Martin Luther King, Jr., born in January of 1929, was the son of a

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1 Using the Mini-Book After introducing children to Martin Luther King, Jr., have them make the minibook (pages 48 49). Then read the story together as a class, encouraging children to track the text with their finger. (You might introduce any new vocabulary before reading.) Later, invite children to reread their books in small groups, with partners, or individually. Related Reading Martin Luther King, Jr. ( ) Martin Luther King, Jr., born in January of 1929, was the son of a Baptist minister. Often during his childhood, King questioned his parents about the racial segregation and prejudices in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. At age 15, he worked on a tobacco farm in Connecticut where he found it refreshing that people of different races lived more integrated lives. By 1955, King had become a minister, attended seminary, and received a doctorate degree. When Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to surrender her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, King led the bus boycott that resulted in the desegregation of buses. In taking on other civil rights issues, he believed the struggle for freedom would only come through peaceful resistance. He was jailed in 1963 during a campaign to end segregation at lunch counters and in hiring practices. To raise awareness of civil rights issues, King helped organize the March on Washington during which he gave his famous I Have a Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Under King s leadership, the civil rights movement eventually led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed employment discrimination and desegregated public facilities. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 while supporting a sanitation worker strike in Memphis, Tennessee. In his quest for civil rights, King received hate calls, his home was bombed, and he was stabbed. When awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he was the youngest man to have received it. King was the first black American to be named Time magazine s Man of the Year. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been a national holiday in the United States since Have children gather and arrange props to represent the three scenes in the play (pages 50 52): a baseball field, a general store, and a bus. To help boost understanding of the events in the play, share stories about Martin Luther King, Jr. (see Related Reading) and discuss racial segregation with children. You might also show a video of King s I Have a Dream speech, as well as images of scenes and signs from the segregated 1950s and 1960s. Remind children that King discouraged injustices with his actions, words, and writings. Then have them complete the activity (page 53) by filling in ideas about what they can do, say, and write to change one unfair thing for the better. 47

2 1 by Martin Luther King, Jr. 2 3 Equality for All Black people could not sit, drink, or go to school with white people. They had to ride in the back of buses. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a young boy in the 1930s. Things back then were not like they are now. All people should be treated the same. Martin did not think this was right. As he grew, he wanted to try to change things.

3 (page 49) He wanted new rules for buses. He asked others not to ride buses to work. Many believed the same things that Martin did. They began to change the way things were done He gave a speech in Washington, D.C. He spoke of his dream that everyone would be treated the same. Martin s dream was coming true! His peaceful ways in making changes have helped all of us.

4 One Day, Martin Martin Luther King, Jr. Read-Aloud Play Characters Martin Boys 1 & 2 Narrators 1 5 Mom Teacher Driver Scene 1: on a neighborhood ball field Boy 1: Boy 2: Boy 1: Boy 2: Narrator 1: Narrator 2: Narrator 3: Narrator 4: Hi! Let s pick teams and play ball! We can t play ball with you today. Why not? Our parents say your skin color is not like ours. They don t want us to play with you. But we are friends. Not any more. One day, Martin would give a speech in Washington. His speech would give hope to many. People would always remember. But on this day, Martin was six, and he just wanted to play ball. 50

5 Narrator 5: All: He didn t know why skin color mattered. We shall overcome! We shall overcome! Scene 2: outside a neighborhood market Mom: Mom: Mom: Mom: Narrator 1: Narrator 2: Narrator 3: Narrator 4: Mom, why don t we use the front door of the store? It s this way. That door is not for us. Why not? Black people must use the back door. White people use the front door. Why do people care about skin color? That s just the way things are. We use different water fountains. We sit in different places. I think all people should be treated the same. I do, too, Martin. I do, too. One day, Martin would find a way to show that laws about skin color were unfair. He would ask people to sit and wait for service at lunch counters. People would use peaceful ways to bring change. But on this day, he was a boy who just wanted to shop with his mother. One Day, Martin 51

6 Narrator 5: All: He didn t know why signs said Whites Only. We shall overcome! We shall overcome! Scene 3: on a crowded bus Teacher: Teacher: Driver: Driver: Narrator 1: Narrator 2: Narrator 3: Narrator 4: Narrator 5: All: I wish this bus would not keep stopping. What s your hurry? People will be so excited that you won. You are only 14, but you re a great speaker. Get up! You have to move. These white people need a place to sit. But there are no other seats for us. Then you will have to stand. Go on! Stand for ninety miles? I will never forget this! One day, Martin would lead a bus boycott. He would ask people not to ride buses. People would listen to Martin. Things would change. But on this day, he was 14 years old, and he just needed a ride. He didn t know why he had to give up his seat. We shall overcome! We shall overcome! One Day, Martin The End 52

7 Name: It s Just Not Right Date: Martin Luther King, Jr. showed us that one person can help make lives better. Martin Luther King, Jr. Activity Page I Can Make a Change Look around your neighborhood. Write about one unfair thing you can help change. Here s what I can do: This is what I can say: Here s what I will write: 53

8 How to Make the Mini-Books The mini-books require very few materials, and children can complete them at their desk or at a learning center. To get started, provide pre-trimmed copies of the mini-book pages you can use a paper cutter to cut along the dashed line on each copy. Then demonstrate the steps below. (Or assemble the books in advance.) Materials scissors crayons or markers stapler 1. Cut each reproducible page in half along the solid line. Then fold the front cover/page 1 along the dotted center line. Keep the fold to the right side. 2. Repeat the folding process for each of the remaining page pairs: pages 2/3, 4/5, and 6/7. Stack the pages in order with the cover on top and all of the folds on the right side. 3. Staple the pages together along the left edge. Teaching Tips and Extensions Creative Timing With many of the Americans in this resource having ties to several seasonal observances, be creative with the timing you choose for using these activities. For example, the unit on Susan B. Anthony is suggested for use during Women s History Month (March), but the activities are also a perfect fit for pre-election days in October and November. The unit on Alexander Graham Bell (July) might instead be used during National Inventors Month in August. Multi-Use Mini-Books Mix things up a bit with these suggestions for using the mini-books: Mask the text of a mini-book and make a copy of the pages. Then cut out the text from another copy. Laminate all the pieces, place them in a center, and encourage children to match the corresponding text to each page. 6

9 Have children glue the mini-book pages, in sequence, to a strip of accordion-folded bulletin board paper. Children can then unfold the strip, one section at a time, to read the story. Highlight selected words in a mini-book and place it in a literacy center. Invite children to search other books, materials, and displays in the center to find words that match those highlighted in the mini-book. Play Props and Productions After reading through a play a few times, invite children to suggest embellishments they might add to make the production more interesting, such as an interesting prop, a musical link, or even an announcer to provide oral credits at the conclusion of the play. By encouraging children to contribute to the plans and preparations for the play, they will become more fully engaged. All-in-One Activity Pages A class set of completed activity pages makes an interesting read. For a quick way to compile them, hole-punch the left side of the pages and put them in a slim binder. Place the book on your classroom bookshelves for children to enjoy. The graphic organizers (pages 9 11) can be used individually or with any unit in this book to help children respond to what they learn. After children complete the activities on pages 9 and 10, you might compile them into a notebook, then invite children to read and enjoy the pages on their own. To use the organizer on page 11, have children fill out the page, glue Name: Date: Graphic Organizer Name: Ways to describe this American: One thing this person did: American Pride Draw the person. I wonder... Another thing this person did: Name: it to a 9- by 12-inch envelope, and place objects and pictures related to that famous person inside the envelope. If desired, punch holes along the left side of the envelopes, taking care not to puncture any items inside, and bind them in a notebook. Place the notebook in your class library to introduce a unique and interesting book format for children to enjoy. To extend the use of any of these graphic organizers, invite children to select, research, and complete the activity for another American with traits similar to a person featured in this book. For example, after filling in a graphic organizer for Abraham Lincoln, ask children to complete the same activity for another president. Similarly, you might have them use the graphic organizers to show what they have learned about famous Americans that can be connected to a particular national observance (such as Women s History Month), topic (such as explorers or inventors), or month of the year. Born: (date) 9 Name: Date: Graphic Organizer One Special American Draw the person. 10 USA One special thing this person did for our country: Born: Lived: Occupation: (date) (where) How this person inspires me: Name: Date: Graphic Organizer 1. Choose a famous person to learn about. 2. Read and talk about this person. 3. Complete this page. 4. Glue this page to an envelope. Birth Date: 5. Put pictures and things inside that give clues Home Place: about who the person is. Mystery American (city, state) Things that made this person special: Best known for: 11 7

10 Name: Date: Graphic Organizer American Pride Name: Ways to describe this American: Born: (date) Draw the person. One thing this person did: Another thing this person did: I wonder... 9

11 Name: Date: Graphic Organizer One Special American Born: (date) Lived: (where) Occupation: Draw the person. USA One special thing this person did for our country: How this person inspires me: 10

12 Name: Date: Graphic Organizer Mystery American D Birth Best known fo r: ate: Hom ce: e Pla stat (city, e) Things that made this person special: 1. Choose a famous person to learn about. 2. Read and talk about this person. 3. Complete this page. 4. Glue this page to an envelope. 5. Put pictures and things inside that give clues about who the person is. 11