus!