January can be a great month in the classroom. From making goals, to winter themed activities and worksheets to learning about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. There are many ways to incorporate this important civil rights figure in your upper elementary classroom. Here are just a few ideas.
Timeline His Life
Make history come alive by creating a collaborative timeline of MLK Jr.’s life. Assign each student a significant date or event, and watch your timeline grow as students piece together the puzzle of Dr. King’s legacy. You could give each student a sheet of construction paper, white copy paper, etc and have them create their part of the timeline…illustrations a plus!
Picture Books About Him
Read and discuss books about Martin Luther King Jr. – Reading books about Martin Luther King Jr. is a great way for upper elementary students to learn about his life and legacy. Some recommended books include “I Have a Dream” and “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
Assign a NO PREP WebQuest
Engage your students with a Martin Luther King, Jr. WebQuest! Not only are WebQuests no prep, but they are so interactive and fun for students. My students love navigating to different websites, watching short videos and filling out the WebQuest pages. Here’s a WebQuest I created for my class. It is a class favorite! And did I mention it’s NO PREP? WINNING!
Classroom Skits!
Break out the drama skills! Have students create and perform short skits showcasing the challenges faced by civil rights activists. It’s a fun way to promote empathy and understanding. It could be a great way to learn about the important events of MLK’s life. There are so many ways to use skits in your classroom!
Read Important MLK Quotes
Transform MLK Jr.’s powerful quotes into a classroom mantra. Discuss the meaning behind each quote and encourage students to share their reflections. Next, have each student choose their favorite quote to write on paper and post them around the room. Encourage them to color the page and make it fun to look at!
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