Dr. Martin Luther King

|"I Have a Dream"| |Letter from Birmingham Jail| |Other Resources|

"I Have a Dream"

Analyzing Persuasion
Students identify and explain the persuasive devices used in "I Have a Dream." This lesson includes procedure and assessment but not a copy of the speech.

Classroom Study Guide
This 7-page document includes extensive background information, vocabulary, and classroom activities.

Critical Thinking
The lesson has individual sections divided into vocabulary development, rhetorical structures (figures of speech), understanding the speech, relating to the speech, and an optional opportunity for students to record the speech.

Dr. King's Dream
In this lesson designed for grades K-2, students learn about Dr. King and create picture books about their own dreams of freedom for Americans today.

Eyes Worldwide on the Prize: Viewing Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech through a Global Lens
Students learn about the ways in which the words of Dr. King have impacted the Chinese people and government. They then examine cases of discrimination around the world and respond to Dr. King's famous 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech from the perspective of these marginalized populations.

"I Have a Dream"
Text of the speech with video/audio. Runs about 17 1/2 minutes. The video comes from YouTube.com, which may be blocked at schools.

"I Have a Dream"
Text and discussion/analysis questions designed for advanced students. Handouts require Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

"I Have a Dream"
Designed for social studies, this lesson also develops close reading, research, and discussion skills.

"I Have a Dream"
Students make connections between Dr. King's dream/actions and personal dreams/actions. Designed for elementary students.

"I Have a Dream" as a Work of Literature
Students will study the text and discuss the rhetorical influences on King's speech, the oratorical devices that King uses in delivering his speech and how a speech is similar to/different from other literary forms.

I Have a Metaphor
This lesson introduces the following literary devices: analogy, symbolism, use of chronology, personification, metaphor, figurative language and the effective use of repetition.

King's Dream Revisited
Students learn about King's life and legacy. They use a current newspaper to find examples of people exercising civil rights today.

Write your own "I Have a Dream" Speech
Students use a fill-in-the-blanks work sheet to write speeches that imitate the form and content of Dr. King's speech.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letter from Birmingham Jail
Text of the letter.

Letter from Birmingham Jail
Text and discussion questions. Handouts require Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

Letter from Birmingham Jail
A color-coded rhetorical analysis. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.

Nonfiction by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Study questions for "Letter from Birmingham Jail," "I Have a Dream," and "Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam."

Other Resources

The Dream Continued
"Students explore the impact of Martin Luther King Jr.'s words forty years after his death by creating found poems based on his 1968 obituary published in The New York Times."

How Big Are Martin's Big Words? Thinking Big about the Future
Using the book Martin's Big Words and other resources, students in grades 3-5 explore information on King's "big" words then choose one of two options: (1) they write about their own "big" words and dreams in stapled or stitched books, or (2) they construct found poems using an excerpt from one of King's speeches.

In King's Words: Examining the writings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Context and Texture
Students "students will explore the value of writings by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and create mixed media collages contextualizing one of his texts or speeches."

Martin Luther King Jr.: A Fact or Opinion Activity
Students explore fact vs. opinion using a short biography of Dr. King.

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement
This extensive collection of articles and photographs from the Seattle Times includes texts of speeches and some brief audio files. It also offers more recent perspectives on the impact of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Words that changed a nation
This site explores Dr. King's writing in the context of the times.

Reflecting on the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Students read an article about Dr. King, identify facts and details, and examine a timeline of his life. This lesson includes printable handouts and is designed for upper elementary students.