In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this week, we found a fun STEAM activity that will not only test your child’s engineering skills, but will also teach him or her about Dr. King’s incredible legacy.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and activist who became one of the most important figures of the American civil rights movement. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington is one of the most famous speeches in American history, and has inspired generations of Americans.
Before starting your STEAM challenge, talk with your child about Martin Luther King. Ask what he or she knows about MLK. Do some research together online to gain a better understanding of Dr. King, his teachings, and the civil rights movement in general. Watch the “I Have a Dream” speech together.
Now for the challenge: Ask your mini-engineer to build a podium for Dr. King so he can give his “I Have a Dream” speech. For this activity, you will need:
- 30 Popsicle sticks
- Small jar of clay or Play-Doh
- Tape
- A 3 inch by 3 inch piece of index card
- Paper and markers
- Optional: A paper cutout of Dr. King to stand behind the podium
Have your child brainstorm how they will build Dr. King’s podium. They can write or draw their plans on a piece of paper. Once they are ready, they can build their podium. Make it more fun and challenging by placing a 30 minute time limit on the project!
When the podium is built, test it out to see if it will hold Dr. King’s speech. If it won’t stand up, ask your child to think about what changes they might need to make to their design and have them try to build it again.
Check out the full activity from Maker Maven HERE!
As always, get as creative as you want, and above all, have lots of fun learning together!
We’ll see you right back here next Saturday for another STEAM Saturday activity! Scroll through the rest of our website to learn how Critchlow Adkins is Building Brighter Futures for the children and families we serve!
