teaching resource

MLK Day Task Cards

Updated: 09 Jul 2023

Challenge students to think about the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. with this set of 13 writing task cards.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 4 Pages
Grades: 3 - 6

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A

Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.B

Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.C

Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.D

Provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B

Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.C

Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.B

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.C

Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.D

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.B

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.C

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.D

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

teaching resource

MLK Day Task Cards

Updated: 09 Jul 2023

Challenge students to think about the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. with this set of 13 writing task cards.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 4 Pages
Grades: 3 - 6

Challenge students to think about the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. with this set of 13 writing task cards.

Learning About Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Start Here!

In this writing activity, students will explore the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work in civil rights by answering opinion prompts, composing acceptance speeches, penning magazine articles, and more.

In their writings, your students will expand on real or imagined events by writing in detail about Dr. King’s contributions and the efforts of others involved in the fight for social justice.

Scaffolding + Extension Tips

In addition to independent student work time, use this MLK Day writing exercise as a:

Writing center activity
Civil rights movement lesson review
Black History Month lesson review
Fast Finisher activity
Homework assignment
Whole-class lesson review (via smartboard)

Students who need extra support can work on this activity in a 1:1 teacher intervention setting or your guided writing group.

To Prepare This Resource

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between black-and-white or full-color PDF options.

Print on cardstock for durability. Hole punch the corner of each card to place them on a binder clip and keep all cards together and easily accessible.

Additionally, project the task cards and work through each as a daily writing activity where students will record their answers in their notebooks.

We’ve included 3 blank task cards you can use to write your own prompts:

Click Edit in the Adobe menu at the top left
Select Edit Text & Images from the dropdown menu
Select the Add Text button on the PDF screen
Place the text box where you want to type.

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

teaching resource

Acts of Service Worksheet for MLK Day

Honor the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a printable activity that lists 36 acts of service and kindness students can do in January to honor Dr. King's principles and values.

teaching resource

'I Have a Dream' Mobile

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

teaching resource

A Historic Movement – Teaching Presentation

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

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A

Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.B

Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.C

Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.D

Provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B

Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.C

Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A

Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.B

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.C

Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.D

Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.B

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.C

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.D

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.E

Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

Teach Starter Publishing

We create premium quality, downloadable teaching resources for primary/elementary school teachers that make classrooms buzz!

0 Comments

Write a review to help other teachers and parents like yourself. If you'd like to request a change to this resource, or report an error, select the corresponding tab above.