Learning from the Source: I Have a Dream Image Sequencing

March on Washington, August 28, 1963. U.S. News and World Report Photograph Collection, Prints and Photographs Division.
On August 28, 1963 a march organized by supporters of stronger civil rights legislation drew more than 250,000 people to Washington, D.C. Encouraged and inspired, Martin Luther King, Jr. strayed from the short speech he had prepared and delivered instead his famous extemporaneous I Have a Dream speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Primary sources can help students better understand the power and significance of this historic speech.  In addition to having students complete an image sequencing activity with select lines from King’s speech, you may also wish to have students listen to the speech and read the transcript (from American Rhetoric) or watch a video (from PBS; King’s speech follows a speech by A. Philip Randolph).

Activity materials

Image sequencing resources & activities

Related resources