TeachersFirst: Martin Luther King Resources

TeachersFirst's Martin Luther King Resources

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Famous Quotes of Martin Luther King, Jr. Grade 4 to 12 - wikiquote- 3602

This site features countless quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. with reference to where and when he said them. This site can be helpful as a starting point for students to find important dates and events in Martin Luther King’s life. Be aware this site is user-contributed, but most quotes include attribution to a source. The Discussion tab at the top reveals comments by other user-contributors regarding certain quotes that they dispute.

In the Classroom:
Share these quotes with your students around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The quotes can also be used throughout the month posted for reflection or read aloud. Have students rewrite the quotes in their own words.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the Net Grade 3 to 8 - Holidays on the Web- 3601

At first glance, this site may look a bit "plain vanilla," but dig a little deeper and you will find some real gems! The site (all about Martin Luther King, Jr.) offers research information and videos of several of King's famous speeches. There are links to learn more about King, Rosa Parks, and the MLK Jr. Holiday.

Be aware: this site does have numerous advertisements. At the time of this review all advertisements were appropriate. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students close their eyes and visualize being at the speech in person.. what did they see, what did they hear, what did the feel, etc.. Have students write letters to Dr. King expressing their feelings about the speech. Use this site for research on Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and the Civil Rights movement. This site is a great addition to Black History month or Martin Luther King, Jr holiday.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change Grade 4 to 12 - The King Center- 3596

This site is one of two official Martin Luther King sites. Come to this site to learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr: his life, his legacy, the holiday honoring him, his wife and family, and more. There are video and audio inserts, PDF printables, excellent research information, and a very inspiring Flash enabled speech. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share the video and/or audio clips on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students use this site for research projects. Challenge students to write a blog from King's perspective. Have students pretend that he could write a blog for people to read in the 2000s. What would he say? Has his dream come true?

TeachersFirst Resources for Martin Luther King, Jr. Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 9700

These resources from the TeachersFirst database provide lesson ideas, activities, research materials, and interactive sites for studying Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the Classroom:
Use this collection to inspire lessons for January 15 (or the Monday holiday nearby).

MLKing Jr. Day Grade 4 to 10 - Vocabulary University- 9906

I have a dream... This site features the historical legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Here you will find interactive word puzzles, lesson plans, classroom activities, a wordbank of nearly 40 vocabulary words, discussion ideas, and more. Many of the activities are printable. This site does include some unobtrusive advertisements.

In the Classroom:
Share this site with your students around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Black History Month, or any unit that you are teaching about the Civil Rights movement. Display the interactive word puzzles on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students create blog entries in response to one of the discussion questions.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History - A Detailed Resource Grade 6 to 12 - Lousiana State Univ.- 6304

As good as any book --this site includes a lot of text. Within the text is a large number of links to other useful sites. The beginning is dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. then the rest is about Black History Month. Some of the links lead you to book resources - providing the author, name of the book, and reference ID.

In the Classroom:
This site is great for research papers and choosing topics related to Black History. Check your local library (before the lesson) to see if any of the listed books are available.

Seattle’s tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. Grade 6 to 12 - Seattle Times- 6303

This site, created by the Seattle Times, offers an impressive look into the life and words of Martin Luther King, Jr. This extensive site includes a timeline, several study guides with various higher order thinking activities, biographical information, video and audio clips, printables, links for more information, and authentic photos. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Check out these free study guides, perfect for your MLK Jr. celebration or even Black History Month. Have students respond to the "thinking questions" by creating a journal entry or blog written by King. Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector.

Exploring the Power of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Words through Diamante Poetry Grade 9 to 12 - Sharon Webster / NCTE- 5244

Reading, writing, and thinking come together with history in this beautifully detailed lesson plan that focuses on the power and passion of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. After reading and interpreting the text, students are asked to create original poetry using words and themes taken from King's speech. All materials, including rubrics, handouts and worksheets, a captioned audio clip, video clip (requiring Real Player), related Web resources, and links to NCTE/IRA standards are included. This site requires Real Player and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This lesson plan is ready to go, includes interactive elements, and is even linked to national standards. English class and history class can team up on this lesson and discuss the poetry and history behind King's magical words.

Martin Luther King Papers Project Grade 6 to 12 - Stanford University- 3987

Stanford's collection of King resources is among the most complete, and includes biographical and contextual information on King and his work. There are original documents as well as timelines and other study aids. Visit the Liberation Curriculum to find lesson plans, an online dictionary, and other features. The lesson plans are linked to California standards. The site also includes video clips that require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for research about King. Share the videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create their own videos about Martin Luther King, Jr. Be sure to check out the lesson plans: they are detailed and simple to use.

Martin Luther King, Jr.- American Civil Rights Leader Grade 6 to 12 - Lucidcafe: Library- 3599

This thorough website provides a wealth of information about Martin Luther King, Jr. The site includes research information about the Civil-Rights leader, related websites, and several video clips. There are also books and DVDs available for purchase. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for research about this great Civil-Rights leader. Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Dissect the speeches together with your students. Discuss America during King's time versus America in the 21st century. Have the class participate in a discussion via a wiki all about the speech that you share and how it had an impact on today.

Martin Luther King - Leaders and Revolutionaries Grade 6 to 12 - Time, Inc.- 1202

The Time 100 site, created for the year 2000 celebrations, offers a nice King biography, along with links to related materials and other leading figures of the 20th century. This one could be a nice starting point for school reports.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for research about King. Create a class wiki for students to discuss and compare the lives and legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr and Barack Obama. What characteristics do the men share? How are they different?

Virtual Freedom Shrine Grade 7 to 12 - National Exchange Club- 5910

This searchable, no-frills site brings together thirty historical documents that were instrumental in creating the freedoms enjoyed by Americans. It's all here - the Mayflower Compact, the 19th Amendment, Martin Luther King, Jr,'s "I have a dream" speech, and much more. Good reference site for a history or civics class.

In the Classroom:
Have each student in your class research one of these documents or speeches. Challenge students to create a multi-media presentation: PowerPoint, blog, wiki, or video. Share these documents around Martin Luther King's birthday or President's Day.

Citizen King Grade 8 to 12 - PBS Online- 5589

This companion site to a PBS special focuses on the last five years of Dr. Martin Luther King's life, from his "I Have a Dream" Speech in 1963 to his assassination in 1968. Highlights include a discussion of his non-violence philosophy, video perspectives, an interactive map of civil rights hot spots throughout the United States, several links to interactive timelines, and a teacher's guide. Several of the timelines focus on King's entire life (not just the final five years). This is a great resource for a 20th century American history class. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share the interactive videos clips and timelines on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Take advantage of the ready-to-go teacher's guide (don't miss the "hints," that offer additional tips for using this site in your classroom). Use this site for research about the civil rights movement or the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Black History Grade K to 3 - Manatee School District- 9546

Looking for some new information to share during Black History month? This site highlights some famous African-American heroes: Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, and Mary Mcleod Bethune. Each hero has his or her own page of information. These pages include reference information, clickable links (some to outside sites), photos, maps, online quizzes, and more. There are also buttons on each page that say "read." This feature reads the information out loud to the student. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Save this site in your favorites to use during black history month, for MLK Day, or during a unit on heroes. Demonstrate this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Divide your students into cooperative learning groups to explore these famous heroes. Even non-readers can participate, thanks to the "read" button. Have the groups create a simple PowerPoint or poster about the hero whom they researched. Perhaps you want to use the Project Poster tool reviewed here.

Remember Segregation Grade 8 to 12 - DDB Worldwide Communications- 6549

Visitors will find the entrance to this site a bit disturbing and uncomfortable, but it effectively conveys the reality of segregation as it was experience by millions of Americans. You must click to enter as a "White Visitor" or "Colored Visitor."

Rich in biographical information about Martin Luther King, Jr., the site features an interactive time line highlighting events in the struggle for equality, a photo gallery containing some chilling vintage photos, and audio clips and transcripts from some of King's most memorable addresses. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have students explore this site in cooperative learning groups or independently. Have each group research a different year in King's legacy (the time ranges from 1954 through the present). Challenge the groups to create multi-media presentations to share their "year."

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Nobel Lecture Grade 9 to 12 - Nobel Foundation- 6305

Dr. King's lecture on the occasion of his award of the Nobel Peace prize in 1964 has elements that still resonate in the political structure of today's world. Try this resource as part of a study on non-violence, civil rights, or government. The document is longer than some students might like, but it is not difficult reading. The site also includes a two minute sound recording that requires RealPlayer. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Since this speech (document) is so lengthy, why not break it down into several lessons. Have students dissect the words of King. What still holds true in the 21st century? What has changed?

Dr. King Timeline Grade 2 to 4 - Pocantico Hills School- 5540

Use this illustrated timeline of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life, created by kids, for kids, to help students understand the meaning of the holiday. The timeline is easy to navigate: simply click the arrows. After viewing the timeline, the site offers word searches, coloring pages, printables, interactive quizzes, and other features.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as the content for a lesson on creating timelines. Use this site (and others) to have students create their own timelines of King's life. Have students work in cooperative learning groups (or as a class) to create an interactive timeline using a tool such as XTimeline (explained here).

Remembering Martin Luther King Grade 1 to 4 - TeachersFirst- 4003

This primary-level unit offers language, math, and science activities, all built around the themes of equality and non-violence that Dr. King espoused. The activities include word banks, science experiments (some with eggs), and more. Ready to print PDF files make this unit easy to use. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Students can hone counting skills with the "Birmingham Bus" or test their powers of scientific observation by comparing brown and white eggs.

Martin Luther King Scavenger Hunt Grade 3 to 8 - Teresa Strong- 3988

Developed for students in Massachusetts, this scavenger hunt uses a number of web resources to trace the life and work of Dr. King in an elementary context. There are numerous sites to more information, all were working (except one) at the time of this review. Some of the sites require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have students work in cooperative learning groups to try this interactive scavenger hunt!

The Gift of Their Lives Grade 3 to 9 - Teaching and Learning for Peace Foundation- 9938

This WebQuest focuses on some great "heroes of peace" from the last 100-years! Students learn about changes in HOW people treat one another throughout the past century. The Process begins with reading a story called "The Wise Ones." Then students are asked to focus research on a specific peacemaker: Muhammad Ali, Mahatma Ghandi, Jane Goodall, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, or Desmond Tutu. Students are challenged to create a story (similar to the introduction story) involving the person they researched. ALL of the links to research are provided and were up to date at the time of this review. A scoring rubric is provided. Teachers - be sure to visit the Teacher Note section for additional information about this site. Some of the links to outside research require Adobe Acrobat and/or Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share the introduction on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This is a great addition to a character education unit or a unit on peace in general. While this website does offer great research and project ideas, why not make it even MORE interactive and interesting to your students? Have students work in cooperative learning groups (or independently, if you prefer) to research or compare peacemakers of the past and present. Offer students other options to research also. Why not have students write a story (as the site suggests) but use a tool to create an online book, such as Bookemon reviewed here).

Black History Homepage Grade 6 to 12 - At&T Knowledge Network- 7375

This site is a starting point for several different resources. Three are resource overviews and are reviewed here. There are also two WebQuests (reviewed separately). The site seeks to show how Black History can be explored using the World Wide Web, and includes a very large number of resources. The link labeled "Hotlist" is just that: a collection of links to sites with information related to Black History. The links are nicely sorted into categories. The link "Black History Past to Present" includes an interactive questionnaire with links to resources that might be useful in answering the questions. There are helpful summarizing questions that might lead students toward a thesis statement for an essay or project. Finally, the link "Sampling African America" acknowledges that many students may feel little connection to the issues explored under the heading "Black History" and provides a series of theme-related resources (e.g. Malcolm X, the Buffalo Soldiers, Martin Luther King, Jr., images of Blacks in European art), with thoughtful questions aimed at bringing students into connection with the issues. Some of the links require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
The real value of this site is in its push for analysis and synthesis. Many sites present a laundry list of resources, biographies, speeches and events. This site does that (and does it well), but also circles back to ask students to consider what it all might mean, and what it can mean to them personally. The text used on the site is personal and informal. Using this site with reluctant students might be enough to break through and get them involved and thinking.

The different types of web-based activities can also give you ideas for ways to structure investigations of other topics for student work on the web.

A Mini-Lesson on Semicolons Grade 6 to 8 - ReadWriteThink- 5463

Combining Martin Luther King’s "I Have a Dream" Speech with a variety of multimedia tools, this incredibly creative lesson plan explores the use of semi-colons to effectively communicate a message. Links to Web resources, NCTE/IRA standards, and PDF handouts are provided. This is a great opportunity to introduce a grammar concept using relevant examples, while providing an interdisciplinary link. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This lesson plan is ready to go, includes interactive elements, and is even linked to national standards. English and history teachers could team up on this lesson and discuss the grammar and history behind King's famous speech.

American Rhetoric- Top 100 Speeches Grade 6 to 12 - - 4589

This site provides a unique opportunities for students and teachers listen to the original audio files of some of the most pivotal American political speeches, as well as read the transcripts of many others. Either as a supplement to American History and Social Studies curriculum, or as a lesson in the role of political rhetoric in American Government, this site has a wonderful collection of primary resources.

In the Classroom:
What's unique about this site is that they have the audio to accompany the transcripts of major scripts in US history. When teaching about crucial figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., FDR or JFK use the audio to physically show students what was so monumental about their speeches. Use this site on the Interactive whiteboard or projector, just make sure your sound system is working. This would be a great resource for any history or government class.

Remembering Jim Crow Grade 6 to 12 - Minnesota Public Radio- 4006

This site from the American Radioworks series uses a series of documentary audio recordings along with text and images to tell the story of the Jim Crow segregation laws in the United States. Featuring remembrances by those who where there, the site offers an engaging perspective on an era that ended more recently than many realize. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Try this one along with Martin Luther King, Black History, or American history activities. Share the images and audio on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students write captions for the pictures or a blog entry from the perspective of the individuals in the photos.

African Americans- Biography, Autobiography, and History Grade 9 to 12 - Yale University- 3738

This section of the Avalon Project's extensive collection of documents in American law, history, and diplomacy deals with the African American experience. It consists of a selection from each of the following: Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, and Booker T. Washington. This is a great source for teachers writing document-based questions.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for research projects. Divide your class into cooperative learning groups and have each group research one of the five resources (and people) highlighted.

Heroes or Villains Grade 6 to 12 - National Archives (UK)/Learning Curve- 2200

This site explores heroes and villains of "recent history" (20th century), including Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr, Stalin, Kennedy, Mussolini, and Truman. Events include the Cuban Missile Crisis, Atom Bomb, bombing of Dresden, and more. The British National Archives presents "galleries" of primary sources related to each topic so students can investigate events as historians and draw their own conclusions. Each image is accompanied by thought-provoking questions in the caption. There are standards (aligned to UK Keystage), timelines, and more. The site includes concluding activities, ready to go as lessons!

In the Classroom:
Share these primary source materials on a projector or an interactive whiteboard. Use this site as a student-centered exploration station, asking students to respond and form their own opinions with supporting evidence. Have students create multi-media presentations to share with the class.

Way Back: Fairness Grade 4 to 8 - WGBH for PBS- 8698

Fairness is a hot issue to students. Fairness also carved out who we are as Americans. This site highlights groups of people and individuals who made a difference for many Americans. Through interactive games and biographies, students learn about the Japanese Internment, Civil Rights, Women Rights and voting, Religious Freedom and child labor. Play the Inequity Quiz with another player for educational competition. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Students will find this site a great starting place for study of civil rights and other fairness issues. Feature this as a lead-in to Martin Luther King Day, study of the Constitution, and more. Share the interactives on a whiteboard or projector for whole group interactive instruction, then assign students to explore fairness and how our country has (or has not) protected it. Follow up your social studies lesson with time for student blog-writing. They will have much to say and many comments to make to each other. Check out the "Snap Shots: What if…" section for writing prompts and pictures.

Fingerplays for Young Children Grade K to 3 - Songs for Teaching- 8465

This subsection of the Songs for Teaching site has excellent chants and other childhood favorite songs which get children moving, speaking, and rhyming. Words to the fingerplays and songs are copyable, and many contain Quicktime sound excerpt files as well (enough to get you going with the song, though not the complete song). A few even have pictures of someone going through the motions of the song or rhyme. A link to Songs for Early Childhood allows you to see even more action songs. There are even songs to go with class content, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Your kinesthetic learners will retain the concepts in these songs. ESL, ELL, and speech/language students will respond to the music; it aids with articulation, accent development, and memory. This site requires Quicktime. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this link on your teacher web page and/or in a parent newsletter so that parents can use it at home too! Don't forget to turn up your speakers if you are using the music in class. If your class responds very well to using songs, you might try writing lyrics together about something you are studying -- using one of these familiar tunes.

NewsHour Extra Lesson Plan: What is the Role of Civil Disobedience Grade 6 to 12 - PBS- 6842

This site, affiliated with the PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, presents a lesson plan related to the history of civil disobedience. The site provides a short handout for students, and a more detailed summary for teachers to prepare for discussion on civil disobedience and its role in creating change. There is also a collection of historical quotes focused on the issue, including the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Henry David Thoreau, and Bishop Desmond Tutu. You need Acrobat Reader to print the quotes and other downloadable documents. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Encouraging students to think of disobedience (of any kind) as a positive force for change will delight some students and confuse and trouble others. Depending upon their age and their intellectual and moral development, teachers should be prepared for these varied reactions. Although there is brief mention in the lesson plan of Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war protestor, there is no discussion of other contemporary issues related to terrorism, freedom versus security, or privacy. Teachers should also be prepared to have these topics enter the discussion. The historical quotes would make good bulletin board fodder or discussion (either verbal or written) prompts. Maybe try one on your class blog!

March on Washington Lesson Grade 6 to 12 - PBS Newshour- 4604

This lesson, from the web site for the PBS Newshour, offers both a set of structuring questions about integration and racism and a set of resources that documents Dr. King and the struggle for equal rights in America. The lesson includes links to important documents (some PDF files, others require Flash), extension activities, thinking questions, audio and video footage, and correlations to National Standards in history, civics, culture, and more. This site requires Adobe Acrobat and Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This lesson plan is ready to use and easy to follow! The extension activities offer some excellent higher order thinking questions. After sharing video footage with your students, why not project one of the extension activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students create a blog answering the questions in the extension activities.

History and Politics Out Loud Grade 9 to 12 - - 3858

Here’s a small site we hope will grow quickly. There are recordings of famous political speeches – including William Jennings Bryan’s “cross of gold” and Churchill’s famous “iron curtain” speech. Interestingly, many of these are in their entirety, making for listening sessions of an hour or more. History teachers will find numerous possibilities for this one, especially if the collection continues to grow. You’ll need the RealPlayer for the sound files.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to supplement a lecture on Martin Luther King and the impact of his "I have a dream" speech. Browse the results by speaker and select the speech under King's collection. After discussing King's role in civil rights, play the clip or as much of it as you can for students. Use the audio as a writing prompt, in which students respond to the difference in hearing vs reading the speech. Students should also respond to the emotional appeal of the speech, in addition to the overall message presented. This activity would be a great short review at the end of a unit on MLK Jr.

Powerful Days in Black and White Grade 4 to 12 - Kodak- 3580

Kodak's site featuring the photos of Charles Moore contains many images of Dr. King and the nonviolent struggle for racial equality in the American south during the 1960s. These are striking images. Preview before sharing with younger students.

In the Classroom:
Share the photos on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Discuss the pictures as a class. What were the lives of those in the photos like? Have students choose one photo that was the most powerful and write a journal entry about that photo.

Day of Service Grade 4 to 12 - U.S. Government- 1203

Here's a site that asks students to live up to Dr. King's ideals by engaging in a service project to help those less fortunate than they. Learn about King, his ideals, and how to serve.

In the Classroom:
Teachers looking for a meaningful way to honor Dr. King might find this approach attractive. Share the Why Serve link with your class and discuss how serving can change their lives. Why not come up with a class community service project to do in honor of Dr. King?