The celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January 20, offers educators a really great opportunity to share the story of this great historical figure. Dr. King was much more than a civil rights leader. Among his many interests, he was also a passionate advocate of education and life-long learning, and an avid student of history who urged his fellow citizens to appreciate and gain a thorough understanding of history to avoid repeating it. He once said, “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”

To aid classroom teachers with their MLK Day presentations, here are some instructional resources to consider for your use:

Scholastic. Biographical information, plays, memorable quotes, interactive timeline, book lists, lesson plans, reproducibles. Grade levels K-12. www.scholastic.com

Teacher Vision. Biographical information, educational videos, printables, lesson plans, activities, art projects, quizzes, references. Also, many resources for African American history and Black History Month. Grade levels K-12. www.teachervision.com

PBS. Resources to teach the life and impact of Martin Luther King. Videos, lesson plans, Civil Rights glossary, interactive timeline, personal narratives. Grades 7-12. www.pbs.org

NEA. Background resources, videos, printables, lesson plans, activities, crossword puzzles, quizzes. Grades K-12. www.nea.org