Lesson Plan Template

Name: Joe Nierstheimer, Kevin Klemm, Jim Dennis

Class/Subject: CI 402 Class Facilitation/7th Grade U.S History

Date: 1-27-2011

Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:

1. Students will understand the major themes and ideas of Dr. King’s speech by
analyzing the possible meanings of specific excerpts presented by the
teachers.

Content Standards
1. 2.B.4a: Critique ideas and impressions generated by oral, visual, written and
electronic materials. (English Language Arts)
2. 27.B.3: Know and describe how artists and their works shape culture and increase
understanding of societies, past and present. (Fine Arts)
3. 16.D.2c (US): Describe the influence of key individuals and groups, including
Susan B. Anthony/suffrage and Martin Luther King, Jr./civil rights, in the
historical eras of Illinois and the United States.
4. 16.A.2c: Ask questions and seek answers by collecting and analyzing data from
historic documents, images and other literary and non-literary sources.

Materials/Resources/Technology:
1. Powerpoint
2. Computer
3. Projector
4. Internet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbqNaIRW9vY)
5. Song Lyrics -- Handout

Teacher’s Goals:
1. To express to students Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s final speech in a fun and
innovative manner so they are engaged in learning about the concepts and
messages that Dr. King was trying to convey to his supporters that day.

Time
8:05 Start of Class:
Teachers will begin the class by showing a quick excerpt from Dr. King’s “I
Have a Dream” speech. They will ask the class if they have heard of the speech
before and, if so, what they know about it. After doing this, the teachers will
go into a short description of the speech and its impact.
8:08 Introduction of Lesson:
Teachers will then transition into introducing the topic for the day, being Dr.
King’s final speech in Memphis and illuminate the goal for the day’s lesson:
1. Students will understand the major themes and ideas of Dr. King’s
speech by analyzing the possible meanings of specific excerpts
presented by the teachers.
8:10 Lesson Instruction:
Teachers will go through the power point presentation, intended to
give a very brief background on the Memphis speech and answer any questions
they have during the presentation.

Then teachers will introduce the “final speech” made by MLK and pass out the
lyrical handout. Students will take a few moments to familiarize themselves
with the lyrics, at which point the teachers will introduce the video.

In addition, we will mention how this important speech has been

modified to show MLK in a different perspective.

Teachers will then play the video for the students, and afterwards
the teachers will lead a class discussion, asking questions such as:
1) Who do you think “us” in the speech is referring to? African
Americans? Whites? Everyone?

2) When Dr. King refers to having “been to the mountaintop,” what do

you think he is trying to say?

3) When Dr. King describes the students sitting in, he mentions that
they are actually standing up. It sounds like it doesn’t make sense.
Is there a deeper meaning behind these words? If so, what is it?
8:23 Assessments/Checks for Understanding:
The final question that will be discussed during class today is: Considering that
Dr. King was shot the day following this speech, do you think this speech has any
foreshadowing aspects? If so, which parts?
8:25 Closure/Wrap-Up/Review:
Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is widely seen as his most well-known and
revered speech. We believe, however, that Dr. King’s “Mountaintop” speech,
despite being lesser-known, should be held in high regard as well. He gave it
on the eve of his death, and it left all of those fighting for equality with the
feeling that they would one day reach that equality, even if Dr. King was not
around to see it.

As a transition to the “next class”, the teachers will leave students with this
question that will be discussed the following day: Has Dr. King’s dream been
realized? Why or why not?
Self-Assessment:
N/A