During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay. 

Teach young historians about the historical legacy of Rosa Parks with a multi-faceted lesson plan. Pupils follow stations and use journals to explore prominent events, analyze primary resource documents, and engage in interesting...

Honor famous women with a Women's History Month lesson plan. Readers answer questions using a text about many famous women in history, using a combination of independent and collaborative learning strategies.

Most of us have heard of Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Martin Luther King, Jr. But what about Claudette Colvin, Virginia Durr, Freedom Summer, or the Birmingham Children's Crusade? A five-lesson unit prompts class members...

Have historians use primary sources to learn about the circumstances and implementation of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and think about the issue of boycotts as a means of effecting social change. Wrap it up with a letter to the editor...

Participants examine two documents related to Rosa Parks and the bus boycott, sources that challenge some of the commonly held preconceptions about Rosa Parks. They then respond to discussion questions to reinforce understanding and...

The murder of Emmett Till, the Selma to Montgomery march, and the desegregation of Boston schools are the focus of three units that ask class members to investigate why these events were so key in the struggle for civil rights. Groups...

Young historians inquire about how the events leading up to the boycott helped establish equal rights for African Americans. During three rounds of group thinking and reading of historical documents, class members make claims in...

Who was Rosa Parks, and what did she have to do with civil rights? Have youngsters read about this brave woman and her contribution toward gaining equal rights for blacks. After reading a brief passage they answer 10 multiple choice and...

Rosa Parks is instantly identifiable as a prominent member of the Civil Rights Movement, but many learners may not know the details of her life and her contributions to civil rights today. Read a short, informative passage that provides...

Sometimes the most important details of an informational text aren't within the text at all. Teach your class how to read timeline with a set of activities that prompts them to find specific dates and events on the timelines, as well as...

What led to the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and how might historians approach this question differently? This rich series of lessons includes a short introductory video clip, analysis of six primary source documents, and...

How can evidence and perspective challenge even the most well-known of stories? Through primary and secondary source analysis, think-alouds, and discussion, young historians evaluate the historical narrative of Rosa Parks across multiple...

You've heard of the historical moment when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, but did you know that some historical accounts disagree on where she sat? Investigate this query with your young historians, and practice...

Can your pupils identify these five important civil rights figures? Given five short descriptions, learners must match each person to his or her civil rights achievements. 

Add to your instruction on the civil rights movement with this biography of Rosa Parks. Class members read the one-page summary of her life, which focuses mainly on the part she played in the bus boycott. After reading, pupils respond to...

Young actors willingly suspend their disbelief as they improvise a scenario in which they are workers at a clothing factory and must decide their attitude toward the actions of co-worker Rosa Parks. 

"She was a role model for courage in the face of racial injustice." Discover the fascinating story of Rosa Parks, including the realities of segregation she was forced to face throughout her life, her monumental role in sparking the...

"Whoso would be a man, must be a noncomformist." Or so said Ralph Waldo Emerson in his "Self-Reliance" essay. Class members are encouraged to explore the goodness of a nonconformist and decide for themselves if this person deserves...

Take a closer look at "one of the most important periods of American social history: the 1950s," as well as the type of society that the civil rights movement would endeavor to change. This engaging video begins by detailing the era of...

It's December 1, 1955, and a tired African American woman refuses to give up her seat for a white man on a bus in Montgomery. This woman is Rosa Parks. While she wasn't the first person to stay seated despite the current laws, her arrest...

Let the rich gospel music and various images introduce the subject of civil rights to your class. Talk about how groups of people came together to instigate the change in equality and discuss what causes people come together for these days.

Did you know that Rosa Parks was the secretary for the NAACP? Her famous refusal to give up her bus seat was actually a premeditated act designed by the NAACP to draw light the growing civil rights movement. In part two, professor Melani...