Jackie Robinson is one of the best-known baseball players in history because he was the first black man to play professional baseball. To start the activity, ask the students what sports they enjoy playing and which they are good at. Visual pictures or actual physical objects (softballs, small soccer balls, etc.) can help to spur the discussion onward. Discussing their own sports experiences will help students relate to Robinson's accomplishments.
Then, share Jackie Robinson's story with students. Many short biographies about Robinson have been made into children's books, so you could read one of these to the students. Discuss why Robinson faced adversity when he tried to play baseball, and how he handled it. Highlight the important parts of the story, like the fact that even though he was different from everyone else who played, he was just as talented. You can even have students draw pictures of Robinson playing baseball, or make their own miniature Robinson baseball jerseys.
Introduce students to the importance of black history by highlighting a number of inventions created by African-American inventors throughout history.
To do the activity, bring in a number of inventions that were created by African Americans. These include common items that you may never even think of, like the Super Soaker and peanut butter. Also, an African-American inventor created three of the nine original computer patents for IBM, and now holds more than 20 patents for computer-based inventions.
Next, ask students what they think all of these inventions have in common, and then explain to them that all were created by African-American inventors. Discuss why it is important that some inventions, like peanut butter (George Washington Carver, who lived after the Civil War but before the Civil Rights Movement, invented more than 300 uses for peanut butter), were created by African Americans during a time when not everyone accepted them.
There are a large number of activities that can be used to discuss Martin Luther King, Jr. and his amazing ideals; imparting his message of unity to students at a young age can help them advance in the rest of their lives.
Have all of the students hold hands, or share a meal, like a bowl or candy or a bottle of soda. While students are participating in this shared event, explain to them that there was a time when not everyone was allowed to share with each other, and discuss Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Discuss with students why it is important for everyone to be treated fairly, and why everyone benefits when they all get along.