Elementary + Preteen Bible Activity: Hope for the Future
During the month of January, celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this Sunday school lesson about the “I Have a Dream” speech. Kids will create a classroom mural portraying their hope for the future.
You’ll need:
- Bible
- roll of butcher paper or bulletin board paper
- markers
Sunday School Lesson About the “I Have a Dream” Speech
Watch Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. You can view this speech in its entirety here.
Talk About It
After you’re finished watching the speech, lead a discussion about the main points of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Ask:
- What emotions did you feel when you listened to Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech?
- Are there stories in the Bible where people have dreams or hopes for the future? If so, how are they similar/not similar to MLK’s speech?
- What are some of your dreams or hopes for the future?
Read aloud Jeremiah 29:11. Read: ” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ ”
Create a Mural
After kids talk about what plans they think God has for their futures, introduce the activity:
- Lay out the butcher or bulletin board paper.
- Then have kids write or draw their hopes and dreams on the paper.
- Write Jeremiah 29:11 at the top of the mural.
- Display the finished mural in your children’s ministry area for families to enjoy throughout the month.
If you liked this lesson about the “I Have a Dream” speech, you’ll like our other MLK Day posts, too. Check them out here! And if you need more great ideas for your kidmin, check out these posts!
