Malcolm X Elementary Lesson Set
Let’s celebrate Malcolm X!
May 19, 2025 marks the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, aka el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. There has never been a better time to learn about the life and legacy of this tremendous and often misunderstood leader in the cause of human rights. This 13-page PDF lesson set was designed to pair with the book Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz and AG Ford.
This lesson set contains:
recommended video resources
critical thinking discussion questions
a recommended podcast episode and discussion guide for the educator
Preconceived Notions: Malcolm X activity page - preconceived notions are ideas we have about something or someone before we spend any time researching the facts. These ideas come from stuff we’ve heard from other people, seen on videos or TV, or been exposed to in some other way. Preconceived notions shape what we believe and, because they're based more on vibes than facts, they can be inaccurate. Use the provided activity page to explore your preconceived notions about Malcolm X before beginning this lesson set.
Malcolm Little: Impactful Moments activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate two moments from Malcolm Little’s childhood and describe how you think Malcolm may have felt in response to these events
Malcolm Little: Growing Plants, Building Character activity page - through gardening, Louise Little taught Malcom and his siblings so many admirable character traits, like diligence, self-reliance, confidence, and more. Use the provided activity page to think about your relationship with plants and yourself.
Malcolm Little: Color and Gray activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate the two sides of Malcolm X’s childhood and to consider a time when you felt life was colorful and vibrant, or about a time when life felt muted gray.
Take Action: Spread the Message, Share the Love activity page - make a Black is Beautiful poster to celebrate one of the key tenets of Malcolm X’s message.
What Should We Do About This Troll? activity page - We promise this is relevant! Imagine that there’s a big ferocious bloodthirsty troll that lives in a forest that you absolutely have to get through--what should you do? Illustrate your solution to this big problem on the provided activity page (a discussion will follow).
Martin and Malcom activity page - People are always more complicated than the stories we tell about them. Martin Luther King was not just about peace and love and he certainly wasn’t about not acknowledging differences in skin color, even though he’s often portrayed that way today. Likewise, Malcolm X was not a caricature violent radical. Explore their similarities and differences on the provided activity page.
Educator Notes: Martin and Malcolm - after the previous two activities have been completed, follow the steps in this educator discussion facilitation guide to help students explore the complications in the often oversimplified presentation of Malcolm X vs. MLK.
Afterthoughts: Malcolm X activity page - After learning a bit about Malcolm X, consider the preconceived notions that you wrote prior to the lesson as you answer the questions on the provided activity page.
This is a 13-page PDF elementary lesson set.
Let’s celebrate Malcolm X!
May 19, 2025 marks the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, aka el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. There has never been a better time to learn about the life and legacy of this tremendous and often misunderstood leader in the cause of human rights. This 13-page PDF lesson set was designed to pair with the book Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz and AG Ford.
This lesson set contains:
recommended video resources
critical thinking discussion questions
a recommended podcast episode and discussion guide for the educator
Preconceived Notions: Malcolm X activity page - preconceived notions are ideas we have about something or someone before we spend any time researching the facts. These ideas come from stuff we’ve heard from other people, seen on videos or TV, or been exposed to in some other way. Preconceived notions shape what we believe and, because they're based more on vibes than facts, they can be inaccurate. Use the provided activity page to explore your preconceived notions about Malcolm X before beginning this lesson set.
Malcolm Little: Impactful Moments activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate two moments from Malcolm Little’s childhood and describe how you think Malcolm may have felt in response to these events
Malcolm Little: Growing Plants, Building Character activity page - through gardening, Louise Little taught Malcom and his siblings so many admirable character traits, like diligence, self-reliance, confidence, and more. Use the provided activity page to think about your relationship with plants and yourself.
Malcolm Little: Color and Gray activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate the two sides of Malcolm X’s childhood and to consider a time when you felt life was colorful and vibrant, or about a time when life felt muted gray.
Take Action: Spread the Message, Share the Love activity page - make a Black is Beautiful poster to celebrate one of the key tenets of Malcolm X’s message.
What Should We Do About This Troll? activity page - We promise this is relevant! Imagine that there’s a big ferocious bloodthirsty troll that lives in a forest that you absolutely have to get through--what should you do? Illustrate your solution to this big problem on the provided activity page (a discussion will follow).
Martin and Malcom activity page - People are always more complicated than the stories we tell about them. Martin Luther King was not just about peace and love and he certainly wasn’t about not acknowledging differences in skin color, even though he’s often portrayed that way today. Likewise, Malcolm X was not a caricature violent radical. Explore their similarities and differences on the provided activity page.
Educator Notes: Martin and Malcolm - after the previous two activities have been completed, follow the steps in this educator discussion facilitation guide to help students explore the complications in the often oversimplified presentation of Malcolm X vs. MLK.
Afterthoughts: Malcolm X activity page - After learning a bit about Malcolm X, consider the preconceived notions that you wrote prior to the lesson as you answer the questions on the provided activity page.
This is a 13-page PDF elementary lesson set.
Let’s celebrate Malcolm X!
May 19, 2025 marks the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, aka el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. There has never been a better time to learn about the life and legacy of this tremendous and often misunderstood leader in the cause of human rights. This 13-page PDF lesson set was designed to pair with the book Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz and AG Ford.
This lesson set contains:
recommended video resources
critical thinking discussion questions
a recommended podcast episode and discussion guide for the educator
Preconceived Notions: Malcolm X activity page - preconceived notions are ideas we have about something or someone before we spend any time researching the facts. These ideas come from stuff we’ve heard from other people, seen on videos or TV, or been exposed to in some other way. Preconceived notions shape what we believe and, because they're based more on vibes than facts, they can be inaccurate. Use the provided activity page to explore your preconceived notions about Malcolm X before beginning this lesson set.
Malcolm Little: Impactful Moments activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate two moments from Malcolm Little’s childhood and describe how you think Malcolm may have felt in response to these events
Malcolm Little: Growing Plants, Building Character activity page - through gardening, Louise Little taught Malcom and his siblings so many admirable character traits, like diligence, self-reliance, confidence, and more. Use the provided activity page to think about your relationship with plants and yourself.
Malcolm Little: Color and Gray activity page - use the provided activity page to illustrate the two sides of Malcolm X’s childhood and to consider a time when you felt life was colorful and vibrant, or about a time when life felt muted gray.
Take Action: Spread the Message, Share the Love activity page - make a Black is Beautiful poster to celebrate one of the key tenets of Malcolm X’s message.
What Should We Do About This Troll? activity page - We promise this is relevant! Imagine that there’s a big ferocious bloodthirsty troll that lives in a forest that you absolutely have to get through--what should you do? Illustrate your solution to this big problem on the provided activity page (a discussion will follow).
Martin and Malcom activity page - People are always more complicated than the stories we tell about them. Martin Luther King was not just about peace and love and he certainly wasn’t about not acknowledging differences in skin color, even though he’s often portrayed that way today. Likewise, Malcolm X was not a caricature violent radical. Explore their similarities and differences on the provided activity page.
Educator Notes: Martin and Malcolm - after the previous two activities have been completed, follow the steps in this educator discussion facilitation guide to help students explore the complications in the often oversimplified presentation of Malcolm X vs. MLK.
Afterthoughts: Malcolm X activity page - After learning a bit about Malcolm X, consider the preconceived notions that you wrote prior to the lesson as you answer the questions on the provided activity page.
This is a 13-page PDF elementary lesson set.