Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lapbook for Homeschoolers

In this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lapbook, you will learn about Reverend King’s life, his philosophy, and his accomplishments in the civil rights movement.

Not sure what a lapbook is? Find out here. 

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on them, I may make a tiny commission, at no extra cost to you. For more info, check our privacy policy.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Lapbook (interactive notebook) will teach your elementary and middle school kids all about the life of Reverend King and his work with the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his untimely death in 1968.

Martin Luther King earned his PhD of Divinity from Boston University and became the pastor of a Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, at the age of 25. That same year, in the same town, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus, which lead to the Montgomery bus boycott. The Reverend King was asked to speak and subsequently became the leading civil rights leader at the time.

Martin Luther King Jr Library List:

Select a couple books, a movie, and a few online sources to use to complete the Martin Luther King Jr Lapbook activities

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Picture Book Biography) by David Adler (David Adler is one of my favorite children’s biographers!)

Martin Luther King Day by Linda Lowery

What is Martin Luther King Day? by Margot Parker Also on Open Library

. . . If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King by Ellen Levine

The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore (this book is often found as a board book, but it’s still very appropriate for elementary kiddos

DK Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Amy Pastan

Movie: Our Friend Martin (1999) An animated children’s movie that sadly is no longer in print, but your local library may have a copy.

Movie: Ruby Bridges Disney 1998 Family friendly movie about the civil rights movement

Movie: The Watsons Go to Birmingham 2013 PG Another family friendly movie about Birmingham during the civil rights movement. Note: the book has some inappropriate words, however, the movie does not.

Martin Luther King Jr Lapbook Online Resources

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Biography at the Seattle Times: for older students

Martin Luther King Jr. Biography: easier to read for younger students

Marting Luther King, Jr. Nobel Prize

Six Principles of Non-violence and the “Three Evils”

If this is your first time completing a lapbook, read this first to learn how to fold your folders to create the lapbook base.

Martin Luther King Jr Lapbook Activities:

Dr. King’s Birth – Answer the questions in this flip flap book.

Dr. King’s Family- Describe the family that Dr. King was born into and how he was given his name (and how his dad changed his own name).

Dr. King’s Education – Fill in the information about Dr. King’s education.

Segregated Bus Line Boycott in Montgomery Alabama – Use this shaped book to describe the 1955-56 boycott.

Dr. King’s Philosophy – Use this simple fold to explain the six principles of Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy that he based in part upon Ghandi’s teachings and Henry David Thoreau’s Essay on Civil Disobedience.

Letter from the Birmingham Jail – Write about the events leading up to his arrest and his letter inside this matchbook fold.

March on Washington – Write about Dr. King’s speech at the March on Washington.

“I Have a Dream” Speech – Copy part of the speech for your copywork / handwriting and put it inside this envelope in your lapbook.

Nobel Peace Prize – Write about Dr. King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

Vietnam War – Write about Dr. King’s views about the Vietnam War.

Poverty – Write about Dr. King’s thoughts and ideas about poverty.

Death – Write about Dr. King’s death.

Download your copy of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Lapbook from the HHO Shop

More Martin Luther King Jr. Homeschool Resources

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Notebooking Page

March on Washington Notebooking Page