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On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks changed the course of history when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. This simple yet courageous act set into motion a chain of events that reverberated throughout the world.  Honor her quiet strength in your classroom this December by learning more about Parks' resolution and will to stand up for her rights. By discussing Rosa Parks and collecting your students thoughts, you will be able to teach others about segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. A good way to start is to check out the website http://www.imakenews.com/psla/www.surfnetkids.com/rosaparks.htm. Here you will find articles and books that can help your class begin to understand how important this moment was. For younger classes, try If a Bus Could Talk or I Am Rosa Parks. Separate your class by hair or eye color and make one group sit in the back of the room. For a short time, only teach or speak to the students near the front. You can even pass out snacks only to the children in the front of the room to emphasize your point. After this exercise, discuess how the students in the back felt when they were discriminated against and why they felt that way. Have them write their responses to be included in a collection for other classes to read. This is a good way for your class to teach other students about segregation and discrimination. Don’t forget to give all of your students a snack afterwards. For older students, download the “Time 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century” article for a more in depth view of Rosa Parks at http://www.imakenews.com/psla/www.time.com
/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html. It provides a timeline that includes the aftermath of Rosa Parks' arrest, her move to Michigan to avoid harassment and the awarding of her Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. After reading the article, discuss with your class why she is the most remembered out of all those who were arrested for refusing to give up their seats on public transportation. You may also research other famous African American individuals who were “firsts” in their field, such as Jackie Robinson and Colin Powell. Ask why these individuals, although not the only African Americans in their field, were chosen to be a first. Students can collect their writings as another teaching tool for other classrooms to read.

Another way for you and your class to learn more is to write to Rosa Parks. Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue With Today’s Youth, found at www.leeandlow.com/books/parks.html, is a collection of responses by Mrs. Parks to the numerous letters she receives from students, about 500 to 1,000 letters a month from children throughout the United States and the world. Dear Mrs. Parks grew out of Rosa Parks' desire to share her legacy with all "her children" and perpetuate a dialogue that will be recorded for generations to come. After studying her extraordinary life and reading a few excerpts from this book, students can write their own letters. You can also download the first chapter of the book to get great ideas for reflection questions, important vocabulary, discussion questions and writing activities. All of these can be collected and put into an information packet to be handed out to other classrooms or to Mrs. Parks.