Martin's Big Words: Illustrating Dreams

Read alouds are excellent tools for teachers both in the classroom, and virtually. When tied to a specific topic, such as the Civil Rights Movement, they help the students spark discussions, share their views, and learn new vocabulary. Martin’s Big Words is a picture book about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and how words have had an impact on him since he was a child. Martin grew up to be a man who spoke words for a living, and used words to change the world. Some of the most famous words that Martin spoke were from his “I Have a Dream” speech, which was said in front of hundreds of thousands of people at the March On Washington.

For this activity, teachers may read the book aloud to the whole class, discussing as they read, or assign the book in small groups or independently for older children. Next, students will create a 2-3 cell spider map, illustrating dreams they have for the world. To differentiate, teachers may choose to use cells with just a heading and an illustration, or include a description box for students to explain their dreams.