Lesson Plans

Heroes Around Us
In this lesson for grades 6–8, students can examine Rosa Parks’ role as a hero in the Civil Rights Movement.

Developing Inferential Comprehension Through DL-TA and Discussion Webs
This lesson uses the book Granddaddy’s Gift, about African Americans’ struggle to gain voting rights, to help students in grades 3–5 improve their inferential comprehension, prediction, and discussion skills.

Guided Comprehension: Self-Questioning Using Question–Answer Relationships
Using stories about the Civil Rights Movement, students in grades 3–5 learn about question–answer relationships.

Persuading an Audience: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
In this lesson, students focus on multidraft writing as they write a letter to the editor. Have students write about a current civil rights issue in honor of Parks.

Web Links

Rosa Parks: How I Fought for Civil Rights
Students can visit the Scholastic website to find interesting and easy-to-read information about Rosa Parks, including an interview with her.

Rosa Parks Was Arrested for Civil Disobedience
Featured on America’s Story from America’s Library, this section uses historical documents to teach students about Parks.

The Courage of Rosa Parks
On the National Geographic Kids Magazine website, students can read about Parks’ act of civil disobedience and responses from children who were asked what they could learn from Parks or if they had ever done something courageous.

Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks
Tolerance.org offers educators a free curriculum kit for the classroom that revisits this familiar historical event. The kit includes a teaching guide, with classroom activities tied to the story of Rosa Parks.

Texts

Freedman, Russell. 2006. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Holiday House.
This Orbis Pictus Honor Book relates the history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott through images and text. The book covers the logistics of the boycott, as well as some stories of individuals involved in it.

Giovanni, Nikki. 2005. Rosa. Henry Holt and Co.
Rosa Parks’ story is told, along with some basic information about the early Civil Rights Movement, in this vibrant picture book.

Parks, Rosa, and Jim Haskins. 1999. Rosa Parks: My Story. Puffin.
Although this autobiography was written for children, it is a fascinating read for all ages.

Parks, Rosa, and Gregory J. Reed. 1997. Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue With Today’s Youth. Lee & Low Books.
Parks shares her responses to letters that she has received from children. This book is excellent for primary students.