Cranbury School incorporates the civil rights leader’s legacy into the curriculum throughout the year.
By: Josh Appelbaum
Casting aside the usual approach of recognizing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday , Cranbury School is instead incorporating the civil rights leader’s legacy into the curriculum throughout the year.
Cranbury School will be closed Monday to observe the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s actual birthday was Jan. 15, 1929.
While some lessons are devoted to Dr. King for younger students, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students are drawing connections between the civil rights leader’s struggle in the United States and other revolutionary movements in American and world history lessons.
Upper-grade social studies teacher Nancy Kelliher, who recently attended a workshop hosted by Princeton University’s Amistad Commission, said the social studies program is seeking to include African-American history and Dr. King’s experiences in lessons throughout the year. She said upper-grade students are using the basis of knowledge established in lower grades in discussions of the Constitution, civics and citizenship. She said the leader’s legacy also relates to 20th century world history
"It’s remarkable how children make the connections. They point out areas of similarity and make comparisons," Ms. Kelliher said. "I think it is better to discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. relates to the world around us rather than isolating him to one or two lessons."
Ms. Kelliher said students found it interesting that Dr. King cited Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ as influences on his movement.
Lessons on Dr. King are more concentrated for the lower-grade students at Cranbury School, and activities relating to the civil rights leader were continuing this week, said Chief School Administrator Carol Malouf.
Ms. Malouf said first-graders were reading a book on Dr. King and will watch a video recounting his life today (Friday). Afterward, Ms. Malouf said, the first-graders will write a composition on their dream for the world.
Second-graders will create stamps celebrating Dr. King and all grade levels will study the "I Have A Dream" speech Dr. King gave Aug. 28, 1963 during his march on Washington, D.C. Second-graders also will create artistic "doves for peace."
In addition, fifth-graders decorated a bulletin board celebrating leaders that contributed to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, entitled "Heroes of the Revolution."
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a natural lead-in for Black History Month, and during February teachers will devote part of each day’s social studies lessons to African-American history. Ms. Kelliher said she will prompt students with "do now" topics, where students write short responses to topics discussed previously, related to individuals and events in African-American history and discuss student responses.
She said incorporating famous African-Americans into lessons about American and world history does more than simply recognize their accomplishments. Students are learning how African-Americans have helped the country progress socially.
"When studying amendments to the Constitution or slavery, kids just point it out, and African-Americans come up so often in history it is more natural and believable to talk about it (in relation to) history," Ms. Kelliher said.