Martin Luther King Jr. Day Crossword Puzzle (free printable)
A free Martin Luther King Jr. Day crossword with fourteen words and clues for grades 3 to 7: equality, boycott, Montgomery, courage and more, with an answer key.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheets print.
All 14 words are in the crossword (16 × 13 squares).
About this set
Fourteen words from the life and work of Dr. King, with clues written for students who have read or heard about him: what the Montgomery bus boycott was, what the word segregation means, what the March on Washington was for, and the values he spoke about, from equality to courage. The clues define each word in a sentence rather than naming the person, so students recall what they know and the puzzle works as a quiet review after a lesson or read-aloud. Words cross at shared letters, and the answer key lists every answer by number.
Grades: 3rd to 7th grade. Best in: January.
The words and clues
- Equality :
- When everyone is treated fairly and has the same rights
- Justice :
- Fair treatment under the law for all people
- Freedom :
- The right to live and choose without being controlled by others
- Peace :
- A calm time with no fighting between people or countries
- Dream :
- Dr. King said “I have a ___” in his famous speech
- Courage :
- Being brave when something is hard or scary
- Boycott :
- Refusing to use or buy something to protest unfairness
- Montgomery :
- The Alabama city where a bus boycott began in 1955
- Segregation :
- Keeping people apart by race, which was once the law in many places
- Speech :
- Dr. King gave a famous one at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963
- Minister :
- Dr. King’s job leading a church
- Atlanta :
- The Georgia city where Dr. King was born
- Unity :
- People working together as one
- Leader :
- Someone who guides and inspires other people
How to use it: five ideas
- After a lesson: use the crossword as an exit task, then have students explain one answer to a partner.
- Vocabulary: before solving, ask students to underline the clue words they do not know.
- Write new clues: students write clues for words they choose, and trade puzzles with another table.
- Values discussion: pick one answer (courage, unity, fairness) and talk about a time someone showed it.
- Sub plans: leave the crossword with a short biography text and the answer key on page two.
Related
Questions
Are the clues accurate?
Yes. Dates and places match standard biographies: Dr. King was born in Atlanta in 1929, the Montgomery bus boycott began in 1955, and he spoke at the March on Washington in 1963.
Can I use it with younger students?
Third grade can solve it with the word bank on and a partner. For first and second grade, use the bingo cards instead.
Can I change the words and clues?
Yes. Each of the 14 lines is a word, a colon and its clue. Edit any of them, and the crossword is rebuilt with new numbers.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Press Print and choose “Save as PDF” as the printer. The puzzle is page one and the answer key is page two.
How do I get a different layout?
Press “Make another”. The same words and clues are placed in a new arrangement, so each table can have its own puzzle.
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