Classroom Lessons for MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day is a U.S. federal holiday on the third Monday of January, honoring the life and legacy of the civil rights leader by recognizing his fight against racial discrimination through peaceful activism, and it’s also designated as a national day of service to encourage community volunteering and building Dr. King’s “Beloved Community”. It falls near his January 15th birthday and became a federal holiday in 1986 after a long campaign. MLK Day this year is Monday, January 19th, and these resources from The King Center and the Center for Civic Education can help teach classroom lessons about MLK Day and King’s legacy.
1. It Starts With Me! Elementary Grade Curriculum. It Starts With Me! is a heartwarming children’s book that follows the inspiring journey of Amora, a young girl who embraces kindness, courage, and connection. This curriculum is designed to enrich the book’s message with thoughtfully crafted learning experiences. The curriculum supports students’ development of key literacy skills—including plot, character development, and identifying central ideas and details—while helping them connect the story to everyday experiences and challenges. Spanning six flexible lessons for elementary age learners, this resource equips students with age-appropriate tools to grow their sense of self and responsibility and build healthy relationships.
2. How Does the Constitution Safeguard the Right to Equal Protection of the Law? We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution, Level 2, Lesson 26. Middle School (Grades 7-9). In this lesson, students are introduced to one of the most important parts of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution—the equal protection clause. When your students finish this lesson, they will be able to explain the purpose of the equal protection clause. They will also be able to describe some of the steps that Congress, the executive branch, the U.S. Supreme Court, and citizens have taken to end unfair discrimination in our nation.
3. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Power of Words. High School (Grades 7-12). In this lesson, students have the opportunity to discuss how words have the power to bring about political, social, or economic change in society. By reviewing quotations from various leaders, activists, and others, students can begin to understand how ideas have an impact on the hearts and minds of people and can be a catalyst for change. Finally, students will reflect on the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and determine their relevance to the political, social, and economic issues of today.
4. How Have Civil Rights Movements Resulted in Fundamental Political and Social Change in the United States? High School (Grades 10-12). In this lesson, the Declaration of Independence is celebrated for its commitment to the principles of human liberty and equality. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal treatment under the law. This lesson focuses on political and social movements that have used and continue to use the Declaration and the Fourteenth Amendment to effect fundamental political and social change in the United States.
Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services