Read, Write, Paint, and Sing...Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King
Help celebrate the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his efforts to peacefully bring people together, especially people of different races. After reviewing experiences in the life of this important leader, students will learn a simple song in his honor, create artwork or write pieces that exemplify his message of cooperation, freedom, equality, and respect.
Essential Question
What skills and talents allowed Dr. King to work peacefully towards the integration of the United States?
Grade(s):
- Kindergarten
- 1
- 2
- 4
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
smartboard
computer
laptop
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
poster board
construction paper
crayons
markers
scissors
glue
glitter
Lesson Progression
1. Introduce the Civil rights movement and segregration. Allow time for students to share what they know about each.
2. Choose 1-2 of the videos provided about the civil rights movement and segration. Watch the videos, and lead a class discussion after each.
3. Following the videos, lead a class discussion about each. Students should share what they notice, what they learned, and any wonderings they may still have. After watching videos, discuss the problems of the United States/ segregation & the problems for any groups of citizens who were NOT having all the freedoms promised by our country.
4. Explain and discuss how these lifeskill words relate to the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: RESPECT, KINDNESS, PERSERVERANCE, COURAGE
5. Play the song SING ABOUT MARTIN several times as a class. After students are comfortable with the simple words, stand and sing, add clapping and any movements that "work" with the spirit of the song.
6. Provide materials and space for students to make posters, write poems, etc. that reinforce the importance of freedom and equality for all people.
7. Students may choose to complete this assignment individually or in small groups. The assignment can also be done electronically.
8. Allow time for students to share their work with the class if they choose to do so.
MLK QUOTES with art
These are examples of ideas that can get students designing and drawing.
View ResourceMore MLK quotes
Feel free to use these or other quotes from Dr. King, but let students use their own imaginations with their artistic ideas!
View ResourceUNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPS, by Jennifer S. Holland
This is an amazing book of friendships between animals that usually don't "get along", etc. It shows that sometimes, in a safe and loving environment, BEINGS, whether animals or humans, can bond together and come to understand each other....This is a good lesson for humans of all colors and nationalities.
View ResourceDR.KING QUOTES AND PORTRAIT IDEAS
Encourage students to draw a portrait of Dr. King, and include a quote. Or they could include Mrs. KIng, also. Remember, it doesn't have to look exact...it can be their "artist's interpretation"!
View ResourceSING ABOUT MARTIN-song
This is a beautiful, simple sing-along song celebrating the caring and peace-loving nature of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
View ResourceI HAVE A DREAM - famous speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is film footage of the March On Washington, held in Washington, DC in 1963. Demonstrators were peacefully marching to support Civil Rights and desegregation in the U.S.
View ResourceTen Famous Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Another YOUTUBE resource of famous and inspiring quotes by Dr. King.
This resource is a VIDEO, but has the quotes written with a musical background...VERY HELPFUL to stop the video after each quote and discuss the meaning . [especially for the older grades
The Best 30 Quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr./ Civil Rights Activist and Minister
These quotes are written with a musical background playing...making it easy to pause the video and discuss the quotes.
View ResourceMARTIN'S BIG WORDS
This is a picture book about Dr. Martin Luther King, with great facts and illustrations. It is a great read- aloud for grades K-5, containing excellent facts about his life, his early motivations for wanting to change segregation in the southern states, and his contributions to this cause.
View ResourceStandards
- K.4 Utilize the college and career skills of a political scientist to understand and display civic dispositions in one’s personal community.
- 1.4 Utilize the college and career skills of a political scientist to understand and display civic dispositions about contemporary South Carolina.
- 2.CG.2 Use primary and secondary sources to research a national figure who demonstrated civic dispositions.
- 2.H.1 Identify and compare significant historical events, moments, and symbols in U.S. history.
- 4.5.CC Identify and evaluate the impact of economic, political, and social events on the African American experience throughout Reconstruction.
Assessments
*Learn the song SING ABOUT MARTIN [ by memory , singing with the YOUTUBE music provided],
* Each student will make or write a project :
1.Design and draw at least 1 poster about Dr. King's ideals...but hopefully MORE THAN ONE!!
2. Write a short "speech" [paragraph, monologue] or poem about freedom, desegregation, treating all citizens fairly, etc. Read it for the class,[ or let the teacher read it, if that's comfortable for the student.]
3.Post these student works in hallways,on bulletin boards, etc. to share with others in the school.