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Honoring the March and the Dream

As we commemorate the anniversary of the historic March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, this is a meaningful time to bring his message of justice, unity, and hope into your classroom. Whether you're kicking off the new school year with a civil rights discussion or introducing students to this pivotal moment in history for the first time, these resources can help you mark the occasion thoughtfully. Let's start the year by encouraging our students to dream—and work toward—a better world.

Grades 5-12

Freedom's Ring

Explore this Stanford site that pairs King's "I Have a Dream" speech with audio, video, photos, and interviews with activists. Students can listen to the speech while exploring its history and lasting impact.

Grades 6-12

March on Washington Lesson

Students read King's speech, explore the March's history and impact, and engage with discussion questions on non-violent protest, democracy, and the Civil Rights Act's legacy during this 50-minute PBS-ready-to-use lesson.

Grades K-8

Martin Luther King, Jr.

5 interactive Van Andel Institute lessons on MLK Jr that cover his life, unsung civil rights heroes, a virtual Memphis tour, and student activities for taking a stand today. Each lesson is also offered at three levels: grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

Grades 4-12

Famous Quotes of Martin Luther King, Jr.

This collection of King's quotes, organized by source and date, is perfect for close-reading warm-ups, "explain this quote" writing prompts, or having students trace how his ideas on justice and nonviolence evolved across speeches and letters.

Grades 6-12

Short History Of...

The Short History Of... podcast dives into many history topics, including King's life and legacy. Use the search box to find the one-hour-long King episode, a great audio resource for older students during independent work or before discussion.

Grades 9-12

Exploring the Power of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Words through Diamante Poetry

This lesson for grades 9-12 has students closely analyze King's "I Have a Dream" speech for rhetorical devices, then write their own diamante poems in response—blending close reading, literary analysis, and creative writing.

Grades 8-12

Citizen King

View this PBS video collection that focuses on the last five years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. From his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 to his assassination in 1968, including a discussion of his philosophy of nonviolence.

Grades 4-10

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Reinforce vocabulary like justice, segregation, and nonviolence with printable crosswords, word searches, and fill-in-the-blanks built around King's life and legacy. A quick way to pair content learning with literacy skills.

Grades 3-12

The Best of Our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Resources

This curated roundup of lessons, podcasts, photos, and oral histories explores King's lesser-known work on economic justice. It also examines the March on Washington's unfinished goals and his activism beyond the popular "Dream" narrative.

Grades 6-12

Facing History and Ourselves

Facing History and Ourselves uses historical choices to explore racism and bigotry. It includes lessons on King's activism and civil rights legacy, as well as teaching strategies and professional development resources.

This Week at TeachersFirst

Although our live summer virtual workshops may have ended, we have more than 50 self-paced professional learning opportunities and on-demand workshops available. We've got a related blog post on King’s speech and using thinking routines. And finally, learn how you can join our team as a paid part-time contributor. Read the details below!