Lesson Cycle

Lesson Title/Topic: Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions

Target Concept: Third Grade History
Standards/Rationale: 113.12(b)2(a)
Lesson Objectives:
Students will identify the contributions of
Martin Luther King Jr. to the nation
through a picture with 75% accuracy.

Assessment:
TSW draw/create picture of their own
dream, based on the I have a dream
speech. Rubric.

Materials:
Lesson Cycle: (Direct instruction)
The teacher will:
The student will:
Focus/Mental Set:
-Play short movie of Martin Luther King Jr.
- Complete the sentence in their
journal I have a dream that all
people in the world
______________.
Teacher Input:
-Take a quote from the speech and write it
- Brainstorm as a class what they
on the board I have a dream that my four
think the quote means and provide
little children will one day live in a nation
ideas to write on the board.
where they will not be judged by the color
- Provide insight into what they
of their skin, but by the content of their
know, want to know, and then
character.
learned, pertaining to Dr. King.
- Use written KWL approach to find out
- Forming a group from each row,
what students know about Dr. King.
discuss discrimination they have
- Ask students what they think the quote
observed including bullying and
means and write their ideas on the wall.
then the importance of kind acts to
- Discuss Dr. Kings life and how he fought
fight discrimination.
for equality. Also, discuss some examples
of discrimination that America faced
including slavery.
- Discuss actions that our country has taken
to fight discrimination including the 13th,
14th and 15th amendments, and the Civil
Rights Act (1964).
-Ask students the types of discrimination

they have seen in their daily lives and give

examples they can relate to. Where: school,
neighborhood?
Guided Practice:
- Cut out large clouds from white or
blue construction paper and write
each student name on a cloud.
- Ask students to illustrate their
dream of what they would like
the world to look like.
- Hang up the students dream
pictures.
Independent Practice:
- Pair up students and have them go
through the I have a Dream
speech as well as two other
speeches from other powerful
people.
- Provide paper and have them
choose quotes to decorate the
bulletin board.
Closure:
- Ask students if they have ever done
something good without being
asked whether it was in the family,
community, or school.

Options:
Enrichment:
Modifications/Correctives:

References:

-Brainstorm with a partner what they would

like to fix whether it is no more illness, no
hungry children, clean planet, etc.
- Each student will draw a picture on their
cloud of their dream for a better world.
- Tell the class about their dream.

Each team will choose 2 quotes

from the speech that they like.
Work in groups to write and color
the quotes.
Decorate the bulletin board in the
classroom with quotes from
different powerful speeches.

Discuss acts of kindness from their

personal lives.
Brainstorm as a class discussion
small actions they can do to make a
difference.

Reteach: