ALEX Lesson Plan

Listening to narrative text offers students a chance to go beyond decoding and word meaning. Listening as the teacher reads a story gives students an opportunity to appreciate, and draw significance, and meaning as well as informal practice using story elements. Listening to read-alouds gives the teacher the opportunity to model "close" reading skills as well as model thinking.

This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Picture Book- Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Chart Paper

pencils

paper

List of character traits: brave, strong, sad, mean, hopeful, peaceful

Ruby Bridges on Teacher Tube

1. Giving your learners enough background knowledge is very important for their complete understanding. Before the lesson, discuss with your students that they are about to meet a little girl in the story that is very much like them. However, this little girl lived a long time ago, over 50 years ago. This little girl's name is Ruby Bridges, and she didn't have the rights and or privileges we do. 

Ruby Bridges was an African-American who was born in Mississippi to a family that was very poor. Her parents worked hard to provide for her, but there were many nights when there was nothing to eat for dinner. At the age of 4, Ruby and her family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where her parents obtained better jobs.

In 1960, the treatment of African-Americans was not equal to that of whites. Black children attended different and separate schools than white children. While it was illegal to treat African Americans differently than other people, much of the south didn't comply with these laws

Tell your students that you are going to read them a story about when the laws were changed and sometimes change; even good change is not easy.

1. Create an Anchor chart to chart your thinking as you read Ruby Bridges.

Who- Characters

When – Over 50 years ago

What- History Changed

Where- New Orleans *Show on the American map

How- You will chart the story of Ruby Bridges on the (How of What) How did Ruby Bridges change with History?

*** You will fill in the What and How part the most. Sequence the How as Beginning, Middle, and End or Sequence if you have higher learners First, Then, Next...

Before:

1. Read Ruby Bridges to your class. Set a purpose for your students to listen to the story: What kind of person was Ruby Bridges?
   
   
2. Stop and explain words that you feel your students might not know. For example, Federal Marshals are like soldiers or police.
   
   
3. Wonder aloud, use the voice in your head to speak to your students about your wonders, connections you are making in the story, and emotions you are feeling.
   
   
4. Define the term equality and ask children if these differences make one person better than another.

During:

1. Provide children with hypothetical situations in which some of the class members were given certain privileges that other students could not participate in because they were different. For example, only girls were allowed to eat their lunch in the cafeteria while the boys had to eat their lunch outside (no matter what the weather was like). Or, children who were left-handed had to attend a different school from those right-handed children. Ask students how they would feel if they couldn't do everything that other children could do just because they were different in some way. Emphasize that although we may be very different from one another, we are all equal and that we each deserve the same opportunities and privileges. Reinforce what the meaning of equality is. Allow your students opportunities to respond by asking for thumbs up if they feel the same way as Ruby Bridges or thumbs down if they feel differently.  When you have a majority of thumbs up or down ask your students to share with a partner their answer.
• Some examples may be the word equality: Define the term equality and ask children if these differences make one person better than another. Provide children with imaginary situations in which some of the class members were given certain privileges that other students could not take part in because they were different. For example, only girls were allowed to eat their lunch in the lunch room while the boys had to eat their lunch outside (no matter what the weather was like). Or, children who were left-handed had to attend a different school from those right-handed children. Ask students how they would feel if they couldn't do everything that other children could do just because they were different in some way. Give emphasis to the fact that although we may be very different from one another, we are all equal and that we each deserve the same opportunities and privileges. Emphasize what the meaning of equality is.
• Be sure to restate often what happened in the beginning, then the middle, and lastly the end.
2. Chart the story elements Beginning, Middle, and End on your Anchor Chart.

After:

1. Play Corners: Have the following 4 words taped up in the 4 corners of your classroom:

• patient courageous/brave
• hopeful peaceful
• Corners- Ask your students to pay attention to the following statement: Patient, Courageous, Hopeful, and Peaceful. Have students partner talk about each word. Clarify the meaning if you feel they do not fully understand character trait words. Then ask your students to choose "The word that best describes Ruby Bridges is..." Ask students to decide which word they agree with most and ask them to stand in that corner. Make sure that the children know what each of the words means before you expect them to successfully accomplish this activity. As a group, students should discuss their reasons behind choosing their words and then explain them to the rest of the class.

Formative- Corners game

Formative- Partner Talk, Choral responses

Formative- Ask students to describe Ruby Bridges in one sentence. Ask students to tell what happened in the beginning, the middle and the end of the story.

Watch the Video of Ruby Bridges: Write a story about yourself as Ruby Bridges' best friend.

or

Ask students to write a paragraph about what Ruby Bridges is doing now.  Then read, share and discuss the special ending of the book.

To extend the lesson have students write themselves into the story as either the main character or her friend.

For your lower level students, set only one goal or objective. Choose either Character Traits, or Story Elements.

Some of the vocabulary may be difficult for some of your students.  Make sure you clarify words and continue to monitor comprehension using question and student responses.