The Story of Ruby Bridges By: Robert Coles

The Story of Ruby Bridges is a fundamental book to teach early elementary students about segregation, integration, and the civil rights movement in a developmentally appropriate fashion.  I specifically remember reading this book as a child and the great discussion that this book fostered in our class.  

Title: The Story of Ruby Bridges

Author: Robert Coles - Dr. Coles is a Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Humanities at Harvard University.  Like through this book, Dr. Coles is known for his social anthropological work specifically with children.  Through writing his 38 books and numerous articles, he has won the Pulitzer Prize. DER Documentary: Robert Coles

Genre: Nonfiction

Grade Level: K through 2

Theme/Skill: Biography - Ruby Bridges

Brief Synopsis: Ruby Bridges was the first African American to attend a “white” elementary school.  She faced extreme prejudice of segregationists every morning for six months as she entered school.  As a result of her presence, white parents refused to send their children to school with her which allowed her to get an individualized education.  The story ends with Ruby praying for God’s forgiveness for the segregationists outside of school while they are all protesting.

Pre-Reading Activity: What is a biography?  Who writes a biography?  Have you ever heard of the civil rights movement? Students will be given a KWL chart.  As a class, brainstorm ideas to what the students already know about the civil rights movement for the first column.  Fill in the second column that asks what the students would like to know.

 

Post-Reading Activity: What from our pre-reading list was included in the story?  Have you ever heard of other activists like Rosa Parks?  What about Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous speech?  What characteristics do all of these activists possess? After reading, compare the “already know” and “want to know” lists to Ruby’s life presented in the story.  To check the students’ comprehension, discuss the plot of the story.  We will briefly discuss the impacts of Martin Luther King Jr. (highlighting his speech) and Rosa Parks.  To summarize the lesson, complete all three columns of what we know, what we want to know, and what we learned about the civil rights movement through our work on Ruby Bridges and other activists.

Coles, R. (1995) The Story of Ruby Bridges. New York: Scholastic Inc.