Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning to Respect Each Other

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Discover how important Martin Luther King Jr. is to our society. For this civil rights lesson, investigate how Dr. King was an advocate for nonviolence and how he fought for civil rights for all Americans. Read and analyze Dr. King's "I...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Roots of Ahimsa

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the philosophy of nonviolence. In this Ghandi instructional activity, students discover that Gandhi inspired many civil rights leaders with the idea of ahimsa. Students complete venn diagrams, create timelines,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marching For Freedom

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students appreciate the sacrifices that people from across the country made to ensure that all citizens could exercise their constitutional right to vote. They access excellent websites and documents imbedded in this plan to guide their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Segregation

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the implications of prejudice. In this segregation lesson, students experience a simulation that has school staff favoring students with blue eyes. Students discuss the simulation experience, watch "The Eye of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Makings of a Great Leader: The Childhood of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
  Students examine why Martin Luther King, Jr. is considered to be such a great man, by listening to the many anecdotes about his experiences.  In this Martin Luther King, Jr. lesson, students read the story about Ruby Bridges...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 2nd - 5th
In this comprehension worksheet, students read a selection about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and answer a set of 10 fill-in-the-blank comprehension questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mandela The Man

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore civil rights by reading several biographies. In this Nelson Mandela lesson, 9th graders discuss the trials and tribulations Nelson Mandela had to face in South Africa and how they were similar to the problems Martin...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Court Documents Related to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read about the civil rights movement in their textbooks. They engage in a whole-class discussion of how nonviolent direct action can be a powerful tool for bringing about social, economic, or political change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine and discuss Dr. King's fight for equality and justice in the Civil Rights Movement. They locate words in a dictionary, read and interpret a poem about Martin Luther King, Jr., and discuss the holiday celebrated in his...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Amid Rising Economic Inequality, Does America Need a Third Reconstruction?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young political scientists investigate the Poor People's Campaign protest held in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 2022. They research how the event was reported in various news outlets and consider their stance on whether...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Influencing Others in Our World

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover that the actions of people can have a positive influence on a community. They use a variety of resources to research biographies of African Americans. Students research and discuss the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.,...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The Legacy of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

For Teachers 5th - 8th
January is the birth month of a man who made an impact around the world. We can appreciate the legacy of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just-Us and Kindness: A Voice for Children: King Day

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate philanthropy. In this service learning instructional activity, 8th graders read human rights literature and use information gleaned to discuss children's rights around the world. Students discuss scenarios...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King Day

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students access a varitey of Martin Luther King, Jr. themed websites. They locate information about Dr. King and his leadership in the American civil rights movement. They take a virtual tour of his birth home and view photographic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How does it feel? Why is the Civil Rights Movement so Important?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 5th graders simulate what life was like during the Civil War by having two groups with one group given more materials than the other group. Students then draw a...
Worksheet
Student Handouts

Letter from Birmingham Jail

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
Analyze an abridged version of Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Class members read the excerpt and respond to four provided questions, which focus on the content provided. Consider taking the time to read the entire...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Exploring the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A discussion of Martin Luther King Jr. can lead to an exploration of history, civil rights, and social justice.
Lesson Plan
PBS

The Sixties: Hitsville USA

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
James Jamerson. You probably heard him but may not have heard of him. But fans of Motown Records will certainly recognize his contributions to the sound that desegregated popular music during the 1960s. Challenge young history...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this Martin Luther King learning exercise, students read a passage about King. They then answer six multiple choice recall questions about the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept of non-violent resistance. In this political philosophies lesson, students study the political tactics of Mohandas Gandhi, Henry David Thoreau, and Martin Luther King, Jr. in order to discover how each of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Music of the Civil Rights Era

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students summarize the major events of the Civil Rights Movement. They examine leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and what they did for the movement. They also listen to music from the Civil Rights Era and their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

King's Dream Revisited

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They complete a Webquest, listen to an excerpt from a speech, take an online quiz, answer discussion questions, and read newspaper articles about current...
Lesson Plan
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Center for Civic Education

The Power of Nonviolence: Change Through Strategic Nonviolent Action

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How did major historical figures, such as Henry David Thoreau, Susan B. Anthony, and Mohandas K. Gandhi, explain and defend their beliefs in nonviolence? Your learners will begin by studying the backgrounds of these individuals, and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Poor People's Campaign

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners research and analyze the campaign that was conceived by Dr. Martin Luther King, The Poor People's Campaign. The concepts of poverty and cultural diversity along with the Civil Rights Movement is also covered in detail within...