Unit Plan

Ruby Bridges: Connecting Lives

This unit, designed to promote the study of racial integration, begins with learning about the true story of Ruby Bridges.

By Renea Shuey

Grades

6–8

Duration

10 CLASS PERIODS

Overview

This unit, designed to promote the study of racial integration, begins with learning about the true story of Ruby Bridges, who single-handedly broke the color line in New Orleans in 1960 by being the first African American child to attend a previously segregated public school. She broke barriers and built bridges. The cross-curricular unit ends with the construction of a suspension bridge, giving students a chance to further examine the idea of strength and bridges.

Quick links to unit plan resources:

2 Items

Lesson Plan

2 Items

Book

2 Items

Reproducible

Preinstructional Planning

During Instruction

Preinstructional Planning

Objectives

Students will:

Engage in critical discussions
Discover picture books for presenting ideas
Learn how literature can break barriers and build bridges
Respond to shared texts in group discussions
Practice critical-thinking skills
Learn and apply the comprehension strategy of making connections
Make connections and react to various texts using a double-entry journal
Research suspension bridges
Demonstrate knowledge of abstract concepts of geometric shapes and measurement
Design a suspension bridge
Construct a suspension bridge and describe the process
Create a presentation

During Instruction

Culminating Activity

Students will become amateur architects by designing, constructing, and presenting a suspension bridge. Students will invite parents to the presentations and the test of strength of their suspension bridges.