The Best MLK Jr Activities for Kindergarten and Preschool

Young children will enjoy learning about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., especially when lessons are hands-on, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate. Every January, kindergarten teachers look for Martin Luther King activities for kindergarten that honor this important historical figure while still making the content accessible to young learners. We have really enjoyed studying the life of Martin Luther King in my classroom so I’m excited to share how we celebrate the life of Dr. King in my classroom with a group of young students.

Today I’m sharing my favorite MLK Day teaching ideas, writing activities, book recommendations, and simple projects to help your students understand concepts like kindness, fairness, social justice, and equal rights in a gentle and age-appropriate way. Whether you teach preschool children, kindergarten, 1st grade, special education, or new readers, these MLK Jr. Day ideas are perfect for celebrating this special day with purpose.

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Are Young Students Really Ready for MLK Jr. Activities?

This question comes up every single year: “Are kindergarteners too young to learn about the Civil Rights Movement?”

I deeply believe the answer is no. In fact, younger kids often understand fairness better than adults. They notice when something is not right. They speak up when something feels unfair. They naturally see people as good friends, not as different because of their skin color, eye color, or background. When we introduce Martin Luther King Jr. activities in January, we’re not just teaching dates and historical facts. We’re building empathy. We’re helping children see that their actions can make the world a better place.

Of course, the key is handling the story of Martin Luther King Jr. with care. We focus on his message, his dream, and the beautiful idea that people should not be judged by the color of their skin. We celebrate him as a civil rights leader and a great man who used his voice to inspire positive change in the United States. Every year I look for new ways to incorporate Martin Luther King Jr. activities. I’ve found that Scholastic often produces some really great magazines for kids and I’ve saved them throughout the year. I’ve used them in a variety of different ways with students from 2nd grade to my Parent English class! You can look for these during Black History Month if you’re interested in adding some to your favorite books for this time of year.

A Great Way to Begin Your MLK Jr. Day Lessons

I always begin MLK Jr. lessons during the first weeks of January, leading up to the third Monday of January, which is the federal holiday honoring him. This is a great time to introduce:

• A picture book of Martin Luther King
• Class discussions
• Simple crafts
• MLK writing activities
• Real-life photos
• Virtual field trip videos
• Free printables
• Dream clouds
• Easy fine motor crafts
• Interactive resources or pre-made digital activities

We keep everything extremely developmentally appropriate especially for kindergarten, preschool, and first grade kids.

One wonderful way to begin? Circle time! I think this is truly the best time to help them understand the life of Dr. King before they begin to write about the topic. You can be right there with them in a trusted space to help them understand such a big impactful concept.

Circle Discussion: A Perfect Introduction for Young Learners

Gather your students in a circle on the carpet and start with curiosity:

“Today we’re learning about someone very important…”“He was a leader who helped make our country a better place…”“He believed everyone should be treated fairly…”

I explain that when Dr. King was a boy, people were separated by skin color. Children went to different schools, rode different buses, and even drank from different water fountains.

The reactions from young children are always the same:“That’s not fair!”“But we’re all the same!”
“Why would they do that?”

Their passion is sincere and honestly, it gives me chills every year.

I play short YouTube videos, share real-life photos, and show them a picture book biography or excerpts from Martin’s Big Words, one of the best picture books for young students. It’s beautifully written and makes Dr. King’s big ideas accessible to young readers. Be sure to preview any YouTube videos before you show them to your students. This is always important and a good practice anytime you show a video in front of your students. I’m constantly worried about what might show up!

Kindergarten MLK Activities That Build Understanding

Below are some of my favorite Martin Luther King activities for kindergarten. These connect to social studies, writing, fine motor skills, and even early literacy.

1. Beautiful Skin Tone Fingerprint Craft (Fun, Meaningful & Classroom-Favorite)

This is one of my favorite Martin Luther King crafts because it is so symbolic and simple. You’ll need:

• Ink pads in several colors
• A piece of paper with a heart, dove, or earth template
• Blue dots or labels for names (optional)
• Wipes, because tiny fingers and ink will equal kindergarten chaos

At first, students walk around the room adding their fingerprints and names to each friend’s picture. Later, we talk about how our fingerprints are all different and how all skin colors are beautiful.

One of my kindergarten students once said, “The different colors represent the different colors of our skin.” 

2. Earth Craft With Paper Dolls (Great Activity for Fine Motor Skills)

This fun craft ties perfectly into Dr. King’s message about helping the world.Students paint or color an earth, then cut and color paper dolls holding hands. It’s a simple project with a big impact and great fine motor practice. I will tell you that this is one of those fun activities that will take some time. The kids really enjoy working on it and then sharing the finished projects with friends!

3. Dream Clouds Writing Activity (Perfect for New Readers & Young Writers)

Every year, we write our own “dreams” just like Dr. King. Then students can share how they can help make the world a better place:

“I dream that everyone has a friend.”

“I dream that people are kind.”

“I dream that no one is left out.”

These look adorable on a bulletin board and are easy to differentiate for preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, or special education. Out of all of the different activities I’m sharing, this is the one that really lets them use their imagination and think about how they can make an impact. Make sure before you do this activity, that you spend time really helping them understand MLK Jr.s dream and how it changed the world.

4. Class Book About the Life of Dr. King

Creating a class book is a great way to reinforce comprehension. Begin by asking students to write and illustrate pages about:

• MLK Jr.’s life
• His dream speech
• Why he is an important historical figure
• How he made the world a better place

Of course, this simple writing project works beautifully as January morning work or a literacy center. I always love to add our class books to our classroom library during this unit study. The kids love to check them out. I see them constantly rereading them during our independent reading time and it really increases engagement when they each had a hand in creating the book. 

A Helpful Resource to Save You Time

If you are looking for crafts, activity pages, writing prompts, and real-time student data options all in one place, you’ll love this gentle, age-appropriate resource:

Martin Luther King Jr. Activities and Crafts

It includes:

• Picture cards
• Discussion starters
• Printable crafts
• Class book pages
• Dream writing templates
• Earth craft pieces
• MLK Jr. coloring pages
• Detailed lesson plans
• And more

It’s an easy way to prep meaningful lessons without reinventing the wheel especially during a busy month like January.

Don’t Miss This Free MLK Photo Card Template!

I have to share one more of our favorite Martin Luther King Jr. activities. People are constantly asking me how I was able to get my students into a perfect heart shape. Drumroll… The secret is chalk! I drew a heart on the rug using chalk then asked my students to place their fingertips on the chalk. We took some photos with their heads down at first. (I stood on a chair to get a really good overhead shot.) Then I asked them to all flip over so I could see their grinning and giggling faces! I’ve blown these up into poster sizes and hung them in the classroom because they are so very cute!

Free Photo Card Templates for MLK Jr. Day

Use it for:
✔ MLK Day thank-you notes

✔ Kindness cards

✔ Day of service projects

✔ Bulletin board displays

✔ Home-school connections

Young children LOVE making these photo cards and families treasure them. When you download the template, you will see that there are so many options. You can create them for Valentine’s Day, administration, someone who volunteered in your classroom, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and so many other occasions! 

Additional Teaching Ideas for MLK Jr. Day

Here are even more MLK Day activities that work well with elementary students, older students, or mixed-age groups:

• Virtual field trip to important MLK landmarks
• Simple timeline of MLK Jr.’s life
• Comparing then vs. now with a T-chart
• Sorting pictures by “fair” and “unfair”
• Partner discussions about being a good friend
• Role-playing problem-solving scenarios
• Using picture books like Martin’s Big Words or other great books about equality

All of these encourage empathy, reflection, and meaningful conversations.

Ready to Teach About Dr. King With Confidence?

If you’re teaching MLK lessons in January, this is a great time to gather your materials, choose your favorite picture books, and plan engaging hands-on activities.

Your students will walk away understanding that they, too, can take the first step toward making the world a kinder place. You’ll love seeing your students have those ah-ha moments during this meaningful unit!

Grab the MLK resource here:
Martin Luther King Jr. Activities and Crafts

First, don’t forget your freebie:
MLK Photo Card Templates (Free)

Planning Ahead? Groundhog Day Is Coming!

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Once January wraps up, Groundhog Day is right around the corner. If you’re looking for a fun way to transition into February, here’s a resource your students will love:

Groundhog Day Activities, Craft, Writing Prompts & Class Book

It’s packed with creative activities that make February 2nd a breeze. Let me just tell you that groundhogs are the most fascinating creatures to study! You can read all about the fun we have together here and here. Don’t forget the peek-a-boo groundhog craft!

​Happy teaching and parenting this week, friends!