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The Life of Martin Luther King

Assembly to accompany the book ‘A World of Difference’ by Bob Hartman, delivered free to schools in October 2017

Suitable for Key Stage 1

Aims

To consider the life of Martin Luther King.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need the book A World of Difference by Bob Hartman, delivered free to schools in October 2017. The story of Martin Luther King can be found on pages 71-6.

  • You will need an image of Martin Luther King and the means to display it during the assembly. An example is available at: https://tinyurl.com/yaz6qsnw

  • Optional: you may wish to have a dictionary available so that a volunteer can look up the definition of the word ‘dream’.

Assembly

  1. Ask the children what the word ‘dream’ means.

    Listen to a range of responses.

  2. Ask a volunteer to look up the word ‘dream’ in the dictionary or alternatively, display the definitions. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a dream as ‘a series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep’ OR ‘a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal’.

  3. Ask the children if they have a dream for the future. This could be a particular job they would like to do, a toy they would like to possess and so on.

    Listen to a range of responses.

  4. Explain that in the story that the children are about to hear, one man had a very important dream – a dream that changed the world!

  5. Show the image of Martin Luther King.

  6. Read the story of Martin Luther King found in the book A World of Difference, pages 71-6.

Time for reflection

Many of us have dreams for the future. We may dream of a big house, a nice car, becoming famous, buying a special toy or doing a particular job. But how many of our dreams ever involve other people? Martin Luther King wanted to help others. He wanted to change unfairness and make a difference.

Martin Luther King helped to change the world. We might not be able to change the whole world, but we can change little things in our schools and homes, and those changes can change our schools and homes for the better!

Ask the following questions, pausing to allow time for thought after each.

- What would happen if we all thought of others and their needs, rather than wanting what is best for ourselves?
- What would happen if we all decided to do something especially kind for three people every day this week?
- What would happen if our aim each day was to make it a better day for the people we meet?

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for Martin Luther King and for everything he did to make the world a fairer, better place.
Thank you that we are all different and all special.
Thank you that the world is full of variety, which makes it wonderful.
Please help us all to stand up for the things that are right and good.
Please help us to aim to make the world better for everyone.
Amen.

Further resources

Further resources can be found at:

Martin Luther King - dreams

Martin Luther King - MLK Day

Martin Luther King - discussion questions

Martin Luther King - extra activities

More resources about Martin Luther King are aailable at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/martin_luther_king.sht and https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mlk-day

Publication date: October 2017   (Vol.19 No.10)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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