The significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to our country’s achievement of freedom from the British regime cannot be exaggerated. In contemporary times, his life philosophy, which encompasses the ideals of Ahimsa (non-violence), honesty, simplicity, and self-reliance, remains as pertinent as ever. These ideas and the sacrifices he made for the nation must be imparted to the next generations without exception. Consequently, it is insufficient to inform your young child that Gandhi was recognized as the Father of the Nation and that a national holiday exists to commemorate his birthday on October 2nd.

It is crucial to introduce this immense person into the lives of youngsters and highlight the enduring values he promotes, such as Simple Living and Critical Thinking. Notably, his birthday has been observed globally as the International Day of Non-Violence since 2007. Listed here are several innovative Gandhi Jayanti activities that will further captivate children towards this iconic character. Before delving into these creative activities, it is important to highlight that the celebration of Gandhi Jayanti in school will facilitate students’ comprehension of Gandhian philosophy and motivate them to adhere to these ethical principles. Continue reading.

Gandhi Jayanti Activity and Celebration Ideas

1. Drawing Competition

Go ahead and organise a drawing competition which has Mahatma Gandhi as its theme. It will be helpful if you use the days preceding Gandhi Jayanti to tell children inspiring stories about Mahatma Gandhi and show them some videos and pictures showcasing his inspiring life. You will be surprised to see the kind of artwork young children come up with. Be sure to appreciate not just their artistic capabilities but the creative lens that they use. From Gandhiji’s charkha to his quintessential spectacles and stick that signify the simple life that he led to the Dandi March that he led, there are likely to be several beautiful illustrations. Alternatively, you could also have a craft activity where they make small models of the spinning wheel.

2. Dress Up as Gandhi

Now this will be in favor of a lot of children. See them dress up like Gandhi and speak some essential lines that showcase his high thinking and living. This will be a great Gandhi Jayanti activity that will keep both the students and teachers enamored. It will help to keep the activity fluid. So instead of dressing up as Gandhi, if they want to carry a motif of the 3 wise monkeys and talk about what they teach us, that would be good learning too.

3. Cleanliness Drive

The one philosophy we always associate with Mahatma Gandhi is that Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Let the students imbibe this philosophy as you engage them in a cleanliness drive as a part of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. It will go a long way in their understanding of the principle of keeping their surroundings as well as life uncluttered.

4. If I met Bapu

Encourage students to speak a few lines on what they would say if they met Bapu. They could recite a short poem or speak their heart out. You could also organize a Gandhi Jayanti speech competition for UKG students.

5. Organise A March

Gandhi Jayanti’s activity for kindergarten could also involve organizing a march with a theme such as non-violence, truth, or simplicity. You could encourage the children to carry banners related to the theme. Importantly, you could help them imbibe the concept.

6. Short Play

A short, age-appropriate play on Bapu’s life will also be good learning for children. You could, in fact, choose to enact specific events, such as the Dandi march, which the students will find fascinating.

7. Create A Calendar

How about creating a calendar around Gandhi Ji’s life events? You could get the children together and let their creativity take free rein while the teachers act as scaffolding.

8. Truth Telling Activity

Given Gandhi’s emphasis on truth, this is one timely activity. Encourage children to share situations where they might have told a lie. Discuss why they did it and what would have been a better response in this case. It will bring about self-reflection in the child and help develop a stronger moral compass.

To Sum Up

There are myriad lessons to learn from Mahatma Gandhi’s life, all of which are incredibly relevant to the times. Lessons like these, when passed on early, will stay with the child. These, then, aren’t just frivolous activities to fill up the school calendar. In fact, they will help develop the core values that Mahatma Gandhi stood for.

At Footprints, we are committed to children’s holistic development. To this end, we follow the scientifically developed HighScope curriculum, which emphasizes key developmental indicators. A key aspect of the curriculum is that it is not enough for adults to simply pass along information. Children must experience the world firsthand. Moreover, true learning takes time and repeated exposure. Children, therefore, learn by doing!

Here’s to laying the right foundation for young learners. Happy Gandhi Jayanti!