Grades K-5
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 Martin Luther King, Jr., record information on a KWL chart, and keep a journal of thoughts and ideas.
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 Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, and investigate how he used language from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in his own speech.
Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Leader
In this lesson from PBS, students will watch a video about Dr. King that emphasizes his commitment to nonviolence, analyze a 1956 flyer and a 1966 photograph that illustrate King’s approach to maintaining nonviolence, and conduct a comparison to other leaders who have been consistently nonviolent in spite of great personal risk.
Our classroom resources are designed to help educators teach about Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, nonviolence, and the civil rights movement. From bite-sized educational videos to interactive lesson plans, our resources support social-emotional learning; character-building; diversity, equity, and inclusion learning objectives; and, social justice learning objectives.
Activities
King Crossword
This printable crossword for elementary students includes an interactive version and an answer key.
Background Resources
I Have a Dream: Celebrating the Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A source of activities, lessons, and websites.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy of Racial and Social Justice: A Curriculum for Empowerment
This teacher's resource guide provides activities for K-8 students to explore the rich history of the civil rights movement and the persona of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The curriculum focuses on building on students' current civil rights knowledge and helping them to compare present-day realities to past struggles for justice in America and throughout the world.
Do's and Don'ts of Celebrating MLK Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an ideal time to reflect on the life and legacy of this great leader, but it's important to do it with care and nuance—and to keep the conversation going beyond January 15.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Websites
Printables
Videos
