When Rosa Parks took her seat on a public bus to protest segregation, she also took her place in history. Learners examine a clue from this story—a diagram of the bus—to see if they can figure out the pivotal role of  this ordinary-looking seating chart. Then, they tell the story of Rosa Parks and her place in the civil rights movement by emailing their narrative to their teacher. 

Concepts

civil rights, the civil rights movement, civil rights leaders, rosa parks, segregation, the montgomery bus boycott, primary source analysis, primary source images, primary sources

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Instructional Ideas

• Offer as a warmup or introductory activity for lesson on the Montgomery bus boycott or 1960s civil rights movement

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils need Internet and computer access
• Class members may need access to other documents on the civil rights movement to complete the included writing prompt

Pros

• Resource uses an unusual document to pique interest
• Writing and discussion prompts promote critical thinking and analytical skills

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.4.6 RI.4.7 RI.4.10 RI.5.6 RI.5.7 RI.5.10 RH.6-8.6 RH.6-8.7 RH.6-8.10