teaching resource

Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline

Updated: 11 May 2023

Craft an illustrated timeline for students to visually explore the major events in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 14 Pages
Grades: 2 - 6

Curriculum

Social Studies 2.2(B)

Describe how people and events have influenced local community history.
Social Studies 3.1(A)

Describe how individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities, past and present;
Social Studies 3.2(B)

Compare ways in which people in the local community and other communities meet their needs for government, education, communication, transportation, and recreation.
Social Studies 3.9(A)

Identify characteristics of good citizenship, including truthfulness, justice, equality, respect for oneself and others, responsibility in daily life, and participation in government by educating oneself about the issues, respectfully holding public ...
Social Studies 3.11(A)

Identify and describe the heroic deeds of state and national heroes and military and first responders such as Hector P. Garcia, James A. Lovell, and the Four Chaplains; and
Social Studies 3.11(B)

Identify and describe the heroic deeds of individuals such as Harriet Tubman, Todd Beamer, and other contemporary heroes.
Social Studies 5.5(A)

Explain the significance of issues and events of the 20th century such as industrialization, urbanization, the Great Depression, the world wars, the civil rights movement, and military actions;
Social Studies 5.5(C)

Identify the accomplishments and contributions of individuals and groups such as Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in th...

teaching resource

Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline

Updated: 11 May 2023

Craft an illustrated timeline for students to visually explore the major events in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 14 Pages
Grades: 2 - 6

Craft an illustrated timeline for students to visually explore the major events in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.

Map Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Important Life Events

Through this activity, students will identify the accomplishments and contributions of one of the most influential leaders of modern history.

Display this resource in your classroom for students to reference during your discussions around MLK Day and the civil rights movement.

This timeline has a road theme with important events and their dates displayed on various road signs, including MLK’s:

📣 Birth and death

📣 Marriage & children

📣 College entrances and graduations

📣 Defining moments

📣 Speeches

📣 Publishings

Plus, we’ve included additional civil rights movement milestones and landmarks in Black history that took place during Dr. King’s lifetime.

Easily Prepare This Resource For Your Classroom

Please note this resource will download as a PDF. Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the color or black and white, tabloid (11 x 17), or letter size options.

Note: The black and white version includes color images—specify your printer’s settings to ‘greyscale’ for a full black and white print job.

Print on tabloid paper:

Assemble the timeline as a classroom display board.
Project the road and use the signs as an interactive student activity to practice sequencing and chronological order.
Use the road signs and have the students match the images to the correct event.

Print on letter paper (preferably on cardstock):

Place in your reading center for sequencing and chronological order practice.

Print as many extra copies of the road (page 2) as needed to assemble the timeline.

Next: Pair this display with our Black History in Politics Timeline of the same design.

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities to stimulate engaging MLK lessons:

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A Historic Movement – Teaching Presentation

Introduce students to the people and events of the American civil rights movement with this 17-slide PowerPoint presentation.

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MLK Character Traits Graphic Organizer

Use our graphic organizer with your students when studying Martin Luther King, Jr.’s notable mental and moral qualities.

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'I Have a Dream' Mobile

Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with this ‘I Have a Dream’ craft.

Curriculum

Social Studies 2.2(B)

Describe how people and events have influenced local community history.
Social Studies 3.1(A)

Describe how individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities, past and present;
Social Studies 3.2(B)

Compare ways in which people in the local community and other communities meet their needs for government, education, communication, transportation, and recreation.
Social Studies 3.9(A)

Identify characteristics of good citizenship, including truthfulness, justice, equality, respect for oneself and others, responsibility in daily life, and participation in government by educating oneself about the issues, respectfully holding public ...
Social Studies 3.11(A)

Identify and describe the heroic deeds of state and national heroes and military and first responders such as Hector P. Garcia, James A. Lovell, and the Four Chaplains; and
Social Studies 3.11(B)

Identify and describe the heroic deeds of individuals such as Harriet Tubman, Todd Beamer, and other contemporary heroes.
Social Studies 5.5(A)

Explain the significance of issues and events of the 20th century such as industrialization, urbanization, the Great Depression, the world wars, the civil rights movement, and military actions;
Social Studies 5.5(C)

Identify the accomplishments and contributions of individuals and groups such as Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in th...

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