teaching resource

MLK Writing Prompts - Sentence Starter Task Cards

Updated: 10 May 2023

Reflect on the concepts explored near Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with these 15 Martin Luther King writing prompts.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 5 Pages
Grades: 1 - 4

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.3

Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3

Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
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.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.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.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

teaching resource

MLK Writing Prompts - Sentence Starter Task Cards

Updated: 10 May 2023

Reflect on the concepts explored near Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with these 15 Martin Luther King writing prompts.

Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 5 Pages
Grades: 1 - 4

Reflect on the concepts explored near Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with these 15 Martin Luther King writing prompts.

Strengthen Your Students’ Composition Skills With Our MLK Writing Prompts

“The blank page” is a scary place for writers of all skill levels.

With these writing prompts, students will get a head start using their own words to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work on social justice.

Some examples of writing prompts include:

I can help others by…

Doing the right thing means…

If I were a leader, I would…

By completing this activity, students demonstrate an ability to write details that describe their actions, thoughts, and feelings.

Perfect Writing Prompts About Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Writing center activity
Civil rights movement lesson review
Creative Writing assignment
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 in your guided writing group.

To Prepare our MLK Journal Prompts

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

You can also turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity! Print a few copies on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a dry-erase marker, then erase and reuse.

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks.

And while you’re here, check out these MLK activities and lesson-planning tools!

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Define and discuss vocabulary words associated with diversity and equality using this flip-book writing activity.

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'I Have a Dream' Mobile

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

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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.

Curriculum

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.3

Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3

Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
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.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.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.6.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

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