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Rosa Parks Sat Still Lesson Plan

🚌 Rosa Parks Sat Still: A Lesson on Courage and Social Change

Subject

History

Grade

6

Methodology

Direct Instruction

Duration (minutes)

55

Overview
  • Introduction (5 minutes) 🕰️

  • Present New Material (10 minutes) 📚

  • Guided Practice (10 minutes) 🗣️

  • Individual Practice (10 minutes) ✍️

  • Assessment and Reflection (10 minutes) 📝

  • Review and Closure (10 minutes) 🔄

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4

Background Knowledge

Basic reading and writing skills appropriate for grade 3.

Skills

Communication, Growth mindset, Critical thinking

Objectives

  • Students will understand the historical context and significance of Rosa Parks' actions and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

  • Students will analyze primary source documents to gain insights into historical events.

  • Students will engage in discussions and debates to explore different perspectives on social change.

  • Students will reflect on the impact of individual actions on society and relate it to their own lives.

Materials

  • Video Clip: “Rosa Parks: The Woman Who Changed a Nation” (3-minute biography video)

  • Primary Source Document: Rosa Parks’ Arrest Record and Bus Diagram

  • Interactive Whiteboard/Projector

  • Handout: Timeline of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

  • Group Activity Sheets: “Debate: Perspectives on the Bus Boycott”

  • Individual Practice Worksheet: “Critical Thinking Questions on Rosa Parks”

  • Reflection Journal: “My Role in Social Change”

  • Sticky Notes and Markers

  • Exit Tickets

Lesson Activities

Introduction (5 minutes) 🕰️


Begin with a provocative question

“What would you do if you were asked to give up your seat because of your skin color?” Show the 3-minute video clip on Rosa Parks to capture interest and provide background.


Teacher Note

Emphasize the emotional and moral aspects of the question to engage students personally.



Present New Material (10 minutes) 📚


Narrate the story of Rosa Parks using the interactive whiteboard to display key events and images. Introduce the primary source documents (Rosa Parks’ arrest record and bus diagram) and explain their significance.


Teacher Note

Highlight the importance of primary sources in understanding historical events.



Guided Practice (10 minutes) 🗣️


Divide students into small groups and provide them with the “Debate: Perspectives on the Bus Boycott” activity sheets. Assign roles (e.g., Rosa Parks, a bus driver, a fellow passenger) and have students discuss and debate their perspectives. Facilitate and provide feedback.


Teacher Note

Encourage students to use evidence from the primary source documents in their debates.



Individual Practice (10 minutes) ✍️


Distribute the “Critical Thinking Questions on Rosa Parks” worksheet. Students complete the questions independently, using the timeline handout as a reference. Walk around to provide assistance and feedback.


Teacher Note

Look for students' ability to connect events and understand the broader implications of Rosa Parks' actions.



Assessment and Reflection (10 minutes) 📝


Have students write in their reflection journals about what they learned and how they can relate Rosa Parks' courage to their own lives. Use sticky notes for students to write one word that describes Rosa Parks and place them on a class poster.


Teacher Note

Encourage deep personal connections and reflections on the broader impact of individual actions.



Review and Closure (10 minutes) 🔄


Summarize key points and themes discussed. Facilitate a class discussion on how Rosa Parks’ actions connect to current social issues. End with exit tickets where students write one thing they learned and one question they still have.


Teacher Note

Use exit tickets to assess student understanding and identify areas needing further clarification.

Downloads

Exit Ticket

Exit Ticket

Timeline

Timeline

Individual Worksheet

Individual Worksheet

Arrest Records and Bus Diagram

Arrest Records and Bus Diagram

Group Debate

Group Debate

Resources

Rosa Parks Biography

Video

Rosa Parks Biography
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