Dr. Martin Luther King
Scavenger Hunt

On the third Monday in January, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday.   Scroll down to questions that will help you learn more about Dr. M. L. King.  Follow the links in each section to find the answers.  Bookmark this page so you can return here quickly.   There are sound files which need RealPlayer: download RealPlayer® FREE. There is also a virtual tour which uses java script: download Java free.  Have fun learning! 

"Remember! Celebrate! Act !

             A Day On, Not A Day Off"
 

Read Dr. King's Thoughts on War.

 

On Taking an 
Unpopular Position

1.  In the letter section, what does Noel, age 7, think Martin Luther King  wanted?

2. Go to the timeline and write down what happened to Martin Luther King in 1935.

3. Click on this link to hear Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  Write down your favorite part of the speech and explain why you picked that part.

 http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

4. Dr. Martin Luther King had a wife and four children.  What were their names?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King

5. When was Martin Luther King born?

6. Why is September 17, 1958 important?

7. What was one thing that happened in 1963?

8. Why was Dr. King arrested June 11, 1964?

9. Make up a question of your own.

10. In 1967, Reader's Digest warned that a campaign led by Dr. King would cause an "insurrection."  What was the name of this campaign?

11. What does "insurrection" mean?

http://www.fair.org/media-beat/950104.html

12. What is Dr. King's definition of greatness? What do you need to be great?

http://thekingcenter.org/

13. What was Dr. King's nickname as a child?

14. Martin Luther King received several hundred awards.  Write three of them down.

15. Go to this site and look at the pictures of where Dr. King was born,  lived, and worked.  What is the address of Dr. King's birth home?

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/kin.htm  

16. Go inside ML's childhood home and have a look around.  Read about what Martin's bedroom was like when he was growing up.  How was it the same and different than your own bedroom?

http://www.nps.gov/archive/malu/BirthHomeTour/mlk_boysrm.html

17. Martin Luther King was part of a bigger history of Black struggle in the United States.  As you look through these pictures by Charles Moore, ask yourself: Have things gotten better for African Americans in this country since the 1960's?  What can people do today to help Dr. King's dream come true? 

18.  What was going on in the United States in the 1960's through the 1980's?  How do you think Dr. King's work helped shape what went on during that time?  How do you think Dr. King was affected by what was going on while he was alive?

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/decades.htm

19.  King believed that there were six important points about nonviolent resistance.  What were these six points?

20.  Take this quiz.  How many did you get right?   Do you know where to find the answers?

21.  Teach others about you've learned about Dr. King.  Download this PowerPoint template and create a multimedia presentation of your own.  Make sure to cite your research.
 

22.  Draw a picture, compose a poem, record a song, or write an essay about Martin Luther King and send it here to be published with this page.  Include your first name, city, and state.  Students: also include your age, school name, first name and last initial, and the grade you're in.  Your work will appear on this site within a week.

View Submitted Work: page 1,  2,   3,  4,  5,  6, 7,  8      New this year

23.  Attend a 2008 King Holiday program or activity in your area and write a report on it: 

24. Go to http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK/ and try one of the fun activities.

25: Explore these other websites or suggest a new site to be added to this Scavenger Hunt

Thank You Martin Luther King Jr. Song by Joe Dolce

 

Write Your Thoughts in the Guestbook Read What Others Have To Say About Martin Luther King:  View Guestbook: 2004-present,  2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

 

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.... Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  --Martin Luther King Jr. "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" 1967 http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/mlkquotes.htm   Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Song Pride by U2       On some positions, cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? Conscience asks the question, is it right? There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right. I believe today that there is a need for all people of goodwill to come with a massive act of conscience and say in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "We ain’t goin’ study war no more." This is the challenge facing modern man. --- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his speech: "Remaining Awake"

 

 

"Remember! Celebrate! Act !
               A Day On, Not A Day Off"

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Scavenger Hunt
© Teresa Strong 1999-2008
Last updated 4/22/2008
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