Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom
As we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we have the opportunity to teach students about Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights, and tolerance. We’ve curated a variety of videos, lesson plans, resources, and other activities to help you.
Videos
Martin Luther King, Jr. (BrainPop.com)
Martin Luther King Jr. – Pastor (History.com)
Martin Luther King, Jr. (History.com)
Montgomery Bus Boycott (History.com)
March from Selma to Montgomery (History.com)
Bloody Sunday (History.com)
King Leads the March on Washington (History.com)
Martin Luther King Jr. – House Bombing (History.com)
Separate But Not Equal (History.com)
Lesson Plans, Resources, and Activities
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Racial and Social Justice: A Curriculum for Empowerment provided by the National Park Service
A teacher’s resource guide that provides activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to explore the rich history of the civil rights movement and the persona of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This educational curriculum was developed by The Alonzo Crim Center for Excellence in Urban Education at Georgia State University. 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.
The Spirit of Service by Scholastic
Curriculum-focused service lessons for grades 3–5 and 6–8. Teach your students about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and inspire them to “lead in deed.” Classroom-friendly resources, including videos, news articles, photographs, book lists, and lesson plans to support your Common Core work.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Standford University
The King Institute provides document-based lesson plans, online educational resources and professional development with emphasis on the modern African American Freedom Struggle. Our resources focus not only on King’s visionary ideas, but also the work of ordinary people who have made extraordinary contributions to liberation movements.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day classroom resources by PBS Newshour Extra
Examine Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with lesson plans and videos. Use classroom resources to examine King’s impact on civil rights and his ongoing legacy with your students.
Observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by PBS LearningMedia
Join PBS LearningMedia in observing and celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with this special collection of resources related to Dr. King and his achievements.
Martin Luther King, Jr. lesson ideas by BrainPop
Teaching Tolerance by California Casualty
How do you observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the classroom? Drop us a comment!
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