Dr. David Childs, D.D., Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
With the US becoming more and more diverse, there is a push around the country to diversify school curricula and provide more inclusive classrooms. As such, educators are seeking resources to do this in a more meaningful way. Martin Luther King Day is a wonderful time to integrate multicultural themes into the classroom, making it more inclusive. With this in mind, PBS Learning Media has provided some incredible resources for teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights in general for grades K-12 classrooms. See the resources below from the PBS website. Each resource below also includes the write up provided by PBS Learning Media to give educators and the public an idea of what the link provides. 
Image by: U.S . Embassy New Delhi “Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. | Civil Rights Leader Video
“In 1983, Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday (national observances started in 1986.) This year the holiday is observed on January 17. Help your students deeply understand and connect to King’s legacy by watching this short video and using the accompanying hands-on activities to explore how King’s leadership expanded social justice, particularly for African Americans.”
Dr. Martin Luther King at Gee’s Bend | Retro Report
“This eight-minute video illustrates the achievements of the civil rights movement, as well as the enduring challenges facing black Americans, by focusing on the small community of Gee’s Bend, Ala., a town that attracted the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s. The video helps students draw a line between the battles fought by King’s movement nearly five decades ago and the barriers to equality and opportunity that residents of Gee’s Bend face today. For lessons focused on the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the video serves as a bridge between the past and the present, and sets up a discussion about the unfinished agenda of King’s movement.”
Kids Can Be Changemakers | Meet the Helpers
“Your students are their own changemakers. This resource provides vocabulary, critical thinking questions, and discussion prompts to engage students through poetry. Discover workshops that center student voice and exploration with robust educator guides.”
Selma to Montgomery | Yellowhammer History Hunt
“Cross Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, with John Lewis and his fellow voting rights activists in this episode of Yellowhammer History Hunt. Learn about the Selma to Montgomery March, Courageous Eight, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the fight for voting rights.”
Arthur Takes a Stand | ARTHUR
“Discover ways to protest an injustice and have your voice heard using this video from the PBS KIDS series ARTHUR. When Mrs. MacGrady opens the cafeteria for breakfast and takes on double the work without any help, Arthur tries different ways to solve the problem. He begs the principal to hire help and even encourages students to boycott! Finally, after a pep talk from Congressman John Lewis, Arthur stages a peaceful protest. His classmates join him, and they refuse to leave the cafeteria until they are heard. But will it make enough of an impact to hire an assistant for Mrs. MacGrady?”
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Impact in Cleveland | Politics on Point
“Martin Luther King Jr. left the famous march from Selma to Montgomery to come to Cleveland. Why? To encourage voter registration as a way for black people to let their voices be heard.”
Missing from Texts: Critical Changemakers
“As we reflect on this past year, it’s important to understand and acknowledge the sacrifices and compromises that we have made as a community. And even more so, to recognize and celebrate the selfless contributions of people to our world – even during COVID. Here are some changemakers from around the country who do amazing work and deserve to be celebrated for their contributions, the pathways they have set before and ahead of themselves, and the inspiration they provide to the countless activists who will continue doing work for our communities.”
I found this article extremely helpful! As a future educator I am always in need of resources to enhance the classroom experience. These are all great tools to incorporate when teaching about Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Rights. I especially love the Arthur episode! There are various options here to get students excited for learning about such an important topic in American history.
This topic caught my attention, and I was intrigued because I just finished completing a lesson plan on Martin Luther King Jr. I think it is crucial to provide students insight about Martin Luther King Jr. on his life, what he has accomplished, and how he has left a positive impact. Overall, this concept is a great start to establishing a diverse curriculum. The best part about this article is how it has provided numerous resources on teaching MLK. I will defiantly use these resources for my future classroom.
I think all schools should provide more diverse curriculum into their teachings. Providing everyone with an opportunity to showcase their culture and what has shaped them today. Martin Luther King Jr. should be shown and taught in many different schools. Martin Luther provided a pathway and movement for many people, especially black people here in America. He is a big part of history and is known for his, “I Have a Dream” speech. Many African Americans here in America are being discriminated just for the color of their skin, which is wrong in many ways. Teaching children at a very young age about diversity and civil rights, will allow them to think of everyone as equals. To be kind to other people of different race, ethnicity, gender, and many more. Children nowadays can be better people than other generations are, they can be leaders and change the world. This website was a great way to show that and shine more attention on an important matter.
This article is a great resource for teachers to be able to use in their classroom. It is clear cut, and easy to navigate. I enjoyed how each resource had a description to go along with it, so you already have an idea about what the resource is and how you can possibly utilize it in your classroom!
I love how this article gave some valuable resources for teaching about MLK and civil rights. Civil rights is something that needs to be taught properly so students are able to understand the importance of what those who came before them did for civil rights. These resources are a great way for students to explore MLK and civil rights in a safe and educated way.
This article provides support and context to the importance teaching diversity in the classroom setting. I think this will help create students to be more aware and open about what they are learning.
I loved this article because of so many different references. The range is wide and available for many ages.
This article provides so many amazing resources to use in the classroom. Not only would I use these resources to start discussions and teach about Dr. MLK Jr. and the impacts that he has made for society, but also incorporate other important figures that can represent a variety of students in the classroom, and show students the impact that they can make by using their voice to speak out on problems / topics that they feel strongly about in order to make a difference in their world. I especially like the Gee’s Bend resource because it serves as a way to show how the past and present are connected while also showing the achievements of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. With all of these resources, students can make connections within their lives to what was happening during the civil rights movement.
This article was a great way for me to find resources that I can use in my classroom. The contents in this post highlight the necessity of instilling diversity education in kids. The many resources available show that this starts at a young age. Teaching students about the Civil Rights Movement at an early age might help them realize that African American history is also American history. I feel that each of these items can be included into the curriculum.
This article was a great tool to find resources that I can use in the classroom. The resources included in this article show the need to teach diversity to students. The range of the provided resources prove that this starts at a young age. Teaching students about the Civil Rights Movement at the beginning of their education will normalize the fact that African American history is American history. I see a way to incorporate each and every one of these resources into curriculum. In doing so, it will hopefully be a start to a more diverse education.