This year, celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a meaningful MLK Day classroom activity that combines literacy, research, and creativity. Writing a bio poem about Martin Luther King Jr. is a meaningful way to celebrate his life while reinforcing important literacy skills.
One of my favorite ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day is with a bio poem project.
In this post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide for completing this inspiring MLK Day classroom activity with your students.
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Why This MLK Day Classroom Activity Matters
Teaching Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy goes beyond history lessons—it’s about showing students how his words and actions continue to inspire us today.
This MLK Day classroom activity isn’t just about writing; it’s about helping students understand how Dr. King’s legacy impacts their own lives.
Writing a bio poem gives students a unique way to understand Dr. King’s character while practicing essential writing and research skills.
Step-by-Step Guide to the MLK Day Classroom Activity
Step 1: Research Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life
The first step in this MLK Day classroom activity is to help students learn more about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and accomplishments.
Building a strong foundation of knowledge is essential for students to write meaningful bio poems.
Start by providing students with a selection of articles and books about Dr. King.
Encourage students to take notes on key moments, character traits, and quotes that stand out.
To make this step even easier, I’ve put together a list of books and articles on Martin Luther King Jr. for upper elementary students.
You can find the full list here.
Step 2: Answer Guided Questions About Martin Luther King Jr.
After gathering information, help students organize their thoughts and provide them with guided questions.
Here are a few examples to get them started:
- What were Dr. King’s dreams and values?
- What character traits best describe him?
- What significant achievements or events shaped his life?
- What character traits best describe Martin Luther King Jr.?
- How did Dr. King’s actions reflect his values?
- What obstacles did he overcome in his fight for equality?
These questions help students focus on the details they’ll include in their bio poems. It’s also a great way to scaffold learning for students who might struggle with open-ended assignments.
Step 3: Draft Dr. King’s Bio Poem
Once students have gathered their research and answered the guiding questions, it’s time for them to start drafting their bio poems.
This step encourages students to synthesize what they’ve learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and express it creatively.
Providing students with a clear structure is essential to help them feel confident as they write.
Here is the template:
- Line 1: Name
- Line 2: Three traits that describe the person
- Line 3: A dream or goal they pursued
- Line 4: An achievement or major contribution
- Line 5: Words they lived by (a famous quote)
This structure makes it easy for students to turn their research into a polished poem.
In addition, the bio poem templates available in my TPT store are a perfect tool for this!
These templates include a layout for students to organize their thoughts.
The templates are especially helpful for students who might struggle with where to begin.
With prompts and placeholders to guide them, your students can focus on bringing their understanding of Dr. King to life.
By giving students this support, they’ll feel more at ease transitioning from their research to their poem, resulting in thoughtful and well-organized work.
Step 4: Create a Digital or Printed Poem
Once the drafts are complete, students can finalize their poems.
Use Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint for a digital option, allowing students to add images and design elements.
If you prefer a low-tech approach, students can write their final drafts on printable templates.
Step 5: Share and Celebrate
Sharing their work is an important part of this MLK Day classroom activity.
Set up a gallery walk where students can read each other’s bio poems or use an online platform like Padlet for a virtual presentation.
Encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned about Dr. King and his legacy.
Sharing their work not only builds confidence but also reinforces the importance of his message.
In my classroom, I have used Padlet to share their poems.
Here’s how I set it up:
- Create a Padlet board for your class.
- Have students upload their bio poems, adding voice recordings if possible.
- Host a virtual or in-class gallery walk where students listen to and reflect on each other’s projects.
Why This MLK Day Classroom Activity Works
This bio poem project combines research, creativity, and presentation skills, making it perfect for upper elementary students.
By writing a bio poem, students:
- Deepen their understanding of Martin Luther King Jr.’s character.
- Practice using evidence from multiple sources.
- Develop their writing and presentation abilities.
The step-by-step structure ensures that all students, regardless of their skill level, can participate and feel successful.
Plus, it’s a creative and engaging way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the classroom.
Ready to Get Started?
Grab the digital Martin Luther King Jr. bio poem template and planning sheets from my TPT store to make your lesson planning easier.
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