Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Power of Nonviolence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the philosophy of nonviolence developed by Martin Luther King, Jr. and how this turned into practice during the Civil Rights Movement. They compare these teachings to those of Mohandas K. Ghandi.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And You Don't Stop - 30 Years of Hip-Hop, Episode 2, Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss Public Enemy's lyrics and compare and contrast them with songs popular during the Civil Rights Movement. They write their own rap song that expresses feelings of oppression or freedom from oppression.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

RBG Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Studies Lesson Plan-Guide

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Explore Martin Luther King Jr.  Students listen to a speech given by Martin Luther King, and interpret his message. They discuss civil rights and how Martin Luther King Jr. exhibited good citizenship, then brainstorm ways in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Identify contributions that Martin Luther King, Jr. made to society through assigning a research project! Third and fourth graders write about how it felt to be discriminated against during the game. They describe something they can do...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rev. Joseph Lowery: What Makes a Civil Rights Leader?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the attributes of civil rights leaders. In this Civil Rights Movement lesson, students design "body biographies" of selected civil rights leaders after they have conducted research and discussed the qualities of leaders.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights: An Investigation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students take a closer look at the political side of the American Civil Rights Movement. In this 20th century American history lesson, students research the contributions of President Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and J. Edgar...
Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

The Bank Of Justice: Civil Rights In The US

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
To launch a study of racial segregation and integration, young historians first watch a news video about a prom in Georgia that was first integrated in 2013. They then compare the goals in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to King's "I Have a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X: A Common Solution?: Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore the ideological and political development of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X through primary source documents. They identify the various personal, social, and political factors that influenced Martin Luther...
Lesson Plan
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Facing History and Ourselves

Eyes on the Prize Lesson 1: The Philosophy of Nonviolence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of nonviolent demonstration. In this Civil Rights Movement activity, students investigate examples of injustice and discuss the philosophy of nonviolence fueled by leaders of the movement. Students apply...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

Shirley Chisholm: Unbought, Unbossed and Unforgotten

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A 13-page packet introduces high schoolers to a lady of amazing firsts. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress, the first Black woman to run for President of the United States, and a leader of the Women's Rights...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Goals and Perseverance

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Define the word perseverance to have learners understand why it is important in reaching goals. Young scholars research how Martin Luther King needed perseverance to accomplish his goals. They write acrostic poems using the word...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Making of a Holiday: MLK, Jr. Day

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore the life of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. They discuss the events surrounding his death and the significance of the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. As a class, they read about Dr. King's work for...
Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

Exploring Character Development in The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
How did the Civil Rights Movement affect young people in the United States? Scholars read Christopher Paul Curtis' novel, The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963. Next, they write compare and contrast essays showing how the main...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights Methodology Martin Luther King, Jr. – Stokely Carmichael

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Stokely Carmichael. In this African-American history lesson, students read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
Lesson Plan
C-SPAN

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Timing is everything. Introduce young historians to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" with a resource that underscores the significance of the timing of the Good Friday Birmingham march, King's subsequent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Violence Prevention

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Compare and contrast the ideologies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle schoolers conduct research regarding civil rights and rhetorical strategies used in political speechs. They examine the strategies that both men employed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. King and the Movement

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students complete activities about Dr. Martin Luther King's Civil Rights movements. In this Civil Rights lesson, students read a quote from Dr. King and discuss several questions about the topic and may use them as writing prompts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Martin Luther King Jr. Day

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore civil rights by researching the late Dr. King. In this African American leader lesson plan, 3rd graders read the book Martin's Big Words which explore the foundation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s principals and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. King's Dream

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., reflect on section of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, discuss inequities that still exist in the United States, and create picture books about their own dreams of freedom for...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech as Visual Text

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young historians watch a video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech and answer questions that test their knowledge of the event. After discussing the fact sheet, they reread the speech, select a phrase or...
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Lesson Plan: Montgomery Bus Boycott

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Most of us have heard of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King, Jr. But what about Claudette Colvin, Virginia Durr, Freedom Summer, or the Birmingham Children's Crusade? A five-lesson unit prompts class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King Jr.

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discover contributions made to society by Martin Luther King Jr.  In this civil rights history lesson, 2nd graders are read two books about Martin Luther King Jr., answer questions about the books, and complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nonviolence the Road to Freedom

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discuss the use of nonviolence.  In this civil rights movement lesson, 11th graders write a journal entry on the differences between Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., discuss nonviolence and create a poster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adding to the Picture: The 1963 March on Washington

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Who do your scholars imagine when they think about the civil rights movement? If only a few faces come to mind, this lesson plan will expand their concepts of the movement's leaders. Learners examine an image of the 1963 March on...