New York, NY, January 13, 2014 …The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has released a special civil rights edition of its biannual publication Curriculum Connections, titled “Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights: Relevancy for Today,” in honor of Dr. King’s birthday and available for free on ADL’s website.
The 38-page curriculum for grades 3–12 provides grade-specific lessons, resources and extension activities examining civil rights in the United States, past and present. The lessons allow students to delve deeper into Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream Speech,” drawing from current events to connect its message to the present day.
Older students will learn more about the history of the civil rights movement and specifically the struggle for voting rights, analyzing current voter suppression laws and the disturbing recent Supreme Court ruling impacting voting rights in Shelby County v. Holder. The comprehensive lesson plans include suggestions for activities teaching students how to effectively respond to state voting rights restrictions, as well as links to additional resources and supplementary material.
“Curriculum Connections is an invaluable resource for educators looking for new and engaging methods to integrate multicultural, anti-bias, and social justice themes into their classrooms,” said David Waren, ADL Director of Education. “As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, it is vital to reinforce his legacy to young people and continue to challenge emerging biases, motivating students to take action against injustice – and providing meaningful opportunities for them to do so.”
In addition to the Martin Luther King, Jr. curriculum, all issues of Curriculum Connections, covering a wide range of issues from Holocaust and genocidal studies to LGBT issues, are available to the public at http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/curriculum-resources/.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY