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Famous People Lessons: Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Main Website:

http://www.famouspeoplelessons.com/index.html

Activity Website:

http://www.famouspeoplelessons.com/m/martin_luther_king.html

Activity Description

Source: OpenClipart by OpenClipart (License: CC0/Public Domain)

This activity offers a lesson about Martin Luther King. There is a handout that can be downloaded and an answer key.

Preparation

Visit the site using the link to Example Web Site (above) to be sure it is not blocked at your school.
Look for the "Downloads" navigation bar (it is currently green) and download the Word Doc or PDF and print the lesson activities for your students. Be sure to avoid the other "Download and Play Now" buttons that are part of the advertising on this site.
Make sure you can play the MP3 files on the teacher computer and that the speakers are loud enough.

How-To

See Lesson plan

Teacher Tips

If you would like students to work independently, you can download the sound file to individual classroom computers and have them take notes as they listen to the podcast.
These podcasts are appropriate for Beg. High through Advanced level ESL students.
The first part of each podcast usually includes a short dialogue of some sort and then the second part has explanations of words and phrases and how they are used including formal and informal expressions. Dr. Jeff McQuillan, an ESL professor in So. California, is the host.
Your students can listen for free, and a script of the conversation is posted for reading, but if you want the complete teaching materials that go with it, there is a FEE.

More Ways

Use one of the many other Famous People Lessons in the same way you did this one, having students complete the already provided exercises.
After listening to several profiles, reading the information, and completing exercises, students can select a "famous person" of their own and create a profile as an individual project or as group project.
Let students create a PowerPoint noting the highlights of their famous person and have them present the PowerPoint in class.

Program Areas

ESL: English as a Second Language

Levels

Intermediate Low
Intermediate High
Advanced

View Lesson Plan

Warm-up

Engagement Enhancement

Before introducing Martin Luther King, list some words that describe him on the board. Have students try to guess who it is.
To activate background knowledge, have students discuss what they know about him in small groups. Lead a brief whole-class discussion.

Introduction

Engagement

Tell students they are going to learn about Martin Luther King. Ask the students to listen for something interesting about him. Play the MP3 and have students share an interesting fact they heard.

Presentation

Engagement Enhancement

Download the handout for Dr. Martin Luther King.

Read the story or have the students listen to the MP3 and follow along.

Practice

Engagement Enhancement Extension

Divide the students into pairs and have them practice the reading. Then have them do the Word Match activity and the Phrase Match Activity on the handouts. Check answers with the whole class.

Here is the answer key.

Presentation

Engagement Enhancement Extension

Writing a summary:

" Use the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" framework. This will help learners to start learning how to write a summary.

Writing Template:

Somebody: Who is the story about? (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

Wanted: What did he want? (He wanted equality and civil rights for Black Americans.)

But: What was the problem? (But the laws were unfair and kept people segregated.)

So: What did he do? (So he led peaceful protests and gave famous speeches.)

Then: How did it end? (Then laws changed, and he became a hero for peace.)

Evaluation

Engagement Enhancement Extension

Writing Prompt: > "Write a 4-5 sentence summary of Dr. King’s life. Use the words First, Also, and Finally to connect your ideas."

Application

Engagement Enhancement Extension

1. The Brainstorm (10 mins)
Ask the students to think about their current neighborhood or the school. On the board, create two columns:

The Reality (Now): Example: High rent, busy traffic, no parks.
The Dream (Future): Example: Affordable homes, safe streets, more trees.
2. The Creative Task (20 mins)
Give each student a large piece of paper or a digital slide. Ask them to create a "Dream Poster."

Visual: Draw or find one image that represents a better future.
Text: Write 3 sentences starting with "I have a dream that..."
Example: "I have a dream that my children will go to a great university. I have a dream that our neighborhood will be safe at night. I have a dream that all people will help each other."
3. The Gallery Walk (15 mins)
Tape the posters to the classroom walls. Students walk around in pairs.

Task: They must find one "dream" they agree with and tell the author: "I like your dream because..."
Teacher Tip: This gets them moving and speaking spontaneously using the vocabulary they just learned (Equality, Peace, Community).

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View Standards

Reading Foundational Skills
- RF.2 - Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). (Phonological Awareness)
- RF.3 - Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. (Phonics and Word Recognition)
- RF.4 - Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. (Fluency)
Reading
- CCR Anchor 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
Writing
- CCR Anchor 3 - Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
- CCR Anchor 4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Language
- CCR Anchor 1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCR Anchor 3 - Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.
- CCR Anchor 4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
- CCR Anchor 5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
- CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

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Famous People Lessons: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Details

Activity Description

Preparation

How-To

Teacher Tips

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