MLK and the Inauguration
Yesterday we celebrated two great men.
We had a holiday yesterday in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. So, as a family we watched his I Have a Dream speech. Then we combined our learning about Dr. King with another great African-American. We learned about Barack Obama and the inauguration (a day early).
After being thoroughly inspired by The Crafty Crow, we decorated our home in patriotic streamers, attempted to listen to patriotic music, and created flag pinwheels.
I baked oatmeal-chocolate-chip muffins, added red and blue sprinkles, and adorned with flags.
We made patriotic sticks and jammed out to the drums from Grant Park.
Finally, the speech/language therapy highlight of the evening…
We are unable to time travel to the next’s day Inauguration Speech, so instead, we watched Obama’s victory speech. We filled in the blank bingo chart from The Crafty Crow. As we listened to the 11/4/08 speech, we put gummy candies on the vocabulary words. Every time a row was completed, everyone got to eat a candy. The Flash has never been so interested in vocabulary before. This activity was so successful, in fact, that I may adapt it to vocabulary within book activities at school.
Today is a momentous occasion. I hope one day my children will recall, “I remember when Obama became president. He led the way for everyone. Maybe even me…”
For more great educational resources, check out these links ( hat tip to Treasure Seekers ):
- Edhelper.com: short readers for readers grades 5th-7th, and Reader’s Theater
- Scholastic.com: printables for students grades 1st-8th
- Educationworld.com: compare and contrast activities, letters to the president, poetry
- Enchantedlearning.com: a huge slew of printables for grades K-5th (I highly recommend subscribing to this educational site if you homeschool or teach. Well worth the money).
I love the idea of Vocabulary Bingo. Thanks for all of the ideas. We may put some of them to use today.
awesome bingo! what a great idea. i love your decorations. i wish i had some streamers!!
What wonderful ideas–I’m sure they’ll remember it.
Wow, I think it’s great wonderful how patriotic you are and how you want to share it with your children!!!!!!
this was a fantastic post!
I’m watching right now. What excitement.
I’m blown away by what you’ve done to make the Inauguration memorable for your children…..
Bingo AND a new president–you are the best teacher ever!
The vocab bingo is a sensational idea….except in my house the little markers might get eaten while in play…LOL!!
Enjoy your day!
Lisa
Thank you for the great ideas. It is definately a day that history was made.
Wow, you are so creative and disciplined. Sheesh, you’re putting me to shame 🙂
Good job, lady!
You. Are. Awesome.
Seriously.
I did squat for the inauguration.
What great ideas. And thank you for the links.
off topic. help me with some baby signing products, please. Do you prefer the baby signing videos over everything else? Have you ever bought the linguisystems/superduper, etc. signing products? What would you recommend to get a family started with baby signing? you’re awesome! Thanks!! and take your time getting back to me if you need to.
Yum, inauguration muffins. I love that you guys went all out to celebrate the occasion.
You do have Super Powers! As a former special education teacher I love the vocabulary bingo as it ties into the speech. Your kids are lucky to have you as Mom.
Great ideas! And that was a fabulous opportunity to teach something that will really stick with them. WTG!
Word Bingo with lolly markers – can’t think of any child who wouldn’t be interested in that!
It’s interesting at how BIG an occasion this is for Americans. When our PM is sworn in it’s lucky to get a 5 min segment on the evening news.
It’s always a great day when we welcome a new President into office.
You are an amazing mom. Your children will cherish these memories!
I LOVE Obama’s victory speach. I hoep he gives many more speaches like that!
I just love this…
Today was an amazing day. I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but I wish him all the success in the world — after all he’s the captain of the ship that we’re all riding on.
I don’t know why I keep coming here, you just make me feel like the worst mother alive.
Great ideas.
Oh man…. I needed to read this yesterday.
But it’s never too late. Thank you.
What a great way to celebrate this day and share it with your children. I’m sure they will remember this.
I love the decorations and cupcakes! Good for you for making it a day they will remember!
What great ideas- I love the bingo idea- awesome! I am sure the kids will never forget this day!
that’s good stuff…and very supermom material!
That is a great idea for the vocabulary words. I’m gonna have to borrow that.
thanks for visiting my blog 🙂
I wish I had thought to decorate with red white and blue streamers!! Great ideas and links!!
Wow, you certainly found a way to make yesterday even more special!
what an fun day it must have been
What a FABULOUS celebration! Loved your ideas and pictures!!!
Way to involve the kiddos! What fun:)
Wow, what an impressive listing of events at your home!!! How fun!
This is how I used to make it through sermons when I was a kid. My grnadmother would write down several words on the bullitin and every time the minister said the word I would make a talley mark. Great idea to do with the speech. I am sure they will have that “I remember what I was doing when…” comment!
wow, you’re not short on enthusiasm, ideas or energy! and that vocabulary bingo – what a treat and a great learning experience.