Prologue
Essential Question- How do the things that Martin Luther King Jr. said in the 1960’s, during the Civil Rights Movement, relate to our lives today?
Lesson Summary- Students will review what they already know about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. based on previous classroom activities and discussions. The instructor will read the book “Martin’s Big Words”, asking students to think about how the things Dr. King said relate to their own lives. Students will then choose from a sampling of preselected quotes by Dr. King and draw a picture showing what that quote means to them. The lesson will conclude with reviewing the song “We Shall Overcome” and thinking about the lyrics in light of what we have learned.
Lesson Instructions
a. Introduction- Song: “I have a dream.” by Daria.
-Review what we know about MLK. Give students one minute to think back on what they can remember about MLK. Write student responses on the board.
1. I Have a Dream Speech
2. Wanted equal rights for all people.
3. Led marches.
4. Died.
b. Instruction
-“Martin’s Big Words” Picture walk:
1. Show students the book, “Martin’s Big Words.”
2. Tell them we will be reading the book to learn more about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
3. Go through the book, just looking at the pictures. Ask students to talk about what they think is happening in the pictures.
4. Point out the quotations throughout the book. Tell students that the quotes on each page are things that Dr. King actually said.
– Read the book “Martin’s Big Words”
1. Ask students to think about the quotes from Dr. King as you read. How do these quotes relate to the story?
2. Ask questions relating to the information given on each set of pages or to the quotes being used. How does this relate to Martin’s overall message?
3. After reading, ask students to think about what is meant by “big words”. What “big words” do you remember from the story?
4. Show students the last page of the book. What are the “big words” that are shown? Why?
-Picture pages
1. Ask students to select one of the pre-selected quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that they most relate to. Students will receive a strip of paper with their selected quote.
2. Talk through how to decide what to draw.
a. What does the quote mean to you?
b. How does it relate to your life and your experiences?
c. What pictures do you see in your mind when you think about this quote?
3. Show students a sample of a drawing with a quote to model how to put the picture and quote together.
4. Give each student a picture page.
5. Instruct students to draw a picture that shows what their selected quote means to them.
6. As students work, ask them about what they have chosen to draw and how it relates to their selected quote.
7. Have students cut out the square containing their picture and glue their quote to either the top or bottom of the picture.
c. Closure- Sing We Shall Overcome
– Ask students to think about the meaning of the words of to the song in relation to what we have just read and talked about.
d. Assessment
-Student drawings and/or explanation of their drawings show some personal connection to the quote they were given and/or information from the text.
-Students demonstrate listening and understanding by means of participation in class discussions and one-on-one conversations.
Materials
- Songs- “I Have A Dream” by Daria and “We Shall Overcome” sung by Woodie Guthrie
- Book- “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” by Doreen Rappaport
- Strips of paper with selected quotes by Dr. King
- Picture pages for students to create drawings on
- Markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
- Scissors
- Glue Sticks
Downloads
Lesson Duration
60 minutes
Tags
- civil rights
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Categories
- Civics and Government
- History
- Language Arts
- Social Studies
Standards
- Common Core ELA
- National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
- Common Core ELA
- Reading: Informational Text
- Speaking & Listening
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Other/Alternative Standard(s)
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