DAPHNE, Ala. — Third-graders at Daphne Elementary School created Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” projects in honor of Black History Month. Children were encouraged to express their own dreams and asked to design pajamas.

Black history month progressed from “Negro History Week,” which started in 1926. February was designated because of the many important civil-rights events that happened during that month.

They include the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on Feb. 12, 1909, and the Greensboro, N.C., sit-in at a segregated Woolworths lunch counter on Feb. 1, 1960.

Students will celebrate Black History Month through ideas from King, a slain civil-rights advocate.

King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech called for equal civil rights for blacks. He pointed out that freedom was granted to black slaves by Abraham Lincoln, yet blacks still faced segregation and discrimination. King dared to dream of racial equality for his children and for all black Americans during rampant racism and injustice in the 1950s and ’60s.

Children at Daphne Elementary were challenged to dream their own dream, no matter how big or small, Tina Bowen, third-grade educator, said.

“It’s important for all of us to have a dream or have somewhere to start,” she said.

Students on Monday were given a writing assignment to tell about their dream and how they would accomplish it, she said.

“They can set a goal, but they have to do something to get ready for it,” Stacey Dickson, third-grade educator, said.

“I asked what they could do to help them make that dream come true,” Bowen said. “I also asked, ‘What can’t you do?’”

For example, Micah Weldy, 9, said she wants to be a teacher.

“It’s because I look up to Ms. Bowen,” she said.

To accomplish this goal, Weldy said she must go to college. If she wants to succeed, she can’t miss school, she said.

“I’ve only missed one day,” she said.

Bowen said Weldy had perfect attendance until she got sick Thursday.

Deandre Graves, 8, has a different dream in mind. He wants to be a professional football player so that “people will have something to watch on TV when they’re at home.”

Graves also has a mentor at the root of his pursuit.

“I like Wallace Gilberry because he’s a good player for (University of) Alabama,” Graves said. Gilberry is from Bay Minette and is a defensive end for the University of Alabama.

Graves said he can be like Gilberry by playing football with his dad.

“I can go to college and get my work done,” he added.

The children got to show their creativity as well as their writing skills and goal motivation with the “I Have a Dream” projects. Students took home a cut-out person and used crayons and magazine clippings to design their clothes.

“We did pajamas because dreams happen when you’re asleep,” Bowen said.

It is good for the children to use their imaginations, she said.

“It made them think — and it was fun.”

FOR PICTURES OF THE STUDENTS WITH THEIR ‘DREAMS,’ PICK UP THE FEB. 13 DAPHNE BULLETIN. TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 1-800-788-6151, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.