15-Minute Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Day, observed on the third Monday of January, was first celebrated in 1986. As part of your celebration this year, take some time to do this free 15-Minute Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
By the way, this lesson is part of the online course called Music Lessons for Holidays and Special Days!
15-Minute Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a U.S. federal holiday in honor of King to remember and focus on his leadership during the Civil Rights movement. It's celebrated on the third Monday of January each year.
A great song of the Civil Rights movement is “We Shall Overcome.” It was sung by those who believed things could change for the better. (It's disputed who originally wrote the song and who holds the copyright.)
Listen to 3 different versions of “We Shall Overcome” and then write the lyrics on the included printable.
From Louis Armstrong:
Choir Version:
Diana Ross:
Which version did you like the most? Can you sing the song now yourself?
Here are some more fun songs to listen to or sing for MLK Day!
You can read more about Martin Luther King Jr. here.
Free Printable Download for the 15-Minute Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
Download the printable to do a 1-page copywork of “We Shall Overcome” below.
Companion Product:
Rabbit Trails Through MLK Jr. Day is an awesome companion to this Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It's a literature book study using the picture book Martin's Big Words by Rappaport.
Take your holiday studies down a rabbit trail and learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, incorporate copy work, get hands-on with a project, and read some amazing books!
This is one lesson that is meant to be used over 1-2 weeks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Notebooking Pages
These Martin Luther King Jr. notebooking pages are FREE!
Leave a Comment
Did you do this Music Lesson for Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Leave a comment on what you thought! What other music lessons would you like to see?
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Great post! I completely agree that incorporating music into our homeschooling routine can be an effective way to make learning more engaging and fun for our children. I’ve been experimenting with this approach myself and have seen a noticeable difference in my child’s interest and participation in their learning. I love the idea of using songs to learn about important historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. – such a powerful way to connect history to their everyday lives. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful way to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through music! I love the idea of incorporating such significant themes in a homeschool setting. The suggested activities are engaging and inspiring. Thank you for sharing this meaningful lesson!