Voices From the Past: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Invite fourth and fifth graders to analyze the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in this worksheet. First, young historians will read a passage about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Next, students are given a quote from Dr. King’s book, Strength to Love. Using the quote and the highlighted key words, students will answer four written-response questions about the language, significance, and personal relevance of his words.

This resource will give students practice in historical quote analysis. Learners are encouraged to think critically and apply what they know about the civil rights movement to gain a deeper understanding of the quote’s meaning. With prompting from the reflection questions, students will also think about the lasting impact of social and historical events.

For additional Black history worksheets, see Changemakers: Black History and Reading a Timeline: Montgomery Bus Boycott.