Day 1: Introduction to Martin Luther King Jr. and STEM Activities
Objective:
- Understand who Martin Luther King Jr. was and his contributions to society.
- Explore STEM activities related to King's mission of equality and peace.
Subjects:
- Social Studies: Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy
- Math: Measurement (length, height)
- Science: The concept of equality and fairness in nature
Activities:
- Read Aloud: Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
- Discuss the important themes: equality, fairness, and the Civil Rights Movement.
- STEM Activity: "Equality in Nature" – Investigate how animals and plants can exhibit fairness, such as how certain species share resources or how ecosystems balance themselves.
- Students can build simple models of balance (using equal amounts of materials to make something sturdy).
- Measure the height/length of various objects, ensuring symmetry and balance in the design.
Worksheet:
- Math: Measurement worksheet (measure and compare lengths of different objects)
- Science: Write about the balance in nature, asking students to identify examples of fairness or equality in the environment.
Day 2: The Importance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech
Objective:
- Understand the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches and their impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
- Connect speech and communication to math and science.
Subjects:
- Social Studies: King's speeches and their role in the Civil Rights Movement
- Math: Patterns and sequencing
- Reading: Identifying key ideas in a speech
Activities:
- Read Aloud: I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. (a simplified version for children).
- Math: Create a sequence of events in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, using patterns (number patterns, shapes, or sequential ordering).
- Science: Explore sound waves – Explain how MLK’s speeches were powerful because of how sound waves can influence emotions and thoughts.
- Simple sound wave experiment with tuning forks or a rubber band to show vibrations.
Worksheet:
- Reading: Comprehension questions about the speech I Have a Dream (example: What were MLK’s dreams for the future?).
- Math: Sequence worksheet, where students put key events in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life in order, using patterns (e.g., a pattern of colors or shapes for each event).
Day 3: Understanding Equality in Society and Nature
Objective:
- Discuss the concept of equality and fairness in society and nature.
- Introduce simple data collection and graphing.
Subjects:
- Social Studies: The role of Martin Luther King Jr. in advocating for equality.
- Math: Data collection and graphing
- Science: Exploring symmetry and balance in nature
Activities:
- Read Aloud: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore
- Discuss MLK’s role in changing laws to make life more equal for all people.
- Math: Data collection exercise – Students will survey their classmates to gather data about various equality-related themes (favorite books, colors, etc.).
- Science: Symmetry in nature – Look for natural examples of symmetry in plants and animals (e.g., leaves, butterflies). Students will sketch what they find and compare it to symmetry in math.
Worksheet:
- Math: Graphing worksheet (students create a bar graph to represent the class survey results).
- Science: Symmetry worksheet where students draw and label symmetric objects in nature.
Day 4: The Power of Peace and Nonviolence
Objective:
- Discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolence to bring about change.
- Introduce basic principles of peaceful conflict resolution.
Subjects:
- Social Studies: Nonviolent protests and their effectiveness.
- Math: Problem-solving (addition and subtraction)
- Science: Exploring peaceful environments and ecosystems that thrive in harmony.
Activities:
- Read Aloud: Peaceful Protest by Robin Nelson
- Discuss MLK’s approach to nonviolence and how it affected his followers.
- Math: Problem-solving activity where students use addition and subtraction to solve word problems based on peaceful outcomes (e.g., “If 10 people were protesting for peace and 5 joined them, how many people are there now?”).
- Science: Explore peaceful ecosystems and how they maintain balance (e.g., a coral reef or a forest). Discuss the harmony between species.
Worksheet:
- Math: Problem-solving worksheet (addition and subtraction word problems).
- Science: Simple ecosystem worksheet where students draw a peaceful ecosystem and identify the plants and animals in it.
Day 5: Martin Luther King Jr. and Legacy
Objective:
- Reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and how his work impacts us today.
- Discuss how we can continue his dream.
Subjects:
- Social Studies: MLK’s legacy
- Math: Simple multiplication and division (grouping and equal sharing)
- Reading: Reflection on what students have learned about MLK
Activities:
- Read Aloud: Martin’s Big Words or another biography of MLK.
- Discuss MLK’s legacy of peace, equality, and justice.
- Math: Division – Students divide a set of objects into equal groups to reflect the concept of fairness and equality.
- Science: Simple project where students research and create a poster or model of a peaceful ecosystem or environment, symbolizing MLK’s dream of peace and equality.
Worksheet:
- Math: Division worksheet (equally divide sets of objects).
- Social Studies: Reflection worksheet where students write about how they can continue Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality and peace.
Assessment and Evaluation:
- Comprehension: Evaluate students’ understanding of MLK’s life and work through comprehension questions during read-aloud sessions and discussion.
- STEM: Assess students’ participation and understanding of STEM activities. Were they able to create balance models? Did they grasp symmetry in nature?
- Math: Check for understanding in math worksheets (measurements, sequencing, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
- Reflection: At the end of the week, have a class discussion on how students can promote equality and peace in their community, using what they have learned about Martin Luther King Jr.
