PBS LearningMedia’s FREE multimedia instructional resources can help teach students about Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights movement and the legacy of Dr. King. Many PBS LearningMedia resources include support materials such as background essays, activities, and discussion questions! Below is just a sample of what you will find.
We Are All Different | Meet the Helpers
Suggested for grades PreK-K
We are all different, but that is what makes us one of a kind. Explore the entire Meet the Helpers collection!
Same/Different with Abby and Elmo | Sesame Street
Suggested for grades PreK-K
Abby and Elmo describe the ways in which they’re the same and different. Abby has furry hair and ears, and since she’s a fairy, she has wings! But they both have two arms, two hands, and two eyes! This resource teaches similarities and differences.
Martin Luther King Day | All About the Holidays
Suggested for grades K-5
The third Monday in January is a national holiday observing the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Learn more about this leader of the civil rights movement and about how we honor him today.
Martin Luther King Jr. | Civil Rights Leader
Suggested for grades 3-8
In this lesson, students will watch a video about Dr. King that emphasizes his commitment to nonviolence. They will then examine and analyze a 1956 flyer and a 1966 photograph that illustrate King’s approach to maintaining nonviolence. The lesson culminates with a comparison to other leaders who have been consistently nonviolent in spite of great personal risk.
The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Civil Rights Movement
Suggested for grades 3-12
Historians reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Lola Hendricks | Civil Rights
Suggested for grades 6-12
The leadership of the Civil Rights Movement was largely defined by major figures like Martin Luther King Jr., but behind the scenes were people like Lola Hendricks who helped organize the community and filed lawsuits to end discrimination and segregation. In this interview, Hendricks describes her role in the Civil Rights movement. See the full Civil Rights collection here
Students Reflect on “I Have A Dream” Speech | Civil Rights: Then and Now
Suggested for grades 6-12
Hear students’ thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and examine the state of equality in the U.S. with videos from Student Reporting Labs and a discussion guide. See the entire Civil Rights: Then and Now.
Out of the Shadows | Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise
Suggested for grades 9-12
On March 7, 1965, peaceful marchers calling for voting rights were attacked by the police in Selma, Alabama. The shocking images were broadcast on television, and galvanized the country. Outraged, President Lyndon Johnson astonished the nation by invoking the mantra of the Civil Rights Movement.
Dr. Martin Luther King at Gee’s Bend | Retro Report
Suggested for grades 9-12
This eight-minute video illustrates the achievements of the civil rights movement, as well as the enduring challenges facing black Americans, by focusing on the small community of Gee’s Bend, Ala., a town that attracted the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s. The video helps students draw a line between the battles fought by King’s movement nearly five decades ago and the barriers to equality and opportunity that residents of Gee’s Bend face today. For lessons focused on the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the video serves as a bridge between the past and the present, and sets up a discussion about the unfinished agenda of King’s movement.
Retro Report is a nonprofit news organization that connects the past to our present. Their short videos provide both historical context and new perspectives. You can use the videos and lesson plans to inspire critical thinking and discussion on a variety of subjects including history, civics, and science. To see more of their resources for educators, visit Retro Report in the Classroom.
Deepening Your Understanding of Race and Racism | Tools for Anti-Racist Teaching
Explore the role media plays in our understanding of race and racism. Hear from experts who share advice on how educators can use media to confront injustice, and create anti-racist classroom environments.
For even more resources, visit our curated folder. Have questions or need assistance? Contact your KET Education Consultant! We love helping educators and students!