4. Distribute copies of the "I Have a Dream" speech and glossary. You may want to have
the class take turns reading it together and paraphrasing each section to help them
explore more deeply the message. Encourage your students to read with expression.
5. Show the YouTube clip. Have the students follow along as Dr. King delivers his
speech.
6. Focus a discussion on the message of the speech:
v What problems did Dr. King see in our society? What did he want to change about
our society?
v When you think about society as a whole, or your life in particular, do you see
injustices? What are they?
v What do you think was the source of Dr. King's commitment to work for justice
and freedom? Does his speech give us any clues?
v What do you think about a person who spends his life this way?
v How would you feel if you had been one of his children?
v What about you? How do you want to live your life? There are many ways to
make the world a better place. Which appeals to you?
v How did Dr. King work to put his dream into effect? What were his methods?
What does he say in the speech about what people in the Movement must not do?
Was he right to advocate only non-violent methods? How about your own dreams?
Will they become your goals? What methods will you have to use to make your
dreams a reality?
7. Have the students write their own “I Also Have a Dream” speech or write and sing a
song/poem about dreams and pursuing them using the “I Also Have a Dream”
handout.
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
7-16
MODULE 7:
v Dr. King had many opportunities to accept high-paying, safe jobs. Yet he chose to
pass up those opportunities in order to help lead a movement for a better world.
That movement demanded that he work nearly all of the time; that he live
constantly with the fear that he or his family might be hurt; and that he spend time
in jail. His work schedule meant that he had little time to spend with his family.
In the end, he gave his life for his cause.
I Can Plan for a Successful Future
v What specific injustices did he mention in his speech?