Celebrating Kindergarten Kindness alongside Martin Luther King’s birthday is a wonderful way to instill important values in little learners. Here are some ideas and activities to implement into your kindergarten January curriculum.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, advocating for equality and nonviolence. His teachings emphasize the importance of treating others with respect, compassion, and kindness, making his birthday an ideal occasion for little learners to explore these themes.
To celebrate this special day, educators can create a variety of engaging activities that highlight the significance of kindness and the lessons from Dr. King’s life. Here are some ideas to help guide the celebration:
Storytime
Read age-appropriate books about Martin Luther King Jr. and the concept of kindness.
Kindness Tree
Create a kindness tree in the classroom where each student can add a leaf with a kind act they have done or plan to do. This visual representation can serve as a reminder of the importance of kindness and encourage kindergartners to think about their actions.
Discussion Time
Facilitate a discussion about what kindness means and why it’s important. Use questions to guide the conversation, such as “How can we be kind to others?” or “What does it mean to treat everyone equally?”
Kindness Pledge
Have your students create a “Kindness Pledge” where they promise to be kind to others. They can decorate their pledges and display them in the classroom as a reminder of their commitment.
Kindness Notes
Writing or illustrating a kindness note for a classmate or classroom helper serves as an excellent literacy exercise. Begin by encouraging your little learners to brainstorm kindness traits, which you can document on an anchor chart. They can then utilize these words to craft their notes. This activity presents a chance to be deliberate while engaging in something enjoyable and meaningful. Additionally, it allows for practice in sentence structure, CVC words, and handwriting skills.

By celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. with the theme of kindness, kindergarteners can learn about the values of empathy, respect, and community. This approach not only honors Dr. King’s legacy but also helps little learners become compassionate individuals.
