Lesson
Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Purpose
What about Rosa Parks’ purpose lead her to participate in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Founding Principles
Civic Virtue, Equal Protection, Equality, Individual Responsibility
Guiding questions
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- What was Rosa Parks’ identity in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
- What was Rosa Parks’ purpose?
- Why did Rosa Parks’ refuse to give up her seat on the bus? How did her actions alter history?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
Learning objectives
- Students will interpret Rosa Parks’ reasons for not giving up her seat on the bus.
- Students will evaluate the purpose of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Civil Rights Movement.
- Students will understand and apply knowledge about purpose to students’ own lives.
