Civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. and his infamous I Have a Dream speech defined the civil rights movement. It set a precedent for what we want our future world to look like. This past year, though, has taught us that while we have come so far, we still have miles to go. We’ve got some work to do before King’s dream of a world in which ‘little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls‘ becomes the norm.
As we head into the new year ready to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. — who was tragically killed in 1968 — here are some ways to incorporate the life of the iconic civil rights leader into your homeschool lessons.
From facts about Martin Luther King Jr. to books to read, try these 8 suggestions to kick off your Black History Month homeschool lessons and keep kids engaged.
Martin Luther King Jr. books for kids
Hands-on Martin Luther King Jr. activities and lessons
Hands-on learning activities help your child learn about a topic because when they’re engaged, they can often retain information better. To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, share with your kids some historical facts through engaging hands-on or in-person activities.
6. Teach your students facts about the civil rights movement through trivia cards.
Game night is one of my family’s favorite activities and we often incorporate gameschooling into our homeschool lessons. Trivia bingo cards like these from Teachers Pay Teachers are inexpensive and help make learning fun for young children.
7. Try to memorize some of Martin Luther King Jr. quotes about peace.
Dr. Victor Garlock said of memorization, that it “improves overall memory itself. Memorization increases the size and improves the function of memory-related brain structures,” the professor of psychology explained in The Auburn. Your child can memorize a few lines of one of King’s speeches to help exercise that memorization muscle.
8. Visit one of the MLK Jr. monuments or sites.
There are several monuments, buildings, and sites that commemorate the civil rights movement throughout the country. Due to COVID-19 and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines about gatherings, check individual sites for information about closures and restrictions.
