Printable Activities for Martin Luther King, Jr Day

I don't know what this coming weekend before the inauguration holds. All I know is that this year has started in such a way that the words of Martin Luther King, Jr ring in my ears...

“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

and...

“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”

There's a lot of hate and anger in this country right now. And a lot of misinformation or outright lies. 

The only way I know to combat all of this is by focusing on our children. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children."

So what better way to start, than with Martin Luther King, Jr. himself? Here is a list (in order of target age) of my printable activities for learning about the activist and civil rights movement leader.

Martin Luther King Jr. Bilingual Coloring Activity

FREE! A simple color-by-number activity for introducing Martin Luther King, Jr. to younger children in preschool and lower elementary.

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Triptych Activity

In this writing triptych, kids can read a little bit about Martin Luther King, Jr. and read some quotes from his famous speech. They can color it, and draw or paste a picture of themselves on one of the folds of the triptych. Then they can think about the quotes and write a few words (short paragraph) sharing their own hopes for this country.

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Activity

This simple activity allows students to write their own ending to Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. They simply color in the base sheet and write in their ending, before coloring in and attaching a flap-style poster to the top.

A Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this easy, noprep, printable poster and glossary! Available in full color or black-and-white, you can decorate your classroom or have your students color in the poster and read the glossary which features words related to Dr. King.

Bilingual Martin Luther King, Jr. Activities BUNDLE

SAVE! When you purchase my MLK BUNDLE!

Teach for Justice Lesson Plans

 

Now, more than ever, teaching children about social justice and social reform issues is super important. If your child's school isn't teaching them, then parents need to teach these subjects at home. 

It doesn't have to be difficult, either. There are lots of curricula available. With younger children, you can read books about famous people who changed history through their fight for social good. You can watch films together, or just talk openly about issues. Share your thoughts, opinions, and values with your kids. Take the time to explain why it's important not just for society, but to you personally that we treat everyone equally and with respect. 

Teach for Justice at Home or in Your Classroom

If you have older children (tweens and teens), consider purchasing my Unit on Hispanic Activists. It highlights five Hispanics who left their mark on U.S. history through their fight for social justice and equality in the fields of education, health care, voting, journalism, and civil liberties.

This comprehensive Teach for Justice unit uses articles and mini documentaries as our secondary sources. The 150-page unit for high school students includes lesson plans for in-person and virtual learning, as well as essay questions, project based learning options, and research & present topics. Options for worksheets and summative assessments allow for differentiated learning.

Learn About Five Hispanic Activists

This is tough stuff. Students will learn about Ralph Lazo, the only person not of Japanese descent and with no family relation to voluntarily relocate to a Japanese internment camp during World War II as an act of solidarity. Lazo was also crucial in the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided reparations to the survivors of Japanese incarceration. 

And they will become familiar with the story of Sylvia Mendez whose family played a crucial role in the Mendez v. Westminster case in 1946. It was the first case for the integration of schools won in California, and paved the way for the desegregation of schools in the United States.

They'll also learn about Jovita Idár, a journalist and civil rights activist from the Texas border who fought for the rights of Mexican American families and Mexican immigrants, as well as for equal education for Mexican American children and women’s suffrage. 

And they will read about Helen Rodríguez Trías, a health rights activist who fought for affordable, quality healthcare for women and children, especially those in poor communities of color. She openly objected to the practice of eugenics in Puerto Rico, where women were sterilized or used as guinea pigs for birth control - all without their consent. She drafted federal sterilization guidelines that are still used today.

Lastly, you'll learn about Willie Velásquez, who fought to empower Latino voters through education and voter registration drives. His success in nurturing the Latino voting bloc forever changed the U.S. political landscape.

Y'all, there is just so much packed into this unit. You will love teaching it as much as your kids will enjoy learning their stories. 

So don't wait. Go and get your copy today. 

It's an instant download. If you aren't on TpT, message me and I'll add it to my online shop. 

A More Complete History: Hispanic Activists

Traditional history programs have long omitted or downplayed the critical role that Hispanics have played in U.S. history. But many of these activists have advocated and created sweeping social change or contributed to the restitution of societal wrongs through their actions.

That is why I'm so pleased to share with you a grant project that I've finally completed and published on Teachers Pay Teachers.

A More Complete History - Unit 1: Hispanic Activists is a comprehensive Teach for Justice unit that focuses on five important (and often forgotten) historical figures of the 1900s. Designed for high school students, this 150 page unit is comprised of lesson plans for both in-person and virtual learning. It uses articles and mini-documentaries as secondary sources. And it includes: 

• challenging pre-reading questions,
• literal comprehension questions,
• higher-level questions,
• social-emotional connections, 
• essay questions, 
• project based learning options, 
• vocabulary worksheets,
• and research & present topics. 

Answer keys and options for worksheets and summative assessments that allow for differentiated learning are also included.

The five figures covered in this unit are:

• Jovita Idár
• Sylvia Mendez
• Ralph Lazo
• Willie Velásquez
• and Helen Rodríguez Trías

These are in-depth lessons to challenge students and highlight figures who have fought for equality in the press, education, politics, health, and society. They fought not just for their own families, but for Hispanics as a whole and other marginalized groups.

These lesson plans are only available in English as they are centered around English secondary sources.

If you'd like to see a sample, Lesson 4: Willie Velásquez is available free for download.

If you use these lesson in your home or school classroom, please let me know. I welcome feedback. And if you send me a few photographs, I'll send you a special gift. 

This project was made possible by the Teachers Pay Teachers' Teach for Justice Grant Program. I'm so thankful to have been selected to participate.

Enjoy!