When it comes to BIG topics like Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Movement, social justice, and SO many more, it sometimes feels too big to tackle. We worry about getting everything “right” and coming up with the perfect lesson.
There is no perfect lesson.
The important thing is to bring up these topics in your teaching. And, bring them up frequently because doing so will:
- allow your students to see that understanding our country’s past is essential to understanding the present.
- encourage your students to value social justice.
- help your black/brown/LGBTQ+ students feel they are valued.
- show your white students that social justice is not just something that historically underrepresented groups should care about. Social justice is an issue that should be important to all people.
So, start with anything. As Anna says in Frozen 2, you just need to “do the next right thing.” In that spirit, here are some resources you can use in your middle school classroom to help your students learn more about Martin Luther King and the rights for which he fought:
Martin Luther King Quotes – Link
- The MLK memorial in Washington, D.C. is an amazing site and is filled with quotes that educate and inspire. One idea is to give students this link and ask them to choose the quote that they like the best. Then, they can explain why it is their favorite. They can then do a quick share with a partner.
Martin Luther King Quick Bio – LINK
- This page provides a quick biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. The text is accessible for most middle school students. The organization of this page is great for finding important dates. Because of this, it is an ideal site to use for students to create a timeline of King’s life.
Preserving Martin Luther King’s Homes Video – LINK
- This video is engaging for students, and you can use this video to have students discuss why it is important to preserve historic places and what historic places can teach us.
Martin Luther King Encyclopedia – LINK
- This website from the Stanford King Research and Education Institute is an excellent site for finding information about King’s life and accomplishments. If you’d like your students to research any MLK-related topics, this is a valuable tool.
Need a Martin Luther King, Jr. Lesson now?
If you are looking for a no-prep digital activity you can use TODAY, check out these two no-prep lessons:
Martin Luther King Complete Digital Lesson with Self-Checking Digital Activity – You get a complete digital lesson with lesson plan that is ready to go & will save you time. Your students will enjoy the fun & engaging Digital Progression Art Activity that shows them if their answer is right or wrong.
Martin Luther King Webquest – This webquest is ready to assign to your middle school students. It focuses on four aspects of King’s legacy: the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students are provided with links and answer the questions on a Google Doc. An extension activity is included for early finishers.
