Free! Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Lesson Plans
This free lesson set is an engaging and creative way to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a wide-range of elementary learners. First, read Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison. Then, pick from a series of optional activities to deepen student understanding: watch any or all of the recommended short videos, have a discussion using the prompts provided, learn and sing a song the children of Birmingham sang in their march, or work on one of three provided activity pages. The activity pages all build on the discussion prompts and ask students to explore three organizing tactics used by Dr. King and the thousands who worked with him in the pursuit of civil rights. Students are invited to design a button about an issue they care about, write a letter to an elected official about that same issue, and create slogans or images for protest signs about that issue.
This lesson suite was designed to help elementary learners (from K-6 and even beyond) understand that while Dr. King was a hugely important figure in the civil rights movement, he was not working alone. Thousands and thousands of everyday people fought alongside him, including children! And that work continues today. The prompts and activities help kids explore the many tactics used by organizers working for social change and shows them that they can advocate for the causes they care about in a number of ways.
Book
Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison
Short, Age-Appropriate Video Recommendations
An overview of the life and work of Dr. King, the I Have a Dream Speech, an explanation of the Birmingham Children's March, and videos to learn protest songs the children sang while they marched.
Discussion Prompts
Thoughtful questions designed to get students brainstorming about issues they care about and then use higher-order thinking skills to prioritize those issues.
Music Activity
Learn two of the songs the children of Birmingham used in their march!
Three Activity Pages
Synthesize this learning with activities designed to put students in the position of movement organizers. Design a button, write (or draw) a letter, and create slogans and graphics for a march or protest.
This free lesson set is an engaging and creative way to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a wide-range of elementary learners. First, read Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison. Then, pick from a series of optional activities to deepen student understanding: watch any or all of the recommended short videos, have a discussion using the prompts provided, learn and sing a song the children of Birmingham sang in their march, or work on one of three provided activity pages. The activity pages all build on the discussion prompts and ask students to explore three organizing tactics used by Dr. King and the thousands who worked with him in the pursuit of civil rights. Students are invited to design a button about an issue they care about, write a letter to an elected official about that same issue, and create slogans or images for protest signs about that issue.
This lesson suite was designed to help elementary learners (from K-6 and even beyond) understand that while Dr. King was a hugely important figure in the civil rights movement, he was not working alone. Thousands and thousands of everyday people fought alongside him, including children! And that work continues today. The prompts and activities help kids explore the many tactics used by organizers working for social change and shows them that they can advocate for the causes they care about in a number of ways.
Book
Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison
Short, Age-Appropriate Video Recommendations
An overview of the life and work of Dr. King, the I Have a Dream Speech, an explanation of the Birmingham Children's March, and videos to learn protest songs the children sang while they marched.
Discussion Prompts
Thoughtful questions designed to get students brainstorming about issues they care about and then use higher-order thinking skills to prioritize those issues.
Music Activity
Learn two of the songs the children of Birmingham used in their march!
Three Activity Pages
Synthesize this learning with activities designed to put students in the position of movement organizers. Design a button, write (or draw) a letter, and create slogans and graphics for a march or protest.
This free lesson set is an engaging and creative way to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a wide-range of elementary learners. First, read Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison. Then, pick from a series of optional activities to deepen student understanding: watch any or all of the recommended short videos, have a discussion using the prompts provided, learn and sing a song the children of Birmingham sang in their march, or work on one of three provided activity pages. The activity pages all build on the discussion prompts and ask students to explore three organizing tactics used by Dr. King and the thousands who worked with him in the pursuit of civil rights. Students are invited to design a button about an issue they care about, write a letter to an elected official about that same issue, and create slogans or images for protest signs about that issue.
This lesson suite was designed to help elementary learners (from K-6 and even beyond) understand that while Dr. King was a hugely important figure in the civil rights movement, he was not working alone. Thousands and thousands of everyday people fought alongside him, including children! And that work continues today. The prompts and activities help kids explore the many tactics used by organizers working for social change and shows them that they can advocate for the causes they care about in a number of ways.
Book
Let the Children March by Monica Clarke-Robinson and Frank Morrison
Short, Age-Appropriate Video Recommendations
An overview of the life and work of Dr. King, the I Have a Dream Speech, an explanation of the Birmingham Children's March, and videos to learn protest songs the children sang while they marched.
Discussion Prompts
Thoughtful questions designed to get students brainstorming about issues they care about and then use higher-order thinking skills to prioritize those issues.
Music Activity
Learn two of the songs the children of Birmingham used in their march!
Three Activity Pages
Synthesize this learning with activities designed to put students in the position of movement organizers. Design a button, write (or draw) a letter, and create slogans and graphics for a march or protest.