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Each year on the third Monday of January, we observe a National Day of Service to honor the life and work of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to improve our communities. In the classroom, students learn about Dr. King’s life, legacy and contributions to the civil rights movement.
Guide your students in meaningful reflections that they will remember for years to come with these Martin Luther King Day activities. Remember, this day is just a starting point for further discussions with your class on racial equality, justice, and international peace throughout the year.
7 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Elementary School Classroom Activities
You can incorporate lessons about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. into any elementary subject from ELA to social studies. The collection ranges from reading passages and writing prompts to engaging interactive activities. If you’re thinking about how to celebrate Martin Luther King Day in your classroom, add these resources to your lesson plans in January or as part of a larger discussion about influential leaders during Black History Month in February.
Introduce students to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Start by sharing who Dr. King was and why we celebrate him now.
Martin Luther King Jr. Emerging Readers and Center
limal star
Grade: Preschool to Kindergarten
Topic:ELA
Standard: CCSS RF.K.1a, RF.K.4; WK2; LK4
This emerging reader includes color and black-and-white versions, as well as a writing page where students can illustrate and write about their dreams. This resource is perfect for early literacy classes and also includes Common Core alignment to make lesson planning easy and stress-free!
Martin’s Big Talk Companion Book | Black History Month Reading Event
Author: Tanya G Marshall Butterfly Teacher
Grade: Grade 3-4
Designed as a companion Martin Quotes: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Created by Doreen Rappaport, this resource provides carefully designed read-aloud activities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day that deepen students’ understanding of his life and legacy. These activities are perfect for literacy or social studies integration and help bring Dr. King’s powerful message to life.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reading Comprehension and Questions
Author: Teacher Guangming
Grade: second grade to sixth grade
Subject: Social Studies
This printable resource contains seven unique, ready-to-use activities for MLK Jr Day, perfect for literacy centers, shared reading, social studies lessons, early finisher assignments, and more. It’s flexible and easy to implement and is designed to help students explore Dr. King’s life, legacy, and message in a meaningful, age-appropriate way.
The History of Martin Luther King Day
Author: Read Like a Rock Star
Grade: 1-5
Subject: Social Studies
Help students go beyond the basics by exploring how his birthday became a national holiday. This informative 14-page e-book takes learners through the decades-long campaign to formally commemorate Dr. King’s legacy. Perfect for social studies lessons, read-alouds, and classroom discussions, this resource brings history to life and deepens students’ understanding of why we celebrate Martin Luther King Day today.
Inspire thoughtful reflection on creating change
Once students become familiar with Dr. King, continue with activities to help them connect Dr. King’s work to their own lives.
Martin Luther King Day Bulletin Board and Banner Writing and Drawing Activities
by seasonal elementary school
Grade: PreK-2
Subject: Social Studies
This engaging resource invites learners to write and draw how they can make the world a better place using a variety of templates. It’s perfect for classroom displays, hallway decorations, or collaboration banners.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompts
Author: R Superhero Teacher
Level: Any
Subjects: Writing, Social Studies
Through this digital writing prompt activity, students can explore their goals and dreams to create a more peaceful, inclusive world. This engaging activity encourages meaningful writing and discussion during Martin Luther King Day, Black History Month, or Winter Writing Class.
Combine meaningful MLK Day learning with basic math practice
Look for opportunities to go beyond ELA and social studies assignments and participate in cross-curricular activities that include math, science, or other subjects.
Martin Luther King Math Activities | MLK Color By Numbers
Ford Board of Directors
Grade: second grade to fifth grade
Subject: Mathematics
Standard: CCSS 3.NBT.A.3; 3.OA.A.4, 4.OA.A.1
With this print-and-use color-by-number activity, students will solve math problems and reveal inspiring images. Perfect for MLK Day lessons, math centers, early completion lessons, or homework assignments, this no-prep resource provides teachers with an easy way to integrate social studies and math.
4 Martin Luther King Day Events Right for your middle school classroom
Learn more about MLK Jr.’s legacy through in-depth history lessons and activities that integrate ELA with history. These Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities can be used as a dedicated day in January to learn about Dr. King, or incorporated into any unit on the Civil Rights Movement throughout the year.
Martin Luther King Jr. Intensive Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions
The fifth in the middle
Grade: 5th-6th grade
Subject: Reading
This resource features passages designed to challenge readers and promote critical thinking about Dr. King and his work. You can use follow-up activities to get students to delve deeper into these passages.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Google Slides Digital Interactive Notebook
By BVG SLP
Grade: 5-8
Topic:ELA
Designed for Google Slides, this no-prep resource includes activities from MLK Jr Day to help students explore his role in the civil rights movement. It’s perfect for ELA, social studies, or speech therapy and is designed to help students connect to history in powerful ways.
Martin Luther King Jr. Craft | Biographical Research Event, Bulletin Board Project
Author: Teacher Hei
Grade: 5-8
Subject: Social Studies
In this interactive project, students will learn about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., his triumphs and challenges. This resource is perfect for classes celebrating Black history, historical figures, civil rights activists, history, language arts, or cultural studies.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Webquest Digital Event No Prep No Google Doc™ required
Author: Aloft Social Research
Grade: 6-8
Subject: Social Studies
Many students only know Dr. King for his “I Have a Dream” speech. This online exploration activity takes students beyond this presentation and helps them learn more about his accomplishments and legacy, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Letters from the Birmingham City Jail, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
3 Martin Luther King Day Events Right for your high school classroom
As students age, they have a greater ability to analyze, understand, and reflect on Dr. King’s contributions, impact, and larger role in the Civil Rights Movement. These Martin Luther King Day events encourage thoughtful discussion and critical thinking, helping students connect Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice, and transformation to today’s world.
MLK I Have a Dream Campaign Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King’s Speech
Provided by supported teachers
Grade: Grades 7-12
Topic:ELA
Guide students in analyzing Dr. King’s historic speech through this analysis activity and reflection. Students use annotation guides and graphic organizers to complete rhetorical analysis of speeches and presentations through written reflection and/or guided discussion.
Martin Luther King, Jr. – Letter from Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis – MLK
Monday becomes easy
Grade: Grade 10-12
Topic:ELA
Standard: CCSS RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.2, RI.9-10.6, RI.9-10.8, RI.11-12.1, RI.11-12.2, RI.11-12.6, RI.11-12.8
Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is an excellent text for practicing rhetorical analysis and studying the outline of Rogerian’s argument. This resource includes a rhetorical analysis slideshow lesson for Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides with accompanying guided note-taking worksheets. Perfect for MLK Day or any day of the year for AP Language and Composition or Advanced English classes.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights March on Washington Highlights – Print and Easel
Diana Bailey
Grade: Grades 9-12
This bundle contains two supplementary resources about the 1963 March on Washington. The first resource has a two-page informational text that covers the march, including logistics, goals, and the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The second course exposes students to nonfiction texts by analyzing newspaper articles about the march.
Explore more Martin Luther King Day events with TPT
If you are looking for more meaningful Martin Luther King Day activities for children and young people, these Martin Luther King Day resources from TPT can provide further opportunities for learning and reflection.
