Offering educational activities for children on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Abstract
On the Martin Luther King, Jr., 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 in order to provide educational activities for youth and to enlighten roughly 50,000 people about the Civil Rights movement. Besides assisting with the march, CYSA and AmeriCorps members designed and implemented hands-on learning activities to teach youngsters about the Civil Rights Movement and the legacy of Dr. King. While adults listened to the Commemorative Program, over 350 children participated in a wide variety of instructive activities. Dahn Windhorn of City Year San Antonio, submitted this effective practice in February, 2002.Issue
On Martin Luther King, Jr., 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
Use the various strengths of City Year and AmeriCorps programs to develop innovative collaborations, instead of asking programs to conform to a vision and activity that may not fit with their goals and missions. City Year San Antonio (CYSA) and AmeriCorps members:
Provided educational materials at the CYSA's Youth Education Station (set up under and around a 20x70 foot tent) to serve the children whose parents and guardians were listening to the Commemorative Program (a series of speakers and music).
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 Popsicle sticks and decorated them.
- Fishing for Knowledge game -- Children answered questions about civil rights facts for a chance to "go fishing" for a prize.
- Disabilities Obstacle Course -- Children attempted to complete various tasks from the perspective of a person with a disability. For instance, children participated in a wheelchair obstacle course; some tried transferring various items from place to place using hot mitts; others colored pictures while wearing glasses that simulated tunnel vision.
- 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
Context
On the 2002 Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service, City Year San Antonio (CYSA) partnered with the City of San Antonio and six local AmeriCorps programs to provide 22 educational activities for youth and to educate 50,000 people about the Civil Rights movement. Other guests included members from City Heroes and Habitat for Humanity, City Year alumni, program officers from the Texas Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism, and other community volunteers. To facilitate communication among groups, CYSA coordinated meetings throughout the fall, including an All-AmeriCorps Civil Rights Training Day in December.
The 2002 event took place on Monday, January 21. Thousands of marchers highlighted the national theme, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!" with the complimentary local theme, "To Celebrate, To Educate, To Inspire." The San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission works diligently to coordinate the march and other events aimed at furthering King's dreams of unity and justice. The march is the largest in the United States.
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."Posted On
May 6, 2002For More Information
Related Practices
Related sites
Corporation for National and Community Service Martin Luther King Jr., Day of Service