March On!: The Day My Brother Martin Changed The World

Historic, Compeling, Rythmic, Landmark, Change

March On!: The Day My Brother Martin Changed The World

by Christine King Farris Illustrated by London Ladd

Published by Scholastic Press

Copyright 2008

Teacher's Choice 2009

3rd Grade Read Aloud

This book is about the March on Washington  on August 28, 1963 and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is told from the viewpoint of King's older sister. She chronicles the organization of the march, the events of this historic event, as well as how King actually designed and wrote his speech. Some of the phrases in the text are printed larger and in a different color which help when reading this book aloud. She also talks about their childhood and that they were raised to do well but not boast. The book tells about the night before the March on Washington and how King stayed up all night to work on the speech until the last minute he had. King's sister describes the march and the thousands of people who attended. She describes the leaders who showed and their platforms they were fighting for.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
Grade Level (Lexile): 1070L, Ages 9-12

Key Vocabulary: protest, equality, speech, nation, liberty, freedom

Teaching Suggestions:

• Before Reading: Ask students what they know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. What was the March on Washinton? What do you remember about the civil rights movement?
• During Reading: Dicuss with students the power of the illustrations. How do these illustrations tell a story along with the text? What do the illustrations tell you about Dr. King?
• After Reading: Students will discuss in small groups what they learned about the March on Washington. Students will discuss which event they think was most important. How did you feel about Dr. King's speech? Were you expecting so many people to be present for his speech?

Writing Activity: Students will research Dr. King's role in the civil rights movement and write a response about how the March on Washington and his speech that day "changed the world" as the title of the book says it did.

Electronic Resources:

• Documentary Footage: This is documentary footage of the March on Washington. People are seen marching and singing together. Students will benefit from being able to see what actually happened that day and being able to connect it to the events King's sister mentions in the book.
• Speech: This is a video of Dr. King and his "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963.

Farris, C. K., & Ladd, L. (2008). March on!: the day my brother Martin changed the world. New York: Scholastic Press.