The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was only 39 when his life was cut tragically short. But he filled his years with meaningful events and became one of the most pivotal figures, if not the most pivotal figure, in the American Civil Rights Movement. Share this printable Martin Luther King Jr. timeline with your students to help them learn more about this admirable and powerful leader.
Martin Luther King Jr. Timeline
Your free printable timeline includes these important events:
- 1929: Michael King (later known as Martin Luther King Jr.) is born.
- 1946: Dr. King’s letter asserting the rights of Black citizens is published in the Atlanta Constitution.
- 1948: King joins the Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta as assistant pastor.
- 1953: Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr. are married.
- 1954: King becomes pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Alabama.
- 1955: Rosa Parks’ actions lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott led in part by Dr. King.
- 1956: King’s home is bombed as he speaks at a meeting.
- 1957: In Washington, D.C., Dr. King gives his first national address.
- 1958: King is stabbed during a book signing in Harlem.
- 1963: Dr. King releases “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”
- 1963: At the March on Washington, King gives his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
- 1964: Dr. King is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 1965: Civil rights leaders including King lead a march from Selma to Montgomery.
- 1968: Dr. King is assassinated at the age of 39.
How To Use This Timeline in Your Classroom
Jigsaw Activity
Assign each student (or group of students) a specific event on the timeline to research in greater detail. Then, pair students/groups up so they can share their knowledge with each other. You can spend multiple days on this activity, really giving students time to dig in and then share their knowledge.
Timeline Slideshow
This is similar to a jigsaw, but each student or group prepares one or more slides on the event they’ve been assigned. When they’re done, assemble the slides into one presentation, and share it with the whole class.
Historical Journal Entry
Ask students to pick one event from the timeline and learn a little more about it. (It’s OK for multiple students to choose the same event.) Then, ask them to write a journal entry in the voice of someone living at that time. It could be someone who was there when it happened, a friend or family member of Dr. King, or just an average person who heard about the event on the news.
Timeline Sequencing
Cut the timeline apart and paste each event to a note card (no dates!). Mix them up, then see if students can put them back together in the correct order when given a blank timeline with just dates.
Cause and Effect
Ask students to reflect on the cause and effect of one or more events on the timeline. They can write an essay on the topic, or share their thoughts in a classroom discussion.
Illustrated Timeline
Paste the timeline to the middle of a large piece of poster board. Then, ask students to add illustrations for the events. They can create their own drawings, or print images from the web to add instead.
Writing Prompts
Share the timeline with your students and pose prompts like these for them to respond to:
- Which of these events do you think was most important in a historical sense? Why?
- What event do you wish you had been present at? Describe what it might have been like.
- Note the length of time between some of these events. What do you think happened in the meantime?
Download your free printable Martin Luther King Jr. timeline!
Click the button below and fill out the form on this page to get instant access to your free printable Martin Luther King Jr. timeline. Use it for classroom activities as you explore the life of this incredible civil rights icon.