Students in Ms. Kolac’s High School life skills class at the Wayne D. Boshears Center are learning about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his leadership in peaceful protests that helped advance civil rights in the United States. Through carefully structured lessons designed to meet the needs of life skills special education students, the class explored Dr. King’s message of kindness, equality, unity, and nonviolence in meaningful and accessible ways.
To honor Dr. King’s legacy, students created their own “peace plates” as part of a hands-on art activity. This project allowed students to express their understanding of Dr. King’s values using colors, symbols, textures, and simple words that represented peace, hope, and togetherness. Each plate reflected the individual student’s ideas and choices, reinforcing that every student has a voice and an important role in promoting kindness and respect.
The peace plate activity supported both academic learning and social-emotional development. Students practiced following directions, making choices, communicating preferences, and working cooperatively with peers in a supportive classroom environment. Art served as a meaningful form of expression, especially for students who benefit from visual and hands-on learning experiences.
By connecting social studies instruction with art and life skills development, students gained a deeper understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting impact while celebrating their creativity, strengths, and contributions to the Tyler ISD school community.