Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the birth of one of the greatest civil rights warriors of the 20th century. Although King was an American who focused on segregation and inequality in the United States, his impact was global.
Decades after his death, King's nonviolent fight for equality and justice remains highly relevant to students and teachers today. The free lessons and activities below provide a wide range of approaches to teaching about King, from a simple word search for younger students to detailed, thought-provoking lesson plans for middle and high school students.
The best free Martin Luther King Jr. lessons and activities.
Fascinating facts about Martin Luther King Jr.
It's hard to believe there could still be little-known facts about this widely known civil rights icon. However, there are! From his early and unusual name change to his history of incarceration and his Grammy wins, these revelations will provide more ways to understand Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.
National Education Association Learn and live the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
A modest but high-quality collection of lessons and activities for K-5 students to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy.
Coloring pages of Martin Luther King Jr.
Perfect for younger students, these ten printable coloring pages feature MLK quotes in scribble-style font. Three other printables provide space for children to write about MLK and their own dreams.
105 Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes for the Classroom
Within these 105 quotes, most of which are just a couple of sentences long, lies a gold mine of material that will serve as a starting point for students to explore King's legacy. Have students choose the quote that stands out to them the most, then ask them to research the context and answer questions about the meaning and message.
National Americorps Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Unique among holidays, Martin Luther King Jr. Day focuses on community service. Explore a variety of free project ideas and ways to engage students in community service, from helping the homeless and refugees to community cleanups. A great source for practical projects.
Martin Luther King Jr. and the power of words
When we talk about nonviolent resistance, we have to talk about the power of words. Designed to be completed in a single class period, this Civics Education Center lesson plan includes detailed guidelines as well as resources for teachers. Grades 7-12.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute: Nobel Peace Prize
The remarkable story behind King's nomination as the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner includes the reactions of the day, both positive and negative, and how King distributed the prize money.
Teaching and learning about Martin Luther King Jr. with The New York Times
A wealth of teaching and learning resources including lesson plans, songs, photos, videos, a civil rights quiz, and connections to current events. All NYT Learning Network resources are available to use for free without an account.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X
A downloadable, standards-aligned three-lesson unit covering the very different approaches to civil rights of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm of documents and critical thinking. Grades 6-12.
The fight for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Given the long struggle for African American civil rights, it is not surprising that the idea of a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King generated much resistance. History.com chronicles the decades-long fight to commemorate MLK.
The life of Martin Luther King Jr.
King's biography is accompanied by photographs, text, audio excerpts, and a timeline of key events.
Dr. King's Dreams Lesson Plan
In this standards-aligned lesson, students learn about King through a brief biography, videos, and photos, then answer questions and complete activities.
Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi and the power of nonviolence
King was heavily influenced by Gandhi's philosophy of civil disobedience through nonviolent resistance. This standards-aligned lesson provides digital readings, videos, and five suggested activities for students.
Securing the Right to Vote: The Story from Selma to Montgomery
There is no greater asset of freedom than the right to vote. This in-depth lesson plan on the fight for de jure and de facto voting rights includes: background; motivations; analysis of documents, maps and photographs; extension activities; and more. Please note the link to “Liars Don't Qualify” by Junius Edwards.
Nonviolent Direct Action at Southern Lunch Counters
Nonviolent civil disobedience is not as simple as it seems. It requires training, diligence, courage, and, above all, a commitment to nonviolence in the pursuit of justice and equality. Using online newspaper articles of the day, photographs, and printable worksheets, this comprehensive lesson plan will teach students about the theory and practice of nonviolent direct action.
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President
The effervescent Kid President tells MLK's story in a very engaging and relatable way. Perfect for younger students.
Read Write Think Activities and lessons from Martin Luther King Jr.
Searchable by grade, learning objective, and topics, these classroom/elearning activities include lesson plans, student interactives, and related digital resources.
Competing Voices of the Civil Rights Movement
The question of how best to achieve equal rights was, at times, contentious. This excellent civil rights curriculum explores different points of view of key black leaders during the 1960s and includes guiding questions and lesson plans. Grades 9-12
12 classic songs inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.
You probably know some of the famous songs on this list, like “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by U2 and “Abraham, Martin and John” by Marvin Gaye. But other well-known musicians, from Stevie Wonder to Elvis Presley, have also recorded tributes to MLK. These powerful and emotional tunes speak to the impact of King's legacy on popular culture, as well as society at large.
Letter from a Birmingham jail
An audio recording of Dr. King reading his influential “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Students can listen to this civil rights classic, learn about the topic of the day, and note its skillful use of persuasive rhetoric. Challenge: Ask your students to determine which of Dr. King's concerns are still a problem today, 59 years later.
Resources for virtual projects
An extensive, step-by-step guide for teachers to plan and implement creative virtual volunteer projects for students and others who want to participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Birmingham 1963: primary documents
Using six historical documents, students will investigate the civil rights protests and violent police response in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Martin Luther King Jr. and the healthcare workers of Memphis
What happened during the Memphis sanitation workers strike and what was King's role in his final campaign? How did King view economic issues compared to traditional civil rights causes? These and other questions are thoroughly investigated in this National Archives lesson focused on primary sources.
