January 2007 Craft of the Month-Martin Luther King

Teaching young children about Martin Luther King can be difficult.  Over the years we have found that if you stress how he wanted everyone to be "friends" no matter what color they are, the children get it. This month we decided to do a draft dodger, the lovely tube that keeps that cold winter air from coming in under  your doors.  The children will love all the tasks involved in creating this item, and the parents will love the function and meaning behind the item.

I Have a Dream Draft Dodger

Materials needed:

12-14" x 36" inch piece of plain material
crayons and markers-- if working on graphic skills and grasp
fabric paints in skin colors and brush-- if working on tactile issues
tacky glue
scissors
felt
newspaper
blunt needle and thread

Directions:

1.  Give each child their own piece of material.
2.  Have them trace hands on the material and color them in, or paint their hands with fabric paint and stamp hand prints all over the fabric.  Let fabric dry. (If you used crayons, place fabric on ironing board, cover with a plain paper bag and iron to permanently set the color and remove the wax).
3. Crease long edges inward and glue together, pressing flat as you go--let dry.  (IF the glue does not appear to be holding you can staple at intervals until the glue dries, then remove the staples). Let dry.
4.  Trace your two hands on a light and dark skin color of felt and cut out.
5.  Fold in ends and glue the hand into the end seam, let dry. (Or have teacher or aide sew on a  sewing machine).
6.  Crumple up newspaper and stuff the draft tube.
7.  Fold in second end and glue the hand into this end seam, let dry.

BELIEVE it or NOT, children as young as 4, CAN sew.  SEW take the initiative and get some blunt needles and some crewel embroidery thread.  Thread the needle and knot the ends so the thread will not come out.  Show the child how to push the needle through the cloth from front to back (whip stitch) and pull. Or In the front, out the back and in the front again for a running stitch.  The children will be able to secure both the hands in this craft with little effort and a great deal of pride in their new skill of sewing. Give it a try--the rewards will be worth that extra effort!