Words of Wisdom

Black History Month Edition

Using famous quotes is one of my favorite ways to practice critical thinking skills. They help students make a real-life
connection to things they are learning in school, and it also gives you a platform to discuss all of those important things that
aren’t on THE test (i.e. perseverance, kindness, responsibility). The shared experience of talking about quotes also gives you
ideas to refer back to later in the year.

How to Use: I try to make things versatile so you can choose how you want to use them. Here are some ideas: You can use
these quotes as a bulletin board and highlight a particular quote each day. You could post a quote of the day or quote of the
week. They are great for discussing and writing about. I have included a Roll-a-Response page that is perfect for whole class,
small groups, or even individuals. It just gives ideas for how to respond to the quotes. In the quote guide, I included a few
higher level critical thinking questions for each quote to if you are having a class discussion. These are just a starting point
because as you discuss them with the class, you will think of other questions that apply to your particular group of students.

-Quote Response Journal: I included this as a place for students to record their responses. (I often had students record just
in their notebooks to save paper, but I included these as an easy alternative.) I kept the directions vague so that you can have
students respond in various ways. These can be responses from the Roll-a-Response, or you may choose to have students
practice paraphrasing or making connections.

-Additional Materials: You will also find “Words of Wisdom” letters to cut out for a bulletin board header. I am also including the
quotes in PowerPoint form so that you can show it on your Smart Board or other technology. I would love to hear how you
use them in your class! Feel free to reach out to me at sarah@morethanaworksheet.com

Extension Ideas:
1.  Have students research to learn more about the person who said the quote or the historical context of it.
2.  Have students keep a quote reflection journal.
3.  Discuss the quote with partners or groups.
4.  Have students paraphrase each quote.
Photo Credits
5.  Have students practice their handwriting by copying the quote. All photos are in the public
6.  Have students share the quote with their families. domain in the United States
from Wikimedia Commons.
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
 Printing Tips

Some printers automatically print a white border around a page, which can be annoying. For my printer, I can go
to the paper size and choose US Letter (Borderless) and that lets me print the full page. I also choose “Scale to
Fit” and “Fill Entire Page.” (On some printers it is “Fit to Page.”) I know that all printers are different, and some
printers cannot print borderless. Try playing around with your settings and your page setup dropdowns.

One more tip if it is giving you trouble: When you download a file from TpT, be sure to actually open it from your
download folder (instead of just trying to print it once it pops up.) I don’t know why, but when you open it from
“downloads,” it should adjust to your printer settings.
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
 Quote Guide
Speaker Quote Discussion Questions

1 Harriet Tubman, 1822-1913 Always remember, you have within you the -Can everyone change the world?
conductor on the strength, the patience, and the passion to -Do you think strength, patience, and passion are all it takes? What
Underground Railroad reach for the stars to change the world. else might you need?
-What does “reach for the stars” mean?

2 Zora Neale Hurston, Those that don’t got it, can’t show it. Those -What is “it”?
1891-1960 that got it, can’t hide it. -What happens if you “got it” but try to hide it?
writer, anthropologist -Are there any parts of yourself that you try to hide?

3 Frederick Douglass, If there is no struggle, there is no progress. -Can you think of times in your life where struggle has led to
1818-1895 progress? What about times in history?
abolitionist, writer -Can progress be made without a struggle?
-Does a struggle ever not lead to progress?

4 Rosa Parks, 1913-2005 I had no idea that history was being made. I -What if Rosa Parks gave up?
activist famous for refusing to was just tired of giving up. -Is it possible for you to be doing things in your life that will change
give up her seat the world one day but you don’t even realize it?

5 Thurgood Marshall, 1908-1993 When we intend to do good, we do. -Is that always true?
lawyer, first African American -Is the opposite true?
Justice of the Supreme Court -What are some ways we can intend to do good in the classroom?

6 Mae Jemison, 1956- Never be limited by other people’s limited -What are some limited imaginations?
scientist, first African imaginations. -What happens if you are limited by others’ imaginations?
American female astronaut -What does this say about using your imagination?

7 Booker T. Washington, Excellence is to do a common thing in an -What are some common things that you do? How can you do them
1856-1915 uncommon way. in an uncommon way?
educator -Do you know anyone who does this?

8 Barack Obama, 1961- Change will not come if we wait for some -How does this relate to Harriet Tubman’s quote about changing
first African American other person or some other time. We are the world?
President of the United States the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the -How can we be the change that we seek?
change we seek.

9 Colin Powell, 1937- A dream doesn’t become a reality through -Do you think some people just sit around and wait for magic to
Four-Star General, US magic; it takes sweat, determination, and happen? Will their dreams come true this way?
Secretary of State hard work. -What can you do to make sure your dreams come true?

10 W.E.B. Du Bois, 1868-1963 Education and work are the levers to uplift a -Du Bois is using a metaphor to compare education to what simple
co-founder of NAACP people. machine? Is this a good comparison?
-How can education uplift people?
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
 Quote Guide
Speaker Quote Discussion Questions

11 Martin Luther King, Jr., The time is always right to do what is right. -Is it ever not a time to do what’s right?
1929-1968 minister, civil -Is the opposite true (The time is never right to do what is wrong)?
rights leader -What is the right thing that you plan to do?

12 Coretta Scott King, I don’t believe you can stand for freedom -What groups of people might Coretta Scott King have been
1927-2006 civil rights for one group of people and deny it to talking about?
activist, wife of Martin Luther others. -Is there ever a case when this is not true?
King, Jr.

13 Jackie Robinson, 1919-1972 I’m not concerned with your liking or -How can this apply to people who you don’t get along with?
first African American to disliking me…All I ask is that you respect me -Does everyone deserve respect as a human being? What about
play Major League Baseball as a human being. people who do the wrong thing?

14 Jesse Owens, 1913-1980 Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, -What good is around you right now? How can you showcase it?
Olympic gold medalist in showcase it, and you’ll start believing in it. -Are there times when you can’t find good?
track and field

15 Michelle Obama, 1964- You don’t have to be somebody different to -Have you ever wanted to be somebody different?
Lawyer and writer, first lady be important. You’re important in your own -In what ways are you important just as you are?
of the United States right.

16 Ruby Bridges, 1954- first When you start a new trail equipped with -Have you ever stopped yourself or gotten in your own way of
black child to attend an all courage, strength and conviction, the only doing something?
white school in Louisiana thing that can stop you is you. -Do you think courage, strength, and conviction are all you need?

17 George Washington Carver, When you can do the common things of life -How does this relate to Booker T. Washington’s quote?
186?-1943 botanist and in an uncommon way, you will command the -Is this always a good thing?
inventor, credited with attention of the world.
creating peanut butter

18 Maya Angelou, 1928-2014 If you don’t like something, change it. If you -What are some things that you don’t like but can’t change? How
poet, author, civil rights can’t change it, change your attitude. can you change your attitude about it?
activist

19 Wilma Rudolph, 1940-1994 Winning is great, sure, but if you are really -How can you learn how to lose?
Olympic gold medalist in going to do something in life, the secret is -What is the “right” way to lose?
sprinting events learning how to lose.

20 Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013 It always seems impossible until it’s done. -What are some things in your life that once seemed impossible but
South African president from you did them anyway?
1994-1999 -Is there anything in your life right now that seems impossible?
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
 Always
remember, you
have within you
the strength,
the patience,
and the passion
to reach for the
stars to change
Harriet the world.
Tubman
 Those that
don’t got it,
can’t show
it. Those
Zora that got it,
Neale can’t hide it.
Hurston
 If there
is no
struggle,
there is no
Frederick
Douglass
progress.
 I had no idea
that history
was being
made. I was
just tired of
Rosa giving up.
Parks
 When we
intend to
do good,
Thurgood we do.
Marshall
 Never be
limited by
other
people’s
limited
Mae
Jemison
imaginations.
 Excellence
is to do a
common
thing in an
uncommon
Booker T.
Washington
way.
 Change will not
come if we wait
for some other
person or some
other time. We are
the ones we’ve
been waiting for.
Barack We are the change
Obama we seek.
 A dream
doesn’t become
a reality
through magic;
it takes sweat,
determination,
Colin
Powell and hard work.
 Education
and work
are the
levers to
uplift a
W.E.B. people.
Du Bois
 The time
is always
right to
Martin
do what
Luther
King, Jr.
is right.
 I don’t believe
you can stand
for freedom
for one group
of people and
deny it to
Coretta others.
Scott King
 I’m not
concerned with
your liking or
disliking me…All I
ask is that you
respect me as
Jackie a human being.
Robinson
 Find the good.
It’s all around
you. Find it,
showcase it,
and you’ll start
Jesse believing in it.
Owens
 You don’t have
to be somebody
different to be
important.
You’re
important in
your own right.
Michelle
Obama
 When you start
a new trail
equipped with
courage,
strength and
conviction, the
only thing that
Ruby can stop you
Bridges is you.
 When you can
do the common
things of life in
an uncommon
way, you will
command the
George attention of the
Washington world.
Carver
 If you don’t like
something,
change it. If
you can’t
change it,
Maya change your
Angelou attitude.
 Winning is
great, sure,
but if you are
really going to
do something in
life, the secret
is learning how
Wilma
Rudolph
to lose.
 It always
seems
impossible
until it’s
Nelson
Mandela
done.
 Always
remember, you
have within you
the strength,
the patience,
and the passion
to reach for the
stars to change
Harriet the world.
Tubman
 Those that
don’t got it,
can’t show
it. Those
Zora that got it,
Neale can’t hide it.
Hurston
 If there
is no
struggle,
there is no
Frederick
Douglass
progress.
 I had no idea
that history
was being
made. I was
just tired of
Rosa giving up.
Parks
 When we
intend to
do good,
Thurgood we do.
Marshall
 Never be
limited by
other
people’s
limited
Mae
Jemison
imaginations.
 Excellence
is to do a
common
thing in an
uncommon
Booker T.
Washington
way.
 Change will not
come if we wait
for some other
person or some
other time. We are
the ones we’ve
been waiting for.
Barack We are the change
Obama we seek.
 A dream
doesn’t become
a reality
through magic;
it takes sweat,
determination,
Colin
Powell and hard work.
 Education
and work
are the
levers to
uplift a
W.E.B. people.
Du Bois
 The time
is always
right to
Martin
do what
Luther
King, Jr.
is right.
 I don’t believe
you can stand
for freedom
for one group
of people and
deny it to
Coretta others.
Scott King
 I’m not
concerned with
your liking or
disliking me…All I
ask is that you
respect me as
Jackie a human being.
Robinson
 Find the good.
It’s all around
you. Find it,
showcase it,
and you’ll start
Jesse believing in it.
Owens
 You don’t have
to be somebody
different to be
important.
You’re
important in
your own right.
Michelle
Obama
 When you start
a new trail
equipped with
courage,
strength and
conviction, the
only thing that
Ruby can stop you
Bridges is you.
 When you can
do the common
things of life in
an uncommon
way, you will
command the
George attention of the
Washington world.
Carver
 If you don’t like
something,
change it. If
you can’t
change it,
Maya change your
Angelou attitude.
 Winning is
great, sure,
but if you are
really going to
do something in
life, the secret
is learning how
Wilma
Rudolph
to lose.
 It always
seems
impossible
until it’s
Nelson
Mandela
done.
 Roll-a-Response
Tell what the quote means in your own words.

Do you agree with the quote? Why or why not?

What is the most important word in this quote? You can only
choose one. Explain your reasoning.

How does this quote make you feel? How was the person who
said it probably feeling?

Give an example of how this quote could connect to your life.

Does this quote still apply to the world today? Why or why not.
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
 Roll-a-Response
Tell what the quote means in your own words.

Do you agree with the quote? Why or why not?

What is the most important word in this quote? You can only
choose one. Explain your reasoning.

How does this quote make you feel? How was the person who
said it probably feeling?

Give an example of how this quote could connect to your life.

Does this quote still apply to the world today? Why or why not.
©2017 More Than a Worksheet
Name_______________________________________________________Date___________

Quote Response Journal

Use the spaces below to record your thoughtful response to each quote.

Always remember,
you have within you the
strength, the patience, and the
passion to reach for the stars
to change the world.
~Harriet Tubman

Those that don’t got it, can’t

show it. Those that got it,
can’t hide it.
~Zora Neale Hurston

If there is no struggle,
there is no progress
~Frederick Douglass

I had no idea that history

was being made. I was just
tired of giving up.
~Rosa Parks

When we intend to do
good, we do.
~Thurgood Marshall

©2017 More Than a Worksheet

Name_______________________________________________________Date___________

Quote Response Journal

Use the spaces below to record your thoughtful response to each quote.

Never be limited by other

people’s limited imaginations.
~Mae Jemison

Excellence is to do a
common thing in an
uncommon way.
~Booker T. Washington

Change will not come if we

wait for some other person or
some other time. We are the
ones we’ve been waiting for. We
are the change we seek.
~Barack Obama

A dream doesn’t become a

reality through magic; it
takes sweat, determination,
and hard work.
~Colin Powell

Education and work are the

levers to uplift a people.
~W.E.B. Du Bois

©2017 More Than a Worksheet

Name_______________________________________________________Date___________

Quote Response Journal

Use the spaces below to record your thoughtful response to each quote.

The time is always right to

do what is right.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I don’t believe you can

stand for freedom for one
group of people and deny
it to others.
~Coretta Scott King

I’m not concerned with your

liking or disliking me…All I
ask is that you respect me
as a human being.
~Jackie Robinson

Find the good. It’s all around

you. Find it, showcase it, and
you’ll start believing in it.
~Jesse Owens

You don’t have to be

somebody different to be
important. You’re important
in your own right.
~Michelle Obama

©2017 More Than a Worksheet

Name_______________________________________________________Date___________

Quote Response Journal

Use the spaces below to record your thoughtful response to each quote.

When you start a new

trail equipped with
courage, strength and
conviction, the only thing
that can stop you is you.
~Ruby Bridges

When you can do the common

things of life in an uncommon
way, you will command the
attention of the world.
~George Washington Carver

If you don’t like

something, change it. If
you can’t change it,
change your attitude.
~Maya Angelou

Winning is great, sure, but

if you are really going to do
something in life, the secret
is learning how to lose.
~Wilma Rudolph

It always seems impossible

until it’s done.
~Nelson Mandela

©2017 More Than a Worksheet

Name_______________________________________________________Date___________

Quote Response Journal

Use the spaces below to record your thoughtful response to each quote.

©2017 More Than a Worksheet

W O
R D
S O
F W
I S
D O
M !
 so much MORE Than a Worksheet!

Thank you so much for downloading

this resource! I hope that you and
your students love it. I am so honored
PS: I would LOVE to see
that you took the time out of your pics of how you use my
busy day to visit my store. resources in your
classroom!
Happy Teaching! If you are on Instagram, feel
~Sarah free to tag me
@morethanaworksheet. I’m
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