EL Civics for ESL Students
Dr. King Holiday Lesson Banner - Dr. King Speaking to President Johnson

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Lesson

by elcivics.com

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday. It is in honor of Dr. King's birthday, which is on January 15. It is celebrated on the third Monday in January, and in 2008 it will be on January 21. Because it is a national holiday, schools, banks, post offices, libraries, and government buildings are closed. People celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by remembering all the good things Dr. King did. Teacher's give lessons about the history of slavery in the United States, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the philosophy and teachings of Dr. King. News programs play videos of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream Speech." Sometimes, the President of the United States makes a statement about the importance of Dr. King's dream. Civil rights leaders attend forums to discuss the progress and current status of minority rights in the United States and the influence Dr. King had on them and the American legal and political system.  (3 pages)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is the Third Monday in January

What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

  • It is an American holiday to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King.
  • King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on the third Monday in January.

 

Dr. King

Was Dr. King a good student?

  • Yes, he was. He finished high school when he was just 15 years old.
  • He liked school and earned many degrees:


  • 1. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1948

    2. Bachelor of Divinity in 1951

    3. Doctor of Philosophy in 1955

 

  Next Page >>

Copyrights to the pictures and photos on this Martin Luther King, Jr. Unit and Civics website belong to individual photographers. We have purchased the rights to use them. Do not copy the pictures/photos on this site. Permission is granted to copy any of the worksheets for classroom use. Permission is also granted to link to any page of this website. Contact Christina Niven, ESL Web Developer, at christina@elcivics.com. Please send corrections, comments, greetings, and requests for new units. Copyright © Christina Niven, 2007.