GRADE LEVEL: Kindergarten through First Grade
TOPIC: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and the Words Associated with Him (Civil Rights, Nonviolence, Freedom, etc.)
CONTENT AREA: Language Arts Social Studies
LEARNING OBJECTIVES/QCC:
The students will:
Language Arts: Acquire information through reading, observing and listening;
Social Studies: Describe patriotic holidays and explain why they are celebrated (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday);
Social Studies: Identify events as past, present and future; and
Social Studies: Identify the calendar as a measure of time
CRITICAL QUESTIONS:
1. Who is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
2. When was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
3. What important events took place during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life?
4. Why do we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday?
5. What did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. teach us?
6. Why was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so important?
7. What is the definition of civil rights, human rights, citizenship, peace, nonviolence, equal rights, freedom, and prejudice?
BACKGROUND:
Build background. Show students pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on book covers and/or posters. Ask students to share what they know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and list information on a KWLS graphic organizer. for later reference.
MATERIALS/RESOURCES
Print:
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, (Brian Collier, Illustrator).
My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Farris, Christine King.
Attachments/Handout:
Handout 1: KWLS Graphic Organizer
Attachment 1: Flash Cards
Attachment 2: Directions for Making Accordion-Shaped Book and Triarama
Other:
1. Picture cards for sequencing: Pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during different phases of his life (childhood, marriage, preaching, speaking, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize)
2. Five 4" x 12" strips of construction paper for each child
3. Flash cards with related terms (rights, freedom, love, discriminate, prejudice, citizenship, peace, nonviolence)
4. Sentence strips of important events in Dr. King’s life.
HOOK:
The teacher will show students representations of things from his or her childhood (baby picture, favorite toy, etc.). Prior to presenting this lesson create a memory box to collect important things to share with students about your childhood. Pull items from your memory box one at a time and share stories about the items.
Make a timeline to show important events that might happen in the students’ life (birth, going to daycare, first day of school, moving, new sister or brother, etc.) Put the events in order.
PROCEDURES:
Lesson 1: THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
1. Ask students the following questions:
a. Do you remember what it was like to be a baby?
b. Who tells you stories about the time when you were a baby?
c. Do you think Dr. King remembered what it was like to be a baby?
d. What are some ways he could find out about his childhood?
2. Set background for the story My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After reading the story, discuss important events that happened in Dr. King’s life.
3. Show students pictures that capture the events in the story. If a student can name an event that is associated with the picture he/she can put the picture around his/her neck. (Pictures have strings so that the students can place the pictures around their necks.)
4. After all the pictures have been distributed to the children, a timeline can be created using preprinted dates. Give the students clues to help create a timeline. The timeline will help the students sequence the pictures. (Appendix A)
5. After completing the timelines students can arrange themselves to show the correct order of events. Students match dates with the pictures. After all the dates have been matched with the pictures the students will arrange themselves in the right order.
