Meet the Icons of the 20th Century. From brilliant scientists and inspiring activists to legendary athletes and artists, these remarkable individuals changed the world in powerful ways. In this video playlist of clips from BBC's Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, meet Muhammad Ali, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Pablo Picasso, Jane Goodall, Pelé, Billie Holiday and others — each a trailblazer who shaped history through courage, creativity, and conviction. A perfect playlist to inspire young minds to think big and act boldly!
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Story in Song introduces students to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement through music, humor, and powerful historical images. Told as a song, the video shares key moments from Dr. King’s life and his leadership in the fight for equality in a way that is clear, memorable, and engaging for students.
Excerpted from BBC’s Horrible Histories — a multi-award-winning musical and sketch comedy series — this short video uses a familiar, student-friendly format to help make an important part of U.S. history easier to understand. The combination of lyrics, visuals, and real moments from the era helps students connect with the ideas of fairness, courage, and peaceful protest.
At just two and a half minutes, this video is ideal for classrooms. Use it as a quick introduction to Martin Luther King Jr., a lively entry point into the Civil Rights Movement, or a meaningful way to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It works well as a lesson opener, a review tool, or a discussion starter about how people have worked together to create change in a democracy.
This set of Martin Luther King Jr. worksheets contains two versions, so you can use the version that's closest to the grade level you teach or use both based on the individual reading levels of the students in your class. Here's what you'll find:
- Reading Passage: "Martin Luther King Jr.: A Man With a Dream," covering that life and legacy of MLK.
- Version A: Grades 3-5, Lexile Level 700-900L
- Version B: Grades 6-8, Lexile Level 850-1000L
- Glossary: Grade-level appropriate vocabulary and definitions to help students better understand the passage.
- Worksheets: KWL, timeline, and reflection (Version A); important events chart, Venn diagram, "Iconic Influences" response (Version B).
These activities pair with the following videos:
In The Rosa Parks Effect, Rosa Parks’s arrest motivates Martin Luther King Jr. to advance non-violent protests on a larger scale, making him a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Infamous Assassinations, a documentary series about high-profile murders and attempted murders of public figures, narrated by actor Robert Powell.
In The Remarkable Life of Nelson Mandela, host Trevor McDonald explores the journey of Nelson Mandela from his early days as a revolutionary to his imprisonment and eventual global acclaim as a symbol of peace. Despite his association with peace and harmony today, Mandela's path was marked by conflict and controversy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Billie Holiday, a Voice Against Injustice, host Kathleen Turner explores the early struggles of the legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday. Rising from a tragic childhood, Holiday overcame unimaginable hardships to captivate the world with her unique voice, even as she faced overt racism. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Billie Holiday and Strange Fruit, host Kathleen Turner recounts how Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” became an iconic protest anthem during the Civil Rights Movement. Despite struggles with addiction, police harassment, and being blacklisted, Holiday's bravery and artistry made a lasting impact. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Cassius Clay Becomes Muhammad Ali, sports journalist Clare Balding describes how, Muhammad Ali, as a Muslim, refused to fight in the war in Vietnam and how his defiance connected him to people all over the world. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Muhammad Ali's Comeback, sports journalist Clare Balding describes the first time Muhammad Ali lost a professional fight when he fought against Joe Frazier in 1971, and his subsequent comeback against George Foreman. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Martin Luther King Jr., Iconic Activist, host Sanjeev Bhaskar discusses the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. who was deeply committed to non-violent protest and inspired other activists who came after him. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
Meet the Icons of the 20th Century. From brilliant scientists and inspiring activists to legendary athletes and artists, these remarkable individuals changed the world in powerful ways. In this video playlist of clips from BBC's Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, meet Muhammad Ali, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Pablo Picasso, Jane Goodall, Pelé, Billie Holiday and others — each a trailblazer who shaped history through courage, creativity, and conviction. A perfect playlist to inspire young minds to think big and act boldly!
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Story in Song introduces students to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement through music, humor, and powerful historical images. Told as a song, the video shares key moments from Dr. King’s life and his leadership in the fight for equality in a way that is clear, memorable, and engaging for students.
Excerpted from BBC’s Horrible Histories — a multi-award-winning musical and sketch comedy series — this short video uses a familiar, student-friendly format to help make an important part of U.S. history easier to understand. The combination of lyrics, visuals, and real moments from the era helps students connect with the ideas of fairness, courage, and peaceful protest.
At just two and a half minutes, this video is ideal for classrooms. Use it as a quick introduction to Martin Luther King Jr., a lively entry point into the Civil Rights Movement, or a meaningful way to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It works well as a lesson opener, a review tool, or a discussion starter about how people have worked together to create change in a democracy.
This set of Martin Luther King Jr. worksheets contains two versions, so you can use the version that's closest to the grade level you teach or use both based on the individual reading levels of the students in your class. Here's what you'll find:
- Reading Passage: "Martin Luther King Jr.: A Man With a Dream," covering that life and legacy of MLK.
- Version A: Grades 3-5, Lexile Level 700-900L
- Version B: Grades 6-8, Lexile Level 850-1000L
- Glossary: Grade-level appropriate vocabulary and definitions to help students better understand the passage.
- Worksheets: KWL, timeline, and reflection (Version A); important events chart, Venn diagram, "Iconic Influences" response (Version B).
These activities pair with the following videos:
In The Rosa Parks Effect, Rosa Parks’s arrest motivates Martin Luther King Jr. to advance non-violent protests on a larger scale, making him a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Infamous Assassinations, a documentary series about high-profile murders and attempted murders of public figures, narrated by actor Robert Powell.
In The Remarkable Life of Nelson Mandela, host Trevor McDonald explores the journey of Nelson Mandela from his early days as a revolutionary to his imprisonment and eventual global acclaim as a symbol of peace. Despite his association with peace and harmony today, Mandela's path was marked by conflict and controversy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Billie Holiday, a Voice Against Injustice, host Kathleen Turner explores the early struggles of the legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday. Rising from a tragic childhood, Holiday overcame unimaginable hardships to captivate the world with her unique voice, even as she faced overt racism. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Billie Holiday and Strange Fruit, host Kathleen Turner recounts how Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” became an iconic protest anthem during the Civil Rights Movement. Despite struggles with addiction, police harassment, and being blacklisted, Holiday's bravery and artistry made a lasting impact. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Cassius Clay Becomes Muhammad Ali, sports journalist Clare Balding describes how, Muhammad Ali, as a Muslim, refused to fight in the war in Vietnam and how his defiance connected him to people all over the world. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Muhammad Ali's Comeback, sports journalist Clare Balding describes the first time Muhammad Ali lost a professional fight when he fought against Joe Frazier in 1971, and his subsequent comeback against George Foreman. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Martin Luther King Jr., Iconic Activist, host Sanjeev Bhaskar discusses the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. who was deeply committed to non-violent protest and inspired other activists who came after him. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.