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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
Instead of using school textbooks or curriculum, many homeschooling families simply head to their public library or local book store for homeschool lessons resources. The following books about civil rights and Martin Luther King Jr. for kids are the perfect places to start.
1. Find an author or book series your child loves and run with it.
The Virginia Mysteries book series by Steven K. Smith follows brothers, Sam and Derek as they explore the history of their new home state. I used the books to pique my son's interest in our visit last month to Virginia's Historic Triangle. Smith is now officially my 9-year-old's favorite author.
The newly released 9th book, Pictures at the Protest, introduces young readers to the Massive Resistance policy blocking school desegregation in Virginia in the 1950s. In addition to the history in this book, Smith also weaves in current events — the events in the story take place as the protagonists are doing research while home due to COVID-19 school closures.
2. When reading, compare, and contrast what life is like today vs. what it was like during the civil rights movement.
Cynthia is a homeschooling mom to three, "out-of-the-box kids," as she calls them. "We have read, If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King Jr., in the past. We stop every few pages to discuss what we read and how it relates to our lives and current times," she explained to Mom.com. "It gave our kids great context to discuss current events and recent protests."
3. Incorporate living books into your read-alouds whenever possible.
Living books are written in a conversational tone and draw the reader in so they're more invested in the material. "We read the novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, featuring Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement in 1963. By using living books, it helps bring the history to life for our children," homeschooling mom Yvie told Mom.com.
Teaching about the civil rights movement through movies
One of my favorite homeschool resources is the Teach With Movies website. The site contains lesson plans and learning guides for hundreds of movies. Topics like history, science, literature, and social-emotional issues bring learning to life for you and your child. Movies are a great supplement to homeschool lessons and can be a welcome change of pace from textbooks.
4. Learn about civil rights activism by watching the 2014 movie, Selma starring David Oyelewo as Martin Luther King Jr.
The movie provides history on the civil rights movement and an overview of what life was like at the time. The Teach With Movies website works well for homeschooling families as it points out flaws or embellishments and inconsistencies in movies in comparison to what actually occurred. This encourages students to draw their own conclusions and teaches important life lessons about discernment and perspective.
5. Watch the documentary, A Force More Powerful.
It will help older students gain a better understanding of how "non-violent mass action changed governments or promoted social reform." The discussion questions will help students gain a better understanding of the effects of segregation on the Black community.
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.
