2. understand the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights movement.

3. discuss the effects of the tragic assassinations of both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.

1. Using textbooks, encyclopedias, biographies, videos, and other resources, students should learn about the life of John F. Kennedy. They should be prepared to answer questions about the following events which occurred during his term: Peace Corps, Bay of Pigs, Berlin Wall, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

2. Using the worksheet entitled "Windows on a Presidency," the students should record four important events in the life of John F. Kennedy including explanations of each.

3. Students should read about or be shown a video of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. Attention should be paid to Dr. King's nonviolent approach in his fight for civil rights. Students could then do one or both of the following activities:

Select either John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. and create a diary that might have been written by him. Students should write at least five dated entries based on outstanding events in this person's life.

Make an illustrated time line that includes approximately seven to ten important events in the life of John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. This activity could be done in cooperative groups. See the accompanying worksheet entitled "Illustrated Time Line" for directions.

4. Students should discuss the untimely assassinations of these two American leaders. Following this discussion, students should pick either John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. and write an essay describing how life might have been different if he were still alive.

Anderson, Catherine. John F. Kennedy: Young People's President. (Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1991).

Bullard, Sara. Free at Last: A History of the Civil Rights Movement and Those Who Died in the Struggle. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993).

Casilla, Robert. A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy. (New York: Holiday House, 1991).

Cobblestone Magazine. Martin Luther King, Jr. (February, 1994).

Davidson, Margaret. I Have a Dream. (New York: Scholastic Inc., 1986).

Denebert, Darry. America's 35th President. (New York: Scholastic, 1988).

Haskins, James. The March on Washington. (New York: Harper Collins, 1993).

King, Coretta Scott. My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr. (New York: Henry, Holt & Company, 1993).

Patrick, Diane. Martin Luther King, Jr. (New York: Franklin-Watts, 1990).

Seward, James. John F. Kennedy. (New York: Ottenheimer Publishers, 1987).

Films on black studies focusing on the Civil Rights movement and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be purchased through Knowledge Unlimited, P.O. Box 52, Madison, Wisconsin 53701-0052.