MultiMedia Tools
Lesson Idea Name: Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Content Area: Social Studies, English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 5th
Content Standard Addressed: SS5H6.Describe the importance of key people, events, and developments
between 1950-1975.
SS5H6.b.Explain the key events and people of the Civil Rights movement: Brown v. Board of Education
(1954), Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and civil
rights activities of Thurgood Marshall, Lyndon B. Johnson, Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King,
Jr.
Technology Standard Addressed: 3 Knowledge Constructor
Selected Technology Tool:
☒ Movie (list application): iMovie
☐ Audio (list application):
☐ Other: (list)
URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):
Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):
☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating
Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):
☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
This lesson is great for all students, I will pass out transcripts for the video for students who might have audio
issues. I will also post it to the classroom blog so they can watch it as many times as they would like. This will
help students who might need extra time to grasp a concept as well as EL students who might need to see
and hear the video more than once.
Lesson idea implementation:
Visualize the historic moment of Martin Luther King's stirring "I Have a Dream" speech through text and
photographs. See the crowds, hear the words, and let King's powerful imagery awaken your students' thirst
for justice in the world today.
In this lesson, students will learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Students
will listen to a brief biography, view photographs of the March on Washington, and read a portion of King's "I
Have a Dream" speech. After studying King's use of imagery and allusion, students will create original poetic
phrases about freedom and illustrate them with symbols representing the forms of freedom that have yet to
be realized in the United States.
Ask students if they have ever heard Dr, King's "I Have a Dream" speech, which he delivered at the March on
Washington. Now you will show the video created and have them listen to a piece of the speech. After
accessing the speech pass out a worksheet showing the rest of the speech starting with "I say to you today,
my friends [applause], so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream…"
Spring 2018_SJB
MultiMedia Tools
After students have read and/or listened to the speech, ask them to write down 5-7 words or phrases of the
speech that especially stood out to them. Then divide the class into groups of three students each. To
emphasize the poetry and beauty of King's language, have each group create a "found poem" by combining
into the form of a poem, in whatever order they wish, the words and phrases that were selected by each of
the group's members. Upon completion, have one member of each group read the group's "found poem" to
the rest of the class.
Importance of technology: Using Multimedia for the lesson is critical because it gives you a sense of actually
being there. You can hear the words being said by Martin Luther King, you can see pictures of the actual
speech and give you a real sense of belonging. You could still do the lesson without the video but it would be
harder to convey the message exactly.
Inspiration (optional): n/a
Internet Safety and Student Privacy:
Before starting the lesson I would go over acceptable use on the internet. I would make sure to monitor
students closely throughout the lesson. If I had them look up other poems I would make sure it was through a
scholarly website that was approved for age/restrictions needed. I would also give the students a handout
with the words and poems spelled correctly so there would no confusion. Another thing I can do is invite
parents to come and help with our video project days.
Reflective Practice: This lesson could impact students greatly by seeing a first hand look into history that was
not that long ago. This could lead to them becoming activist and want to be kind leaders in their community.
By allowing a space for creative freedom children are learning how to be great humans and be able to spread
that throughout the community.
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