Martin Luther King Jr Activities & Resources for School

Welcome to our guide on Martin Luther King Jr activities and resources for school. Here, you will find a variety of educational resources designed to engage students in learning about the life, achievements, and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Through these activities, we hope to inspire a new generation to carry forward the values of equity, justice, and peace that Dr. King embodied.

Why Do We Celebrate Martin Luther King Day?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a national and federal holiday, celebrates the birthday of noted American civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Since becoming a federal holiday in 1983, MLK Day has grown in scope to become a holiday that celebrates not only the life and accomplishments of Dr. King, but also his legacy, importance to the Black community, and impact on the continuing drive for racial equality and social justice in the United States.

When is Martin Luther King Day Celebrated?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year.

In 2025, Martin Luther King Day will be celebrated on Monday, January 20th.

As a national and federal holiday, most banks, schools, state offices, and financial institutions are closed. There is no mail delivery, but most retail and dining establishments are open.

Martin Luther King Jr Activities

Help your students learn about Dr. King's life, accomplishments, vision, and legacy using our Martin Luther King Jr activities, lessons, printables, coloring pages, and worksheets.

There are quizzes, choice boards, videos, biographies, and art activities on this civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

You'll also find references on his assassination, resources for Black History Month (February), and Martin Luther King Jr Day activities for outside of school.

Choice Boards

Student choice activities for helping students learn about Dr. King's life and legacy while celebrating this important holiday.

Educational Videos

Use our short videos about Martin Luther King, Jr. to enhance students' learning. Creative extension activities accompany each video, including a printable mini-book, a quiz, and a reading passage.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Videos & Activities

Printables

Increase students' knowledge of Martin Luther King, Jr. through their writing and creative thinking skills. Studying Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech through writing and reading are a few of the engaging printable activities offered.

Lesson Plans

Students will learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African-American culture through these detailed and creative lesson plans.

References

Use our reading passage references to increase students' knowledge and understanding of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and times.

MLK, JR. Language Arts Activities

Expand students' learning of Martin Luther King, Jr. with these activities including journal topics, reading passages with comprehension questions, teacher's guide, and lesson plans.

MLK, Jr. Art Activities

Use our resources and have students create a mini-book about Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK, Jr. Biographies

Enhance students' comprehension of Martin Luther King, Jr. using the lesson plan, printable, reading passage, and more included in these resources.

Civil Rights Resources

Our Civil Rights Resources offer you videos with activities, printable pages, a teaching guide, quiz, and a reading passage about Marin Luther King, Jr.

African-American History Resources

Utilize our favorite resources to teach African-American history. Among the many resource choices are printable pages, art activities, lesson plans and more.

Black History Month

Our Black History Month resources include a variety of activities to enhance students' knowledge of Martin Luther King, Jr. including a mini-book, lesson plans, and a slide show of a coloring book.