February is the month for Celebrating African Americans

ESL2 P3Martin Luther King Jr.

Grade level: 9-12 ESL 2
Length of Activity: 3 sessions
Performance Expectations:
The students will recognize the chronology of Martin Luther King's life.
The students will become familiar with the speech "I Have a Dream."
Materials Needed: books discussing Martin Luther King Jr.
High Point Basic


Procedures
Introduction: I would begin my activity by asking the children if they knew who the first black American to be honored by a National Holiday was. Next I would read them a brief introduction about Martin Luther King's life (attached).
Development
Provide a variety of books discussing Martin Luther King, Jr. These will be used to refresh the students on information they have already learned from previous research.
Ask the students to prepare a timeline marking significant dates in his life. Give the students a list of important events you want included in the timeline. Discuss with the students Martin Luther King's contributions to the civil rights movement.

After viewing a video of Martin Luther King's speech "I Have a Dream" give each student a copy of the speech. Read the speech and focus on the following topics:
What was King's dream?


Do you feel his dream has come true? Why? Why not?
Closure: Have the children think about king's dream. Then have them consider their own dreams. Have them write a story filling in one of the following.
I have a dream for myself….
for my family….
for my community….
For the world….
Assessment: Look at each student's timeline to make sure they have the correct order.
Assign each student a part of "I Have a Dream" to memorize for a classroom choral reading.
Adaptations/Considerations: Perform the choral reading for the entire class.
Have the students do a play acting out Martin Luther King's life as they view it.
References
Graves, Curtis M. & Hodges, Jane A. (1986). Famous black Americans: Folder games for the classroom. Silver Springs, MD: Bartleby Press.