MLK Teaching Resources

As we prepare to celebrate the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., today's blog has some teaching resources to use in your classrooms. 

"I Have a Dream"

While Dr. King had many accomplishments, perhaps he is best known for his "I Have a Dream" speech that was given at the 1963 March on Washington for jobs, freedoms, and civil rights. The link below is a primary source resource and includes the entirety of this famous speech.

 

"Virtual Visits"

Our expanded technology can help students understand the context of King’s life with virtual tours of the MLK memorial in Washington, D.C. and King’s childhood home in Atlanta, GA.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: A virtual tour of the memorial with simple English narration.

• The National Park Service, which administers the national MLK monument and MLK birthplace, share a number of digital resources around historic sites, both in the life of Dr. King and the American struggle for civil rights at large, including the Selma to Montgomery National Historical Trail and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

• National Geographic Kids shares a full outline of the advocate’s life and times in this simple presentation, ideal for covering the basics.

• You can find further events, ideas, and inspiration from The King Center, founded to continue Dr. King’s work.

• The National Archives shares sources, discussion questions, and more.

--@TCEA

"Service Learning"

One way to honor Dr. King's memory is to encourage service learning by pairing community involvement with classroom learning.  Although face to face service opportunities are currently limited due to COVID, there are some options that are available virtually.

• Happiness Helper Patch Program®
• Facetime with senior citizens.

• Flag Helper Patch Program®
• Say thank you to a soldier with one of these fun ideas.

• School Helper Patch Program®
• Donate books you don’t read any more.

• Good Citizen Patch Program®
• Make Thank You cards for frontline workers.

• Dance Partner Patch Program®
• Donate your old dance costumes to a preschool.

• Healthy Food Drive Patch Program®
• Do contactless pickup of food for your local food bank,

• Shelter Drive Patch Program®
• Make snuggle beds for an animal shelter.

• Sew masks for those in need

• Become a virtual tutor

• Start a fundraiser

• Share social media posts for important actions

• Sew blankets and put together care bags

• Donate your skills and/or share your talents. 

"Newsela Text Sets"

Newsela has put together a text set marking the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. The articles in this set can be used for reading, writing, and discussion around King's background, speeches, and legacy.  These articles are adaptable for reading level and may be assigned in Canvas or Google Classroom. You may log in at newsela.com. 

• Civil Rights Leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Famous Speeches: Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"

• Gandhi's belief in using nonviolence influenced MLK

• Primary Sources: Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail

• Thousands continue cry for social justice during March on Washington anniversary

• Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream and young people are living it today