Martin Luther King Videos for Kids
Martin Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” King dedicated his life to fighting for justice for all Americans. Today, students across America still learn about the civil rights movement and King’s legacy.
I want to provide teachers with great resources to teach about important topics like this, so I have created lists of excellent kid-friendly history videos to use in your classroom.
In this post, I’ve compiled 5 high-quality videos to teach about Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. These videos would be a great way to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with your students.
Our Friend Martin
- This fictional, animated movie tells the story of two boys who time-travel through Martin Luther King’s life.
- 1 hour
- My Rating: Ages 10+
- Notes: Although this video is long, it covers a lot of great information about Martin Luther King’s life. It is mainly told through the animated characters, but it also includes short video clips of events like the Birmingham campaign. I recommend watching it over multiple days or cherry-picking clips to show.
- Notes: The main bummer? Although Miles and Randy time travel back to see Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, due to copyright that portion of the video has no audio. You can view his speech with subtitles here.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech – History Channel
- This short but informative video from the History Channel explains the historical context and organization of King’s “I Have a Dream Speech”.
- 5 minutes
- My Rating: Ages 10+
- Notes: This video opens by explaining the historical context for the March on Washington. It explains how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drafted and organized his speech. This video also gives information about the speech’s influence on the civil rights movement.
Civil Rights: A Kid-Friendly Explainer – BrainPOP
- BrainPOP’s video uses its well-known cartoon characters to give a clear overview of the civil rights movement.
- 6 minutes
- My Rating: Ages 8+
- Notes: The main concepts covered in this video are: segregation, Brown vs. Board of Education, Rosa Parks, bus boycotts, sit-ins, freedom rides, the March on Washington, and The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The video also discusses how the civil rights movement led to other groups (women, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people) seeking equal rights.
The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – BrainPOP
- BrainPOP’s quick video outlines Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and how he influenced the civil rights movement.
- 6 minutes
- My Rating: Ages 8+
- Notes: In addition to giving an overview of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, the video covers the following concepts: segregation, Jim Crow laws, bus segregation, non-violent protests, The March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Throughout the video, important vocabulary words are highlighted at the top of the screen. I recommend pausing the video to review and discuss these words.
Civil Rights and the 1950s – Crash Course US History
- John Green’s witty and fast-paced overview discusses the context for the civil rights movement.
- 12 minutes
- My Rating: Ages 12+ (John Green makes a joke about “making out” at 2:40)
- This video is more in-depth than the others and really gives a broader overview of what life was like in America during the civil rights movement. Therefore, it is better for older middle school students. Also, John Green talks fast! To help, turn on the closed captions and slow down the speed to .75.
More Resources
I hope that these videos will provide you with high-quality resources you can use to teach about Martin Luther King in your classroom.
Looking for more seasonal resources? I’ve created activity ideas for most major U.S. holidays and seasons. Check them out below! You may also be interested in browsing my collection of free lesson plans.
