Curated OER
Martin Luther King and Writing as a Tool for Social Change
Students explore writing as an agent for social change. In this Social Studies lesson, students examine the power of writing using Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Students will practice the technique of persuasive writing by...
Curated OER
MLK: using Nonviolence to Make Positive Change
Students read about Martin Luther King and discuss the rights and responsibilities of citizens. In this Martin Luther King lesson, students recognize the vocabulary words associated with freedom and nonviolence. Students view a digital...
Curated OER
African Americans in California’s Heartland – The Civil Rights Era
Events related to the Civil Rights Movement in Sacramento, California during the 1960s offer class members an opportunity to compare the nonviolent resistance approach favored by Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP with those of the...
Curated OER
Religion in Social Change: What's God Got To Do With It?
Young scholars determine how religion influences social change. In this religion and social change lesson, students examine how the religious beliefs of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were inspirational as they worked to...
Curated OER
Continuing Gandhi's Legacy of Cross-Cultural Understanding: Central Asia and the Middle East
Students investigate the lifestyle of Gandhi by creating a Venn Diagram. In this biographical lesson, students compare the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi while discussing their teaching methods. Students utilize the...
Curated OER
I Have a Dream Podcasts
Young scholars write dream speeches and record them as Mp3's. In this speech lesson plan, students watch Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have Dream Speech." They use the writing process to develop a dream speech which they rehearse. They...
Facing History and Ourselves
Eyes on the Prize Lesson 1: The Philosophy of Nonviolence
Learners explore the concept of nonviolent demonstration. In this Civil Rights Movement activity, students investigate examples of injustice and discuss the philosophy of nonviolence fueled by leaders of the movement. Learners apply...
National Endowment for the Humanities
A Raisin in the Sun: Whose "American Dream"?
How does Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun factor into a discussion of the American dream? High schoolers define the American dream and recognize the historical setting of the play. Additionally, they identify forms of...
Curated OER
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a study in celebrating people
Learners analyze obstacles in their own life by studying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In this humanity lesson, students create T-charts listing the obstacles one faces in life and how they can be overcome. Learners compare and contrast...
Facing History and Ourselves
Emmett Till: Choosing to Remember
Mamie Till, the mother of Emmett Till and civil rights activist, believed that her son's murder was the last straw before public outrage over racial injustice spilled over into the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. A history...
Curated OER
The Power of Protest
Students recognize the power of protest. For this civil rights lesson, students consider the success of Rosa Parks and her protest that sparked the movement. Students study the Montgomery Bus Boycott in depth and reflect on Parks's...
Curated OER
Peacemaker Biographies
Students examine the lives of people who stood up for their beliefs. In this biography instructional activity, students research the lives of people such as Gandi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Robert Kennedy. Students use a graphic...
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Jr.
Second graders discover contributions made to society by Martin Luther King Jr. In this civil rights history lesson, 2nd graders are read two books about Martin Luther King Jr., answer questions about the books, and complete a timeline...
Curated OER
Responses to Racially Imbalanced Schools
Young scholars explore the implications of segregation. In this Civil Rights lesson, students investigate what equal education is as they discover the state of Boston schools in 1960. Young scholars define civil rights and discrimination...
Curated OER
Contributions that Martin Luther King Jr. Made to Society
Second graders discover the positive effects Martin Luther King, Jr. had on society. In this U.S. history instructional activity, 2nd graders investigate racial tensions from sixty to seventy years ago and view a video about MLK, Jr....
Curated OER
A New Twist on Race Relations
Learners analyze the impact of American Bandstand on race relations. In this race relations instructional activity, students use the music and dance show American Bandstand to learn about race relations. Learners categorize pivotal...
Curated OER
Social Activism in the United States
Seventh graders explore the goals of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. In this US History lesson plan, 7th graders read a newspaper article that reported a significant event during this era. Students write a summary of...
Curated OER
Religion and the Civil Rights Movement
Young scholars investigate the role of religion in the Civil Rights Movement. In this religion and ethics lesson, students explore the separation of church and state as they examine how religious faith has inspired social change in the...
Curated OER
Who Is Sarah Mae Fleming?
Fifth graders learn about two influential women. In this historical figures lesson, 5th graders work in groups to read articles about Rosa Parks and Sarah Fleming and share their findings with the class. Students use a Venn Diagram to...
Curated OER
I Have a Metaphor
Learners locate the literary devices used in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. In this figurative language lesson plan, young scholars first distinguish between similes, metaphors, analogies, personification, etc....
Curated OER
Fair Responses to Unfair Acts
Students understand the sacrifices and problems in undoing an unfair situation. In this unfairness lesson plan, students discuss the reasons for the Montgomery Boycott and discuss worksheet and feelings about dealing with unfair situations.
Curated OER
The Story of Emmett Till
Students discover the story of Emmett Till. In this Civil Rights Movement lesson, students watch "Awakenings" and investigate the impact of the Emmett Till lynching. Students compose an essay that explore the lynching as a pivotal moment...
Curated OER
Just-Us and Kindness: A Voice for Children: King Day
Eighth graders investigate philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, 8th graders read human rights literature and use information gleaned to discuss children's rights around the world. Students discuss scenarios meant to prompt...
Curated OER
Put Your Hands in Mine: King Day
Students examine the concepts of human and civil rights. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students watch The Mighty Times: The Children March. Students discuss concepts relating to civil rights and change.