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The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King's dream. While Dr. King believed the Beloved Community was possible, he acknowledged and fought for systemic change.

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Project I Am, a 501c3 organization that was created by Jahkil Naeem Jackson when he was 8 years old. Jahkil, now 15, has a heartfelt desire to help those in need. After helping his aunt distribute food to the unhoused in Chicago, he knew that he wanted to do more to make a difference.

It quickly became Jahkil's mission to build awareness of people impacted by homelessness and to help the unhoused population by offering them what he calls "Blessing Bags," a giveaway filled with wipes, socks, deodorant, hand sanitizer, granola bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bottled water, and more.

Jahkil has set and surpassed many goals in his young life. Distributing his Blessing Bags to the unhoused has been one of his biggest achievements thus far. In just a few years, Jahkil has led Project I Am's efforts in raising over $400,000 for those in need. Jahkil's efforts have touched 100,000 men, women and children across the world. Along with the help of friends and family, Jahkil has organized distribution to those in need in Chicago, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Idaho and more. He has also provided items of support to orphans in Mbabane, Swaziland and Ghana as well as volcano victims in Guatemala, and hurricane survivors in the Bahamas, Florida, Houston and Puerto Rico.

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Project I Am, a 501c3 organization that was created by Jahkil Naeem Jackson when he was 8 years old. Jahkil, now 15, has a heartfelt desire to help those in need. After helping his aunt distribute food to the unhoused in Chicago, he knew that he wanted to do more to make a difference.

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Kids Can Be Changemakers | PBS LearningMedia

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Changemakers can be activists, non-profit workers, volunteers and even kids. Explore the entire Meet the Helpers collection!

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Each year, the United States sets aside the third Monday in January to remember the life and work of legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

King's life ended abruptly when he was assassinated in 1968, but he left behind a generation of leaders who continued fighting for equal rights. Today, many people spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day volunteering in their communities and reflecting on the things King stood for.

Use the following NewsHour Classroom resources to examine King's impact on civil rights and his ongoing legacy. The video below contains an excerpt of King's 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

Lesson Plans

The March on Washington and its impact

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech as a work of literature

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech as visual text
Music and speeches at the March on Washington
MLK Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and the Capitol Hill attack
Sign up for NewsHour Classroom's ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning. To receive NewsHour's monthly education newsletter click here. To provide feedback on this resource, please fill out the form here.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day classroom resources - PBS NewsHour Classroom

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Each year, the United States sets aside the third Monday in January to remember the life and work of legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King's life ended abruptly when he was assassinated in 1968, but he left behind a generation of leaders who continued fighting for equal rights.

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PBS LEARNING MEDIA | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | PBS KIDS

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Martin Luther King Jr. | Civil Rights Leader | PBS LearningMedia

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In the second half of the 20th century, racial tensions rose in the United States as African Americans began to challenge unjust laws that supported discrimination and segregation. This movement found its leader in the patient and inspiring minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Honor Martin Luther King Jr. and the Full Movement

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Honor Martin Luther King Jr. and the Full Movement

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Learning for Justice, 2022

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Episode 7, Season 3 You cannot teach the civil rights movement without talking about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But it's critical that students deconstruct the mythology surrounding the movement's most iconic figure to...

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Honor Martin Luther King Jr. and the Full Movement

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As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, educators across the nation will teach about King's life and works. Countless others will echo his famous quotes. Few will offer a full picture of who King truly was-or of the collectivist movement that surrounded him.

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Poem by Glenda Armand (Learning for Justice, 2021)

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We stayed at the home of my dad's Grandma Bea,
The eldest of all in our large family.
There was hugging and kissing and My-how-you've-growns,
Which caused squirming and giggling and quite a few moans.

With the Reverend King humbly leading the way,
We sang as we marched on that bright summer day.
My kinfolk, the night before tired and glum,
Were now hopefully singing, We Shall Overcome.

King said, "Now is the time that we honor our creed
And the rights its magnificent words guaranteed."
He'd say, " Now is the time!" Then he'd say it again.
And each time he did, I heard shouts of, "Amen!"

"We must all work together," King said, "white and Black,
We can not walk alone and we will not turn back."
We all would go home, as King asked us to do,
To work for the day when the dream would come true.

Later that night it was my generation
Who spoke of the future with new inspiration.
We were filled with the bliss of our planning and dreaming.
As our parents looked on, all their faces were beaming.

We sang songs we had sung on the mall that great day,
With My Country, 'Tis of Thee leading the way.
Great Grandma Bea, her voice trembling but strong,
Joined five generations of family in song.

She smiled and said softly, "Let's end the same way
That young Martin himself ended his speech today."
And I'll always remember, as sleep came on fast,
Hearing her sing, Free at last! Free at last!

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We stayed at the home of my dad's Grandma Bea, The eldest of all in our large family. There was hugging and kissing and My-how-you've-growns, Which caused squirming and giggling and quite a few moans. With the Reverend King humbly leading the way, We sang as we marched on that bright summer day.

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Mahogany L. Browne reading excerpts from 'Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice'

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My Uncle Martin's Words for America Read Aloud

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My Uncle Martin's Words for America Read Aloud

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Saints Explore Empathy Essential Questions 2022

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Saints Explore Empathy Essential Questions 2022

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What does community mean to you?  How do you define community?  What are the unique characteristics of our community (SSSAS)?

What are the characteristics of a role model?

How can students be inspired by real-life role models?

How can we work to answer Dr. King’s call to service?  Who can we serve? What can I/we do for others (each other, our classroom, our community)?

How can we be change makers?

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SSSAS Social Responsibility Explorations 2021

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SSSAS Social Responsibility Explorations 2021

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Social Responsibility Explorations: January 15-18, 2021

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Dear Lower School families,

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, we invite your family to explore the list of activities below to exercise our empathy and creatively reflect upon the work and legacy of Dr. King.

Not only did Martin Luther King, Jr. have a dream, throughout his life he served others with his words and through his actions. Dr. King embodied the concept of social responsibility, which acknowledges "accountability for the impact of one's choices on the larger world," right now and in the future. At St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, social responsibility is rooted at the intersection of our service learning and action in the wider community, commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), environmental sustainability, and our Episcopal Identity.

The activities below are inspired by the SSSAS Enduring Understandings of Social Responsibility, specifically our learning goal around empathy: "I can empathize: I am aware of the way that others want to be treated." We encourage you to explore empathy with your child in one or more of the following ways. The link to this newsletter is also posted on SeeSaw (grades JK-4) and Google Classroom (grade 5).

Make a Difference

What can you do to make a difference? How can you use your unique abilities and interests to help others and make a difference in the world? Grab some paper, scissors, and glue and watch this video from Big Life Journal to learn how to share ways you can make a difference by caring for your family and friends, caring for the community, and caring for the planet.

Care for the Community

Express empathy for our community and the Earth. For example, help take care of our beautiful surroundings by taking part in opportunities for local park clean up. Opportunities include:

Lower School Social Responsibility Committee

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Social Responsibility Explorations: January 15-18, 2021 Dear Lower School families, In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, we invite your family to explore the list of activities below to exercise our empathy and creatively reflect upon the work and legacy of Dr. King. Not only did Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Civil Rights Teaching (upper grades)

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Teaching about Martin Luther King Jr. — Civil Rights Teaching

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Collection of resources from Smithsonian's Our Story Collection

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Historic time period: 1945-early 1970's

Have you ever heard of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington? What was his dream for America, who was the man behind those famous words, and why do we celebrate his story every January?

Martin's Big Words is an illustrated biography that traces Dr. King's life from his childhood and includes quotes from his writings and speeches. Explore Dr. King's story by reading together and then try some of these fun activities to learn more about him and other brave Americans who worked on the civil rights movement

The National Museum of American History has a rich collection of objects from the civil rights movement, including a portion of the lunch counter from the sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina, and a handbill from the 1963 March on Washington.

Read This Book

Recommended Book

Read Martin's Big Words

Meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and explore the story of his life through reading together.

Download the PDF "

Activities

Comic Book Hero

Learn from Objects

By looking closely at a comic book, learn about how nonviolence worked in the past and make your own pocket card with tips to use nonviolence today. Image courtesy of Fellowship of Reconciliation

Download the PDF "

Word Art with Martin's Words

Use Technology

Make word art on the computer using the words of Dr. King's speeches and letters.

Download the PDF "

Visit Your Government

Take A Trip

Have you ever been to a place where laws are made or enforced? Visit a seat of government in your community and think of some ways you could influence the government through nonviolence.

Download the PDF "

Remembering King

Play and Create

Create a window decoration inspired by Dr. King and the ideas he shared with others.

Download the PDF "

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This OurStory module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nonviolence, includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings related to the topic of civil rights and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Teach MLK in Connection With the Attack on the U.S. Capitol (2021)

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Teach MLK in Connection With the Attack on the U.S. Capitol (2021)

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Teaching Tolerance

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While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work is often sugarcoated, it's important to teach that King championed economic justice and taught Black self-love while also pushing back against neutrality, imperialism and systemic racism.

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Teach MLK in Connection With the Attack on the U.S. Capitol

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The same day a Black man and a Jewish man were voted into the U.S. Senate, a mob toting Confederate and Nazi flags attacked the U.S. Capitol. As you teach about Martin Luther King Jr. ahead of his birthday observation, acknowledge the link between the racism he resisted and the violence we witnessed at the Capitol.

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SSSAS Enduring Understandings of Social Responsibility

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SSSAS Enduring Understandings of Social Responsibility

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I am rooted…

I acknowledge and am grateful for the ways others help me.

I can empathize…

I am aware of the way that others want to be treated.

I can understand….

I can learn about experiences that may be different from my own through stories, the people I meet, and the places I visit.

I can grow…

I can challenge myself by speaking up when I see or experience something that

is unfair or unkind. And if I’m not sure, I can ask for help.

I can act…

There are things I can do to help other people. I can make my learning spaces and my community a better place for everyone.

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Reading Closely and Discussing the “I Have a Dream” Speech (upper grades)

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Reading Closely and Discussing the “I Have a Dream” Speech (upper grades)

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Elizabeth S. Brown, 2013

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Reading Closely and Discussing the I Have a Dream Speech

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The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to advocate and build capacity for high-quality social studies by providing leadership, services, and support to educators.

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Mini-collection of digital media resources to discuss the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the broader Civil Rights Movement (log in required)

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Virginia's premier destination for high-quality instructional resources.

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The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President

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Park Rangers and students from local area school.
National Park Foundation

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy of Racial and Social Justice: A Curriculum for Empowerment is a teacher's resource guide that provides activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to explore the rich history of the civil rights movement and the persona of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This educational curriculum was developed by The Alonzo Crim Center for Excellence in Urban Education at Georgia State University.

The curriculum focuses on building on students' current civil rights knowledge and helping them to compare present-day realities to past struggles for justice in America and throughout the world.

The format of this curriculum is divided into 5 major sections:

Section 1 - Guidelines for Teachers (PDF 1,411 KB)
Section 2 - Lessons Plans and Units by grade levels K and 1, grades 2 and 3, grades 4 and 5, and grades 6 and 8

Section 3 - The Visitor Center Exhibits

Section 4 - A Problem-Solution Project

Section 5 - References

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Lesson Plans & Teacher Guides - Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

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The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Legacy of Racial and Social Justice: A Curriculum for Empowerment is a teacher's resource guide that provides activities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to explore the rich history of the civil rights movement and the persona of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work is often sugarcoated, it's important to teach that King championed economic justice and taught Black self-love while also pushing back against neutrality, imperialism and systemic racism.

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The Radical Truth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15, 1929, became the most well known leader of the modern civil rights movement. But the truth of King's legacy is often whitewashed and sanitized. On his birthday, MLK Day and year round, use these resources to provide students with a more complete, radical context of King's fight for justice-and discuss how his work still creates ripples today.

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Teaching Tolerance

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Learning for Justice provides free resources to educators-teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners-who work with children from kindergarten through high school.

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Suggested MLK Day project ideas

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Lesson and resource ideas from Teaching Tolerance

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Schools across the country are preparing to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The resources in this edition of The Moment will help you teach beyond the simplified story and help your students learn about this civil rights leader's life and legacy.

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How can we work to answer Dr. King’s call to service?  Who can we serve? What can I/we do for others (each other, our classroom, our community)?

How can we be change makers?

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It only takes one person or idea to make a change in the community, and there many ways to serve and support our Saints community.  Children have the potential to be change makers, and can be inspired by role models such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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For the King Holiday: A picture book with a service learning project built-in

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MLK would be 90 on January 15. Observe his holiday with my un-biography YOU CAN BE A KING: DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S DREAM AND YOU (illustrated by James Ransome). With a service-learning …