Community Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement

Community members (adaptable for workshops, civic groups, or intergenerational gatherings).

Learning Objectives (with examples and video links)

By the end of this lesson, community members will be able to:

1. Identify key events in Dr. King’s life and his role in the Civil Rights Movement.
   • Example: Recognize the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a turning point in challenging segregation.
   • Video Resource: Martin Luther King Jr. – “I Have a Dream” Speech (1963) 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
2. Explain the principles of nonviolent protest and how they shaped the movement.
   • Example: Describe how sit‑ins at lunch counters demonstrated peaceful resistance against unjust laws.
   • Video Resource: Moving Towards Civil Rights: America’s Long Road to Racial Justice (Documentary) 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXvvr1aam-g
3. Analyze the impact of Dr. King’s leadership on American society and laws.
   • Example: Connect King’s advocacy to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.
   • Video Resource: Selma’s Bloody Sunday – Footage from March 7, 1965 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GhvSyVA9as
4. Reflect on how civil rights struggles connect to issues of justice today.
   • Example: Discuss parallels between King’s fight for voting rights and current debates about voter access.

Outcomes / Assessment

• Knowledge Outcomes:
  • Community members recall major events (Montgomery Bus Boycott, March on Washington, Selma marches, Civil Rights Act of 1964).
  • Community members demonstrate understanding of King’s philosophy of nonviolence.
• Skills Outcomes:
  • Community members articulate how King’s leadership influenced changes in law and society.
  • Community members connect historical civil rights struggles to contemporary issues of justice and equality.
• Assessment Methods:
  • Formative: Observation of participation in group discussions and ability to explain concepts.
  • Summative: Short written or spoken reflection assessing comprehension of key events, principles, and their relevance today.

Mr. Positive, Licensed Social Studies Educator: edcuatorsocialscience@gmail.com