Exploring the Power of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Words through Diamante Poetry

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Speech from the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 28 August 1963, also known as the "I Have a Dream" speech. Available versions are listed in the Websites section.
  
  
• General classroom supplies (paper, pens or pencils, board and chalk or chart paper and markers, and so forth)

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Stapleless Book

The Stapleless Book can be used for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating vocabulary booklets . . . the possibilities are endless!

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing Poetry

Diamante Poems

This online tool enables students to learn about and write diamante poems.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Power of Words Diamante Assignment
  
  
• Diamante Poem Rubric
  
  
• Stapleless Book Planning Sheet
  
  
• Diamante from Albert Somers's Teaching Poetry in High School

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WEBSITES

• "I Have a Dream" speech, HTML version
• "I Have a Dream" speech, PDF version
• "I Have a Dream" speech, audio version
• "I Have a Dream" speech, video version

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PREPARATION

• Review the available versions of Dr. King's speech, and make arrangements to share the speech with students (e.g., making copies of the text version, setting up computer access to play the audio version, arranging for television or projectors for the video version).
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with the structure of diamante poetry. “Diamante” from Albert Somers's Teaching Poetry in High School can serve as a resource.
  
  
• Make copies of the Power of Words Diamante Assignment and the Diamante Rubric.
  
  
• Obtain copies of dictionaries and thesauruses to serve as resources for students as they read and write.

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