Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech inspired a nation to peacefully pursue civil rights for all. Second and third grade students can read about and watch Dr. King’s speech and use it to write about what they would like to see happen in their futures.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin [Grosset & Dunlap, 2001] explains the significance of 1963 March on Washington and why Dr. King’s speech was so important. Teachers can use the book to provide second and third grade students with background information about Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous speech.
Second and Third Grade Dr. King I Have a Dream Lesson Objective
Students will write their own "I Have a Dream" speeches after learning about Martin Luther King’s life and the March on Washington.
How to Teach Information on Martin Luther King to Second and Third Graders
Second and third grade students begin the Martin Luther King Jr. lesson by listing all the information they know about Dr. King on a KWL chart. The teacher then guides the students to come up with a list of things they want to know about Martin Luther King, the March on Washington, and the famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
The class then reads the book Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin. The teacher questions the students as they read to make sure that they comprehend the text. Every time the second and third graders encounter new information on Martin Luther King that answers one of their questions the teacher records the answer on the KWL chart.
After reading the book the class completes the last column of the KWL chart by writing what they have learned about Dr. King, the March on Washington, and the "I Have a Dream" speech. The students then watch a video of the "I Have a Dream" speech and discuss it.
Second and Third Grade Students Write I Have a Dream Speeches
After reading Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington and watching Dr. King’s "I Have a Dream" speech the students will brainstorm a list of things that they would like to see happen in their lifetimes. The teacher will talk to the class about what types of problems their school, town, and country is facing and ask the students to think about which situation they would most like to see changed.
The second and third grade students will use Dr. King’s speech as a model when writing their own. Students will share the final copies of their speeches with the class and display them in the hallway for the school to read.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin provides second and third grade students with background information on Dr. King. Students can use this information to write "I Have a Dream" speeches about the hope they have for their future.
Megan Sheakoski - Megan Sheakoski is a teacher, mom and writer whose ideas have been featured in college text books, graduate courses, on websites and on ...
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