Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Ruby Bridges
Lesson Plans for Grades 4, 5, and 6
Materials list:
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Projector
Video – Martin Luther King Jr. Intro
Large Manila drawing paper or copy paper
Pencils
Scissors
(Extension activity materials)
 Computers
 Civil Rights resource books from the Media Center
Approximate time the lesson will take not including the video:
 45 minutes – one hour
Balanced Literacy Format:
 Shared Reading
 Independent Writing
Lesson Presentation Format:
 Whole Class
Specific Strategies:
 Observation
 Listening
 Note Taking
 Independent Writing
Activity
1. As a whole class, view the Martin Luther King Jr. Intro video.
2. Using resource books, online resources, and Studies Weekly publications,
students will each create a Studies Weekly Flipbook. (Title – Civil Rights
Movement. Label the four flaps: Causes, Effects, Leaders, Major Events) A
video detailing the flipbook directions can be found under the Resources>K-6
General Resources>Professional Development on Demand> Studies Weekly
Flipbook.
3. Teachers can access the Character Education Studies Weekly by logging in to
the Studies Weekly demo account. This can be a shared read aloud using a
SMART Board, document camera, or projector. Students will use this
information when completing their Civil Rights Movement Flipbooks.
o Go to studiesweekly.com/online
o The username is the state’s postal abbreviation along with the word
teacher (no spaces) E.g. - Username: txteacher (for Texas teachers).
Password: demo
Select the Reading tab and select Character Education Studies Weekly.
Select week 5, Fairness.
Select the articles entitled “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Fighting for
Fairness” and “Writing for Fairness – Dr. Martin Luther King”.
4. Teachers can access the USA Studies Weekly by logging in to the Studies
Weekly demo account. This can be a shared read aloud using a Smart Board,
document camera, or projector. Students will use this information when
completing their Civil Rights Movement Flipbooks. Please use our Texas 5th
grade social studies publication.
o Go to studiesweekly.com/online
o The username is the state’s postal abbreviation along with the word
teacher (no spaces) Username: txteacher
o Password: demo
o Select the Reading tab and select USA Studies Weekly 1565 to the
Present.
o Select week 28, “The Civil Rights Movement”.
o After the shared reading of the Civil Rights articles, select the Primary
Sources and Related Media tab. Select the I Have a Dream audio clip.
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Suggested Differentiated Instruction Tips:
 Students can adjust their writing based on their ability.
Extension or Enrichment Activity:
1. As a whole class, view the Civil Rights Activist: Ruby Bridges video.
2. Engage students in a class discussion about equal rights for all people.
Include ways other countries in the world are similar to and different from
the United States in regard to equal rights for all citizens. (Example: Similar Canada, England, Ireland; Different - Syria, Libya, India)
3. Students will research the following question: “How do the civil rights of
people in other nations differ today?” Students might want to focus on civil
rights for women or civil rights for those with physical disabilities.
4. Using Shadow Puppet, students will prepare a short presentation showcasing
the researched information. Teachers can access information about Shadow
Puppet by logging in to their Studies Weekly teacher account or by logging in
to the Studies Weekly demo account.
o Go to studiesweekly.com/online
o The username is the state’s postal abbreviation along with the word
teacher (no spaces) Username: txteacher (for Texas teachers).
o Password: demo
o Shadow Puppet can be found under the Resources>K-6 General
Resources>General Resources>Rapps (Studies Weekly Recommended
Apps)>Shadow Puppet.
o Primary source photographs and videos can be found under the Media
Search tab.
5. Students select a few primary source photographs or video clips to use in
their Shadow Puppet presentation. Students record their researched
information verbally while flipping through the primary source photographs
or videos. They can draw on, zoom in on, or add text to the photographs.
6. Share presentations with the class.
Quiz:
1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that all people should be treated equally
no matter_____________________________________.
a. how big a house they lived in
b. what color skin they had
c. how fancy a car they drove
d. how much money they made
2. After being arrested several times, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave up his
fight for civil rights. True or False?
Answer Key/Complexity Levels:
1. B
Low/2
2. False Low/2