• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Desktop logo for Mrs. Beers

Mrs. Beers Language Arts Classroom

My middle school ELA blog featuring student engagement strategies, classroom ideas, and lesson plans for language arts teachers.

  • HOME
  • TPT STORE
  • ABOUT
  • BLOG
  • FAVES

Teaching about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Middle School Resources

January 8, 2023 by Erin Beers

It often seems like January is a time where middle school teachers go into turbo TEST PREP mode. In addition to test prep work, we also typically begin a variety of writing assignments and novel units. Despite all these competing priorities, it is important not to overlook January’s unique opportunity to educate students about one of America’s great leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

mlk middle school activities 6th grade

In the past I utilized YouTube videos or a showing of Our Friend, Martin to pay homage to Dr. King. While these ideas sufficed for middle grade students, I wanted a more engaging way to share the history and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A few years ago I took the time to create two separate resources to help my students learn more about this significant individual in American history.

The first is a set of 20-informational text task cards spanning his life. The task cards are common core aligned and cover grades 4-6 RI. They can be used in a literacy center, as a class scoot, or in small groups. These turned out to be a great resource for sharing Dr. King’s biography share with students, while also helping them navigate informational text effectively. You can see the full description in my TPT store.

Another resource I created is a reader’s theater script. The text focuses on a group of students doing research in order to present information to the class about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Your upper elementary to middle school students will love performing this script and will be able to complete reader response questions, context clue word work, journal writing, and an interactive notebook page based on information shared in the selection. This resource is also common core aligned and covers both reading literature and writing standards RL.1-4 and W.4 and L.5 for grades 4-8. Click the image below to learn more.

mlk readers theater 6th grade

Both of these resources are inexpensive and easy to incorporate into your instruction. Your students will LOVE them! Keep me posted on any MLK middle school activities you use when teaching about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

POPULAR POSTS:

ELA teacher toolbox

The ELA Teacher Toolbox

READ MOREThe ELA Teacher Toolbox
Reader's Theater Scripts for Middle School

Reader’s Theater Scripts for Middle School

READ MOREReader’s Theater Scripts for Middle School
  • middle school book projects
  • context clue task cards
  • Mrs. Beers ELA Sub Plans
  • readers theater bundle for middle grades

Spring Break Personal Narrative Essay and Journal Writing Activities

ELA Test Prep…March Madness Style

A St. Patrick’s Day Reader’s Theater for Middle School

Middle School ELA Resources for March

The ELA Teacher Toolbox

A Valentine’s Day Reader’s Theater for Middle School

Sidebar

About Mrs. Beers

erin beers language arts teacher

I am a 7th grade language arts teacher in Cincinnati. 2022 marks my 22nd year in the classroom!
⭐ Visit My TPT Store
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Spring Break Personal Narrative Essay and Journal Writing Activities
  • ELA Test Prep…March Madness Style
  • A St. Patrick’s Day Reader’s Theater for Middle School
ELA Teacher Toolbox
  • Classroom Setup Ideas
  • Reader's Theater Scripts
  • ELA Word Wall
  • Emergency Sub Plans
  • Task Cards
  • Novel Study Activities
  • Classroom Management Activities
  • Best Books for 6th Grade
  • Poetry Analysis for Middle School

Blog Posts

  • Readers Theater
  • ELA Task Cards
  • Classroom Management
  • Novel Study
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Teaching Tips

TPT SHOP Links

  • My TPT Store
  • Reader’s Theater Bundle
  • ELA Sub Plans Bundle
  • Task Cards
  • Novel Study Units

About

  • About Mrs. Beers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resource Policies
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 · Mrs. Beers Language Arts Classroom · All Rights Reserved