What's the best way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday, is celebrated on January 21 this year. Students around the country have a day off from school to celebrate this national holiday. But, many of them won't spend it watching TV or playing with friends. Instead, many will turn the holiday into a day of service to honor Dr. King.

For example, in 2005, students in Philadelphia worked together on a large painting of Martin Luther King Jr. to honor his life. In New York City, many kids made scarves for the homeless and bookmarks for children in hospitals.

Forty years after the assassination of her father, Yolanda King believes her dad would want the holiday in his honor to be about helping others. "He would want the holiday to be a day of action," she said in a speech. As King himself said, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."

Assign students to learn more about the life and work of Dr. King, and why he was assassinated for that work. Students should write a report of 100-150 words that uses at least three articles and address the following essential questions for critical thinking:

• How did Dr. King's family and education prepare him for his mission on civil rights?
  
  
• What was Dr. King's strategy to promote equality and why did he use that strategy?
  
  
• What's the most important thing that Dr. King accomplished -- why do you believe that?
  
  
• Why do you believe Dr. King was assassinated?
  
  
• What are some of the service activities that students perform in the spirit of the holiday?

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Be sure to utilize our new ProQuest models that students can use for their PowerPoint and written reports.