'I Have a Dream' Free Lesson Plans on MLK Day

"I have a dream" are the words that are remembered most from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech that has made a mark in history. His dream was that everyone would walk side-by-side in freedom, regardless of color.

On one Monday in January, every year, the nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. and his life. What he stood for lives on as a dream with a new generation attempting to fulfill it.

How much do you know about Martin Luther King, Jr.?

He was born in what city, state?

How old was he when he was assassinated?

What name is given to his most famous speech?

Was he given the name Martin Luther King, Jr. at birth?

Find out the answers to these and more questions about Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as a host of free MLK Day lesson plans and printables from across the web at these links below:

Facts About MLK

Free Lesson Plans/Printables

Now, it's your turn to put these lessons into practice. After you are done learning all there is to learn from the above links, and the links within these links, write your own narrative or verbally sum up about Martin Luther King, Jr. to present it to a parent.

It's your turn - Write your own "I Have a Dream" speech.  What is your dream?

Now - Put it into practice in your own neighborhood. Make a list of community organizations or people you know who need volunteers to help out.  Reach out and give. Is there a hospital who needs caps knitted for newborns, or a children's hospital that needs toys or entertainment?  Is there a Salvation Army who needs donations or volunteers to serve food? Is there an elderly person who needs someone to read the newspaper to him or her, or to just sit with someone who will listen to their life's accomplishments?

Whatever talents or heart's cries you feel pulling you, do it!  One day, you will then be able to say:

Free at last.  Free at last.  Thank God Almighty I'm free at last!

Super Moon Full Moon Pictures and Science Lesson

Last night we not only witnessed a full moon, but what some are calling the "Super Moon"

I went out on our deck and zoomed in to snap a few pictures.  It was an amazing sight.

It happened last night, so you will have to wait to see another one if you missed it.  These pictures give you a pretty good idea of what a full Super Moon looks like.

Follow up with a fun unit study about moons.  Find a few lesson plans here:

Moonconnection.com elementary lesson plan
NASA Super Moon
Woodlands Junior School Facts About the Moon
Science Facts for Kids

Dutch Village Review and Lessons from Holland

Wooden Shoe - Cooper - Cheese ...  What do all these have in common?  They're all part of the culture from the Netherlands:  Holland to be exact!

My family recently had the pleasure of visiting Dutch Village.  This is a miniature dutch village replica "theme park" in Holland, MI.  I can tell you that if you happen upon a brochure about the place, be prepared because it's even better than anticipated.  To me, it was like a miniature Epcot, focusing only on the Dutch portion - and, much less humidity than the Florida version.  The day we visited, the weather was perfectly cool with a nice breeze, which only added to our enjoyment.

We arrived at the park just before 1:00, and didn't leave until after 5:00 p.m.  While we were there, we learned enough for an entire unit of social studies.  Here's some of the highlights:

We watched an 18 minute movie about Holland (the original Holland in the Netherlands, not the replica in Michigan).  It was a family-friendly movie, complete with a cartoon mouse who was only interested in the cheese from Holland.  The movie had real film footage of the Netherlands as well.  It was very informative and well worth the stop.

The pathway around the Dutch Village then winds around over a canal and toward an outside theater.  The theater has a beautiful street organ which played music while folk dancers performed in wooden shoes.  At the end of the show, they taught us a dance too.  We had a blast, with our musical daddy and two dancing daughters.

Once we got the kids to stop dancing, they enjoyed playing on a huge wooden shoe playground:

And, then came some more learning fun.  We watched how wooden shoes are made, and discovered why they became popular.  One reason was the shortage of leather due to a cow epidemic.  It was also a lesson opportunity in arithmetic, as each shoe was sized in centimeters as well as American sizes.  Another, is because of how wet the Netherlands is, being below sea level, these shoes were more durable.  Regardless of the reason they came about, they make for some fun trying on, wearing, and of course, dancing some more in our own wooden shoes:

We also enjoyed shopping for Dutch clothing:

And, time for more learning.  This time - about cheese.  We were hungry and thirsty by this point, so sampling some authentic dutch cheese sounded terrific.  We ended up buying some Gouda and learning about how cheese is made.  We learned that the craftsmen who made the cheese molds were called coopers.  We learned that the cheese to be sold is sealed in red wax, while the cheese for personal use was sealed in clear wax.  The cheese was wrapped in the shape of a ball, and some can take as long as 18 months to age.  So yummy!

Then, onto more science.  We walked the goats (or, rather, they walked us); pet the bunnies, and watched the little horses.

Of course, we'd be remiss to not mention the amazing artists who came out of the Netherlands:

Then, there was some physical education on the little pumper train cars, and just plain fun.

And, we couldn't resist a family photo in the Wedding Wagon, next to the little Dutch church.  And, of course, a picture of us posing alongside the kissing dutch boy and girl.

Butterfly Lesson Plans

Butterflies are one of the nice things about spring. They are also a fun way to learn about many aspects of science. A very small child can understand the concept of a caterpillar turning into something so beautiful. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one fun way to get started!
If you are fortunate to live in a city that has a Butterfly garden or house, this is a wonderful, hands-on enjoyable way to learn about these beautiful winged creatures. There are also numerous lesson plans and lap books to be enjoyed that encompass the concept of butterflies. Here's an article that lists several free butterfly resources:

Free Butterfly Lapbooks and Lesson Plans!

Obama's bin Laden celebration, Cinco De Mayo or National Day of Prayer?

May 5 this year holds for many historical events. May 5 is, as the name implies, Cinco De Mayo. The day is also National Day of Prayer and the day the President will celebrate the end of Osama bin Laden. Which will you celebrate? Or, will you celebrate them all? Like any holiday, you can learn a lot about history and culture through the celebration of holidays like these even if you are not of a particular background, faith or political view.

Not wanting to speak my political opinions, I'll leave the choice to watch President Obama's celebration up to you. The capture and killing of bin Laden is certainly a historic event. However, the handlings of the aftermath have spurred a lot of controversy.

The day is also National Day of Prayer. The day falls on May 5 this year because it is to be honored on the first Thursday of May. There are celebrations and events all across America for people to gather and pray. You can read more about the National Day of Prayer including lesson plans and teaching children about prayer at this article:

National Day of Prayer

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And, of course, May 5 is Cinco De Mayo as the name implies. There's lots of traditions to enjoy on Cinco De Mayo. There are confetti eggs that are used by blowing out the yolk and filling with confetti. There are pinatas filled with candy and treats. There is salsa and chips and Mexican food. There is even a way to make a Mexican flag out of veggies for the health-lovers.

Here's some links to some great online learning:

Cinco De Mayo

Frugal Salsa Recipes and Veggie Flag of Mexico