歌曲, 艺术作品, 诗, biography reports about famous icons, 和更多的, were part of the learning celebration in this year’s combined 较低的学校 马丁·路德·金. Assembly and African-American History Month Assembly on Friday, February 19. The program was live streamed to all of the 较低的学校 community.

The presentation began with a viewing of portraits of important African Americans that are displayed in the 较低的学校. Aminata D. ’30 then sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is often called the Black National Anthem.

学前班班主任 Olugbala威廉姆斯, who is also the 较低的学校 Diversity Coordinator, said of 马丁·路德·金. that it is not only his accomplishments that we remember him for, but also his ideals such as truth, 和平, 股本, 和正义.

幼儿园班主任 金正日戴维斯 spoke about historian and educator Dr. 卡特G. Woodson (1875-1950), who was known as the Father of Black History Month. “Our stories must continue to be told,” Davis said before the presentations began.

Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten

Each class presented a video of their respective bulletin boards showing reflections on 马丁·路德·金. with voiceover descriptions of the work by teachers. One Nursery project studied how we are the same inside even if we look different outside. Nursery B learned that Martin Luther King Jr. 努力改变坏规则. Children also shared their dreams for 和平, taking care of trees, and for 每一个人 to play together. Nursery C made a friendship wreath.

在情, students discussed what it means to be fair, including “每一个人 having water,” and expressed this in paintings. 学前班和幼儿园阅读 Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. 马丁·路德·金. by Doreen Rappaport and learned to “be upstanding rather than bystanders.” They also learned that “words are powerful.” Kindergarten read about segregation in Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, who has been a guest in 较低的学校’s Author 访问 Series. Kindergarten B made protest signs that read Be Kind and Black Lives Matter.

First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade

学生 learned about the African American artist jean - michel Basquiat and how he used symbolism in his art. They made art in the style of Basquiat. Other students read about Black scientists such as 朗尼约翰逊, who worked for NASA, and also invented the popular Super Soaker. Another student read a report about botanist George Washington Carver, 谁发现了“花生的300种用途”.” African American mathematician 凯瑟琳•约翰逊 was the subject of another report. Johnson was part of NASA’s space program that put John Glenn into orbit in 1961. Another child reported on astronaut 美Jemison, the first Black woman astronaut. Grade 3 studied King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.学生们还会读到 Ruby的桥梁, who at six years old in 1960 faced angry mobs when a judge ordered integration of an all-white school in New Orleans. 他们也阅读 Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation.

四年级

Grade 4 began by highlighting how African American poet 阿曼达·戈尔曼, the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, was inspired by MLK in her poem presented during President Biden’s inauguration. 戈尔曼, 他们说, 写美国, 还是坏了, but that there are a “lot of problems in our country, 但不足以击垮我们.”

As 路易斯·阿姆斯特朗 唱“我们会战胜”,” Grade 4 A presented an original poem puzzle inspired by the words of 马丁·路德·金. Each puzzle piece had lines that began with M, L, and K:

M我是黑白相间的
L一点点的爱去创造
K又聪明又有见识的人. 

At the conclusion, a student said, “We all have work to do. If we have learned anything this year, it is that we all have to be part of making things right. 我们邀请你加入你的作品.”

Children then read reports about how they have been inspired by MLK’s legacy. 在大会结束时, 奥卢格巴拉·威廉姆斯说, “If there is one thing we should all remember about Dr. King’s monumental life, it is that he always fought against inequality. One of his tenets is that regardless of skin color we should all be treated fairly. Remember all human beings are just shades of brown. We are all one people and are deserving of respect. Everyone is deserving of respect, and I mean 每一个人.”

金正日戴维斯 invited Teachers to accompany students for a walk around the 较低的学校 to view the bulletin boards for African American History Month. “African American history is American history,” Davis concluded.

The presentation ended with the playing of a recording of “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free.”

Missed the 较低的学校 presentation? 点击这里观看视频.