MLK Day is an annual federal holiday and a national day of service that occurs the third Monday of January.
Who was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Georgia. In 1955, he earned his PhD degree in Philosophy. He was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church from 1954 to 1960. King led many marches to fight against racism and to strive for equality. He is most known for organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, for his I Have A Dream speech in 1963, and for the Voting Rights Act in 1965. He helped to advance the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Why should we celebrate MLK Day?
The Montgomery Bus Boycott helped to end segregation on public buses and King’s I Have A Dream speech united the world with his belief that all men are created equal. King’s historic march from Selma in 1965 influenced the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed discriminating voting practices. King also received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his commitment to achieving racial justice through nonviolence. MLK Day celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a time to educate others and continue to advocate for social justice.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activity
I like to do a project on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For the project, print out a picture of Dr. King Jr. and cut it into squares for each student in your small group. Instruct each student to color their square any way they choose. When everyone is finished, glue the pieces back together. I explain that even though each square is different, we all fit together and we can all learn from each other. Here are examples of the work:
Download Dr. King Jr. coloring page
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I also like to read this Children’s I Have a Dream Book and it also has a cd of King’s authentic I Have A Dream speech. The kids enjoy looking at the pictures as they listen to the speech.
Additional Resources
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