Make next Monday a school holiday with meaning and purpose. There are activities, books and media for kids of every age to learn about Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and the Civil Rights movement. Here are a few leads:
• Participate in a day of service. Park and school districts nationwide are coordinating service projects to benefit area agencies (many with drop-off options for children of working parents). Get kids involved in citizen action.
• Head to the library. Your local public library might be hosting readings of books about Dr. King and civil rights, or you can check out a few good age-appropriate titles. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport is a great starting point for younger kids, and Oh, Freedom!: Kids Talk About the Civil Rights Movement with the People Who Made It Happen is an incredible oral history collected by fourth graders.
• Watch a movie or explore the web together. Grade schoolers will enjoy the animated film Our Friend Martin, while March On! And More Stories About African American History is accessible to younger viewers. The Social Studies channel on Brain Pop! features some excellent content on Dr. King and Civil Rights.
What are you doing with your family on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
(Image: Brain Pop!)
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Four-P...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Make Classic Chicken Salad
Well, this year it's also the inauguration, and Obama is still the country's first black president. It's even more significant that inauguration falls on Monday.
Great observation! This year we should all embrace the fundamental changes made to our country because of this man and other brave people. Its going to be a memorable Monday for sure! I'm celebrating by attending a local parade and joining in a community clean up project...in addition to watching the inaguration.
I love Brain Pop. I used it in my classroom many times. They really do a good job of making a topic logical and easy to understand. (I used it for Language Arts.)
Some of the things on Brain Pop are free but others are not. Many times a school will buy a license and place the pass code on the school website.
Tell my employer about the importance of MLK day. I am working on Monday.
I am lucky enough to have an enlightened employer who gives us the day off on MLK day, even though we're in a right-wing enclave in far northern California. I will our local MLK event and watch the inauguration with joy. I will also make an extra donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
MLK Day also means it is the annual Day of Service, so there are many excellent volunteer opportunities around the country. A good way to honor the memory of Dr. King by helping out others.
http://mlkday.gov
We have it easy here in Denver to celebrate - there is the annual Marade (March/Parade/Rally) that begins at the MLK Jr. Statue in City Park then makes it way down Colfax to Civic Center Park. A lot of community groups come out and it is a great experience for the kids to be part of. Will be pushing my son in his stroller again.