Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Teacher Resources

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 in 2022?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on January 17, 2022. 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.

Activities for Martin Luther King Day

Help your students learn about Dr. King's life, accomplishments, vision, and legacy using our 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 activities for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

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.
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.
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