Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
& Civil Rights Resources
Topics/Link | Resources and Ideas |
"I Have a Dream" Mobiles Activity | Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech by creating and decorating this mobile that inspires you to think about your own dreams--for your community, your country, and the world. |
"Walk to Freedom" - Detroit 1963 | Though the "Walk to Freedom" drew over 125,000 people from both the Labor and Civil Rights movement, it did not convert to changing discriminatory practices. |
Beloved Community Teach-In from the King Center (All grades) | In this lesson, the Beloved Community Teach-In educates people of all ages about Dr. and Mrs. King’s legacy and how to champion completion of their unfinished work. |
Black History Month NonFiction Text | February is Black History Month. Here are a few helpful non-fiction passages and research-based question sets about a variety of topics and historical figures related to its observance. You may need to set up a FREE account. |
Breaking Barriers Lesson Plan | Provides students with first-hand experience about how African-American individuals have broken barriers to racial integration in the United States, achieving equal rights and making lasting contributions to the country’s political, social and cultural development. |
Changemakers of the Civil Rights Era (Grades 6-8) | An iCivics series of short, animated videos that examine the actions and accomplishments of civil rights activists of the 1950’s and 60’s. |
Civil Rights | Civil Rights Movement activist and political leader Andrew Young recounts Dr. King's release from Birmingham jail and the Selma March. |
Classroom Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day ( NEA) | Lesson plans, activity ideas, and other resources for teaching MLK Day |
Do's and Don'ts of Celebrating MLK Day | Reflect on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and keep the conversation going beyond the national holiday |
Dr. King's Dream: Lesson Plan | In this lesson, students will learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Includes primary sources. From the National Endowment for the Humanities. |
EconEdLink Grades 6-12 Lesson Plan | A lesson plan from EconEdLink that provides context and resources to aid students in understanding how the Civil Rights Movement Developed. |
From Bill to Law - How MLK Day became a federal holiday | This iCivics WebQuest, Legislating for Holiday, not only provides students with an opportunity to explore King's many contributions to the Civil Rights Movement, but will also help them learn how a bill becomes a law. Students can embark on the WebQuest on their own or you can use the resources and prompts to guide whole-class discussions. |
How Big Are Martin's Big Words? Thinking Big about the Future (Grades 3-5) | This mini-lesson tells of Dr. King's childhood determination to use "big words" through biographical information and quotations. |
How to explain Martin Luther King Day to kids | Everything you need to learn and teach about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
Identifying with a Hero (Grades K-2) | This lesson explores ways to help students identify with Dr. King through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that provide a glimpse into Dr. King's life. |
Key Events of the Civil Rights Movement | In this lesson, journalist Callie Crossly asks experts about the origins of the civil rights movement and its early beginnings after the second World War. |
Last Days of Martin Luther King, Jr. | In this lesson, Ryan Jones, Historian at the National Civil Rights Museum, talks about the circumstances leading to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit in Memphis before he was assassinated. |
Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Grades 3-5) | In this lesson, students will learn about the life and work of Dr. King and will listen to a brief biography, view photographs of the March on Washington, and read a portion of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. |
Letter from Birmingham Jail | In this lesson, Ahmad Ward from the Birmingham Civil RIghts Institute gives a brief explanation of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail. |
Martin Luther King Jr. (Discovery Education) | Access this by logging in through Clever. Lessons, short and full videos, and images of Martin Luther King Jr. |
Martin Luther King Jr. (National Archives) | Educational activities and resources surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. |
Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Leader | In this lesson, students will watch a video about Dr. King that emphasizes his commitment to nonviolence. |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Crossword | Challenge your Martin Luther King, Jr. knowledge with this printable crossword puzzle. |
MLK Activities | Websites and printables about MLK Jr. Day and other famous people. Great for primary grades. |
MLK Day: Five Education World Resources | Education World has gathered five lesson plans, resources and activities for teachers to use to teach about Martin Luther King, Jr. |
MLK Jr. Day/Black History Month (NCSS) | Lessons and activities for elementary, middle, and high school |
MLK Resource Links | Includes information on other famous African Americans. |
National Civil Rights Museum | Resources and materials for teaching the struggle for freedom and justice to students. |
Riots - Washington, DC 1968 | Author and Historian Samuel Walker discussed the damage done during the Washington, DC Riots of 1968, as well as the cause of the unrest. |
Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King | Felicia Bell and Rickey Brown of the Rosa Parks Museum talk about Rosa Parks and her impact on the Civil Rights Movement. |
Sanitation Strike - Memphis 1968 | Historian Ryan Jones explained the events leading up to the strike and the role it played in bringing Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis for the final time. |
Science Experiment | A science experiment that teaches about diversity. Good for all ages. |
Sit-Ins during the Civil Rights Movement | In this lesson, author Christopher Schmidt talks about the Greensboro, NC sit-in and how it inspired future demonstrations. |
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing - 1963 | The Reverend Arthur Price talked about the history of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and the bombing of the church that occurred in 1963. |
Teaching Tolerance (Grades K-6) | Lots of lesson ideas for K-6 |
The Fight for Civil Rights (Grades 3-5) | In this lesson, students will discover that Martin Luther King, Jr. and other activists fought for civil rights by exercising their First Amendment rights. |
The King Center | A digital archive about the life of Dr. King Jr. |
Timeline Activity | Great idea for reading a book about MLK Jr. and then have each student create a picture to go along with a fact. Student samples are shown. Adaptable for lower and upper elementary students. |
Virtual Field Trip of Washington, D.C. | In this lesson, students provide an introduction to our nation's capital by highlighting some of the significant areas in the city. |
What is Diversity? (download) | Teaching Diversity to Primary Students |