Civil Rights Leaders

A collection of ideas and activities to teach students about civil rights.

In January we celebrate the birthday of  Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King worked his whole life trying to make the world a place where we all lived in harmony and peace.  His work isn't finished, we need to continue spreading the word about acceptance and tolerance. 

January is the perfect time to learn about civil rights leaders from throughout the world.  I've gathered several resources to help you share these important ideas with your students.

Books to Share
Books about Civil Rights Leaders, Picture books are the perfect way to introduce students to these important concepts. The books are about Cesar Chavez, Ida B. Wells, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and many more.


A Picture Book of Cesar Chavez by David Adler
Ida B. Wells by Dennis B. Fradin
Friends for Freedom by Suzanne Slade
Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi
Marching with Aunt Susan by Clare Rudolph Murphy
Gandhi; A March to the Sea by Alice McGinty
Sit-In by Andrea Davis Pinkney
A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler
When Harriet Met Sojourner by Catherine Clinton
Minty, a Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder 
Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds
Boycott Blues by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Harvesting Hope by Kathleen Krull

Activity Ideas from Pinterest (Click on each picture for the link)


 How would you change the world?  idea for MLK day

How would you change the world? I love the painting to create the world and then the child's hand print with their hopes for making the world a better place.
 I Have a Dream bulletin board idea.

This bulletin board image is so powerful.  It will be a great display for older students to write about their dream for the world.
 Free "I Have a Dream" play for kids, from Scholastic
You can download this free play to read with your class. The Scholastic website also has before and after reading discussion ideas.

For a month-long project you can have your students learn about several civil rights leaders with my packet, They Led the Way. (Click on any image to purchase this packet.)
 They Led the Way, Civil Rights leaders activity folder


They Led the Way, Civil Rights leaders activity folder

They Led the Way, Civil Rights leaders activity folder
 There are activities for six civil rights leaders: Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr. Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman.  The activities can be kept in a student-made folder, or added to an interactive notebook.

For a closer look at these informative activities you can download this free sample about Harriet Tubman. 
 Civil Rights Leaders- Harriet Tubman free sample from Crockett's Classroom

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Cozy Geometry Quilts

Cozy up with this engaging activity that helps your students  review geometry concepts.

Brrrr!  It's cold outside!  Time to get out the quilt and have a little fun with geometry.  I have a great project that can be done with any geometry unit.  

A few weeks ago I spent a couple of afternoons with a super class of second graders and helped them review some geometry concepts as we put together paper quilt calendars for the new year.

Before I started the lesson I cut 4 inch squares from some holiday scrapbook paper.  We did this project in December so I chose red and green paper, but you can do this with any scrapbook paper you have on hand. 
Getting the pieces ready for our class geometry quilt.

Let each student choose 4 squares, 2 of one color/pattern, 2 of another color/pattern.  Then we cut the squares into rectangles and then the rectangles into smaller squares.  Each student should end up with 16 small squares.  While we were cutting I was reviewing geometry terms.

Now,  let them explore making patters.  I was arranging my own pieces on the board so they begin by making my pattern.  But, they soon began creating their own patterns.  

After a little while I asked them to choose one pattern they liked the best and glue it onto the quilt back.  The results were beautiful!
The kids had so much fun making these paper quilts.It was also a great way to review geometry.

 The next day I returned to their class and went through the same procedures but we used triangles cut from the squares.  The kids made some amazing quilts!


The kids had so much fun making these paper quilts.It was also a great way to review geometry.

Since the students had created 2 quilts they got to choose one to turn into a 2016 calendar.  The second one was put into a class display.



Make a paper quilt with your class, fun way to review geometry.

You can download the directions for making the quilt with the square pieces here: 


 Make a cozy quilt with your students to review geometry concepts.

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Favorite Things for your Classroom Holidays

Hello everyone!!!


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Today we are throwing a big, humongous bash to celebrate YOU!
Last year we blogged about our favorite non-school related things, this year we have decided that we will share with you our favorite school things! So here we go:


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My favorite website for my classroom is ...


I am so in love with this web site!  Reading aloud was always my favorite time of the day with my kids and this web site is all about reading books aloud.  There are so many books on dozens of topics that I can always find one to go along with my lesson.  It's also a great last minute time filler when the days before the holidays get a little crazy!  http://www.storylineonline.net/


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My favorite organizational tip is . . . 
Zipper baggies are an excellent way to keep all your holiday crafts and projects organized.  Store your patterns and directions in gallon baggies so you'll have all the pieces when you pull out that file next year!

More than once a zipper baggie has saved my life!  I used to keep project ideas and patterns in file folders.  Then when I got the file folder out the next year there was always a missing piece!  But with zipper baggies you can put all the pattern pieces in the bag, zip it closed and never lose another vital piece to a project!



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My favorite class holiday activity is ...
During the holiday season I loved read books by Patricia Polacco to my class. She has so many wonderful books for the holidays that it's impossible to pick a favorite.  Her holiday books come from her own family experiences so they are about Christmas, Hanukkah and Epiphany.  All the stories are about the love shared by families and friends at this special time of year.

Books to share with your class for the holidays,  All by the wonderful author/illustrator Patricia Polacco

An Orange for Frankie is my favorite holiday story because it reminds me of our holiday tradition of finding an orange in the toe of our Christmas stockings.  My dad told me that when he was growing up oranges were very precious.  It was a very special holiday treat to have oranges for Christmas.  
To pass on this holiday tradition with your class you can read the book about Frankie and his special orange.  Then you kids can make these little spice oranges to have in their homes for the holidays. (Click on the image to download the activity.)

 An Orange for Frankie Free Activity



Once again we want to treat you all to our favorite things!!! Check out these great prizes!


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Enter the Rafflecopter to win this prizes!!!
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Come and visit my other teacher friends' blogs for their favorite websites, organization tips and much more!


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