A starting point for a bigger conversation
Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the third Monday in January, which is January 18 in 2027. This puzzle gives students a way into the vocabulary of his life and work: justice, equality, courage, civil rights, peace and more. It works best alongside a read-aloud or a short biography rather than on its own.
Connect the words to his story
After finding the words, talk through what they mean in his life:
- Atlanta is the city where he was born in 1929.
- Minister was his calling, and he preached at a church in Montgomery.
- The March on Washington in 1963 is where he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
- The Nobel Peace Prize came in 1964, for his nonviolent work for civil rights.
From words to action
The holiday is also observed as a national day of service. Ask students to choose "kindness" or "service" from the list and write down one thing they could do for someone in their school or neighbourhood.
Adjusting the puzzle
Younger students can use Easy with shorter words such as dream, peace, kind and march. The plain design prints cleanly in black and white and leaves the focus on the words.