Each year we celebrate Martin Luther King Day on the third Monday of January. The day celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader.
Primary
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Primary classrooms read the book, “Martin’s Big Words.” The children listened intently to Dr. King’s message, “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” The older students wrote about MLK in their creative writing.
Lower Elementary
After learning about MLK and watching his “I Have a Dream” speech, Lower Elementary students created a mural. Each student wrote their own dream on a piece of paper and colored it in to create a large mural.
Upper Elementary
Upper Elementary commemorated Dr.King Jr. by reading a book that chronicled his life and legacy, the origin of racial awakening in the US, and his message on peace and equality. Later, the students shared their dreams for the world through personal reflection essays, with 5th graders delving deeper into his leadership traits. As a culminating activity, they created a gallery of artworks on Dr.King.
Middle School
Middle schoolers engaged in critical analyses of two primary sources: a photograph of members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol confronting Dr. King and other civil rights activists on June 8, 1966, and a copy of his “Integrated Bus Suggestions”(1956), written of behalf of the Montgomery Improvement Association, of which he was president. While looking through the lens of institutional racism, students dove deep into King’s belief that nonviolent techniques could be used to achieve reconciliation and social change.
