Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 15

Offering educational activities for children on the MLK Day of Service

Abstract: 

On the MLK Day of Service, 2002, City Year San Antonio (CYSA) partnered with the City of San Antonio's Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission, and six local AmeriCorps programs to provide educational activities for youth and to enlighten roughly 50,000 people about the civil rights movement. Besides assisting with the city's official Martin Luther King March, CYSA and AmeriCorps members designed and implemented hands-on learning activities to teach young people about the civil rights movement and the legacy of Dr. King. While adults listened to a commemorative program, over 350 children participated in a wide variety of instructive activities.

Issue

On MLK Day, while adults listen to speeches and participate in adult-oriented programs, children can sometimes lose interest, especially if they feel they have no personal connection to this time or events in American history.

Action

City Year San Antonio and AmeriCorps members provided educational materials at the CYSA's Youth Education Station (set up under and around a 20' x 70' tent) to serve the children whose parents and guardians were listening to the commemorative program (a series of speakers and music). They helped youngsters learn about the civil rights movement and the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., through various activities, including:

  • Civil Rights in Sports booth— Children completed a softball throw, football toss, and basketball free-throw course after discussing facts about integration in United States sporting events. Children took away sports trading cards that exemplified the theme of diversity.
  • Freedom windsock— Children made tissue paper windsocks using the colors of the United States flag. Windsocks had a blue top background, white stars, and alternating red and white tails.
  • "I Have a Dream" mobile— Children drew pictures of their dreams and discussed ways to achieve them. Then they cut out their dream pictures and constructed mobiles.
  • Unity Hand wreath— Children drew their hands on different colored paper (to represent diversity). Then they traded hand pictures with other children and formed a circle or "wreath" with their pictures of hands, fingers pointed outward.
  • Peace bingo— Children played bingo on customized bingo cards that were decorated with various symbols and words associated with peace and civil rights leaders who promoted peace.
  • "Let Freedom Ring" bracelet— Children strung small beads onto yarn and tied these around their wrist. Then they discussed ways individuals have fought for their rights throughout the centuries.
  • "My Hero" picture frames— Volunteers provided photocopies of famous civil rights activists. Children selected pictures and were able to learn more about these leaders as they framed the pictures with ice pop craft sticks and decorated them.
  • Fishing for Knowledge game— Children answered questions about civil rights facts for a chance to "go fishing" for a prize.

CYSA and AmeriCorps members were also stationed along the city's official Martin Luther King March route (3.1 miles) and participated in the march as it moved toward Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza where the City of San Antonio's Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission's official commemorative program took place. City Year San Antonio and AmeriCorps members:

  • Held "March Through History" banners detailing the civil rights movement
  • Distributed matching, collectible, "March Through History" cards to marchers along the route, particularly to children and teens
Outcome

Over 350 children were documented as having participated in a minimum of five educational activities provided by the seven AmeriCorps programs. The partnerships that were built enabled all the AmeriCorps members present to see the bigger picture of national service, as well as to live Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of "building the beloved community."

For more information
Authorization: 
Agree

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 15

Trending Articles