Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an important day to celebrate both in and out of the classroom. There are many important lessons for students to learn not only on this day but throughout the entire year. This post explains the different activities and videos that can be used with students to teach them these valuable, life-long lessons.
The main lessons that can be taught are:
- Always be civil
- Peace and non-violence is always better
- You can always do the right thing
- Make it a priority to help others
- Never give up on your dreams
All of these lessons can be taught through the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and why he is an iconic hero in our history.
Martin Luther King Jr. Videos
The following videos are a great option to show your students to help teach them about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The videos also feature the important things that he did when he was alive and the legacy he has left after his death.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Books
Books are a great way to teach students about the importance of Dr. King. Some of our favorites include…
Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
Interactive Quiz
After the students have been exposed to both books and videos I check their level of understanding with a quiz. When I give this quiz, each student gets a whiteboard and I ask the question aloud. The students are given time to write their answer on the whiteboard and then I say, “1…2…3…show me!” At that time the students hold up their boards so I can check for understanding.
The questions can be downloaded for free {HERE}.
I have a Dream Art Project
I Have a Dream Clouds is another fun activity for students. They are each given a piece of paper to brainstorm a list of things that they wish to have in the world. It can be a dream for the future, for their family, for their friends, or even personal possessions.
Then each student draws a cloud on a piece of white construction paper. They also receive a strip of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink paper. Each strip of paper gets an idea written on it. Have the students write with pencil and then trace with marker. Last, students glue the strips in order to the bottom of the cloud. Before hanging the clouds around the classroom, have the students write “I Have a Dream…” (and their name) on the cloud. They turn out really cute!
Martin Luther King Jr Lapbook
Another activity that we work on throughout this unit is a Martin Luther King Jr. Lapbook. This project is a family favorite and makes a great keepsake for parents! I really like them because they make a great hallway display and they are a nice way to showcase all of the learning that takes place throughout the unit.
Included in this unit are:
- 3 Differentiated Levels of MLK Jr. Fact Flap Passages
- MLK Jr. Lapbook Topper
- 3 Ways our World was Different Long Ago
- 3 Ways our World is Different Today
- Words that Describe Martin Pocket and Writing Strips
- My Dreams Flip Flaps
- Lapbook Cover
Download Martin Luther King, Jr. Lapbook HERE
Writing Prompts
Included in our year long writing prompts resource is an informational writing prompt on Martin Luther King, Jr. This prompt is available in printable or digital formats. Download it from All Access below!
Download Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Prompt HERE
Comprehension Passages
Lastly, Team Lucky Little Learners has created a year long resource full of reading comprehension passages covering a wide array of reading skills. One of our compare & contrast passages covers Martin Luther King, Jr. Bonus: this passage (and each passage in the resource) is available in below, at and above grade level formats! Differentiation made easy!
Download Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Prompt HERE
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Thanks for the freebies. I can’t use the lapbook as MLK Jr is not in our standards but will definitely share the videos.
Thank you for the great ideas. I love the videos! I’m going to share them with my class, now.
I have loved this Dr. MLK Jr. flapbook for over a year now!!! Out of respect, I just wish it had Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR printed on the cover page. There was a time when higher education was so unrealistic for minorities. Some may still think that graduate degrees for people of color is still unobtainable. I wish his professional title could have been included in this awesome resource. I so want to purchase it!!
I would like the freebie.
Hi Andrea!
You can download the freebie via the link within the blog post directly above the dream clouds activity photo. I hope this helps! Have a great day!
Bailey Jordan
Lucky Little Learners