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Lesson Plans, Activity Ideas & Other Resources for Teaching MLK Day

By Phil Nast, retired middle school teacher and freelance writer

Found In: Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, PreK-2, 3-5

Help students in grades K-5 put in perspective the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and his significance to American culture and history.

Lesson Plans

Dr. King's Dream
Students in grades K-2 learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., listen to an excerpt from his "I Have a Dream" speech, and create picture books about freedom for Americans today.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Me: Identifying with a Hero
Students in grades K-2 learn about the life of Dr. King, record information on a KWL chart, and keep a journal of thoughts and ideas.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Man with a Dream (Biography Mini-Book)
Students in grades K-4 listen to or read a short biography of King and then write about his dream for America and their own dreams for America. The biography can be used with interactive white boards.

How Big Are Martin’s Big Words? Thinking Big about the Future
Students in grades 3-5 listen to a reading of Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and then analyze excerpts from King’s speeches for "big" words, words not necessarily as large in length as they are in importance: Freedom, Peace, Love.

Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students in grades 3-5 view photographs of the March on Washington, read Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and investigate how Dr. King used  language from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in his own speech.

Activities

Martin Luther King Jr. Interactive Timeline
After listening to a reading of A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr. by David A. Adler, students in grades 3-6 use sequencing skills to create a timeline of MLK’s life.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Dream - Mini Book
Students in grades 3-5 make a mini book of MLK’s life.

Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz
A printable ten question quiz.

King Crossword
This printable crossword for elementary students includes an interactive version and an answer key.

An MLK Crossword for grades 6-8.

Background Resources

I Have a Dream: Celebrating the Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A source of activities, lessons, and websites.

Martin Luther King Jr.
NY Times archive of articles on MLK.

Commemorate the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This K-8 teacher source provides whiteboard resources, book lists, and activities.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: Lesson Plans and Teacher Guides
This curriculum package for K-8 teachers includes a teacher guide, lesson plans and units, exhibits, a problem-solution project, and references. The package is available in 5 PDF sections totaling 303 pages.

MLK Websites

• The King Center
• King Institute
• MLK Online

Printables

• Martin Luther King Jr. Pre-Test/Post-Test ( PDF, 6 Pages, 72.8 KB)
• The 5 W’s of Dr. King’s Dream ( PDF, 1 page, 174 KB)
• Martin Luther King Day Activities – activities for grades 2-4
• Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
• Martin’s Dream ( PDF, 1 page, 62.9 KB) – facts and quotes from MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
• King Coloring Pages
  http://library.thinkquest.org/10320/mking.htm
  http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/color/cpking2.shtml
  http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/color/cpking1.shtml
• MLK Clip Art
• MLK Poster

Videos

• Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream"
• Martin Luther King Jr.
  The History Channel provides a collection of 49 short videos on MLK and his career.
• Roads to Memphis: The 1968 Hunt for Martin Luther King's Killer (1:21)
  This video and transcript describes the hunt for James Earl Ray, a documentary that aired originally on PBS as part the American Experience series.
• American Experience: Eyes on the Prize: The Story of the Movement
  This part of the 14 hour series covers 25 major events, from Emmett Till's murder in 1955 to the election of Harold Washington as Chicago's first black mayor in 1983.

 

last updated: January 7, 2013