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Rosa Parks Activities for the Classroom

Any time of the school year is a good time to celebrate the courageous actions of heroic women, like Rosa Parks. And February gives an even extra opportunity for Rosa Parks activities. It happens to be the month of her birthday (February 4th, to be exact). And of course, February is Black History Month, which is also followed by Women’s History Month in March.

Rosa Parks’s admirable story remains relevant for students today. Her refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man was an act of bravery in segregated Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. By her example, students can be inspired to stand up for what they believe in as well.

Here are a few Rosa Parks activities for the classroom to honor her legacy with students.

ROSA PARKS READ ALOUD

As with most topics, a read aloud can be a valuable springboard to spark a class discussion. If you’re in need of any read aloud recommendations on Rosa Parks, Book cover for Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier, showing a close-up of a woman wearing glasses and a hat, with a man in uniform leaning over her—a powerful image perfect for inspiring Rosa Parks activities. A silver medal is featured on the cover.

It’s also a Caldecott Honor book, so the illustrations are striking along with the text.

ROSA PARKS CLOSE READING

In addition to using text read aloud, you could also incorporate a Close Reading passage for students to analyze.

Close Reading is a foundational literacy skill because it helps younger readers analyze a short text. Rather than simply skimming over words, students engage with the text by annotating and underlining, etc. These skills are vital in helping them become independent readers who can not only read, but also interpret, a text.

It can also be helpful in focusing on a specific comprehension skill. With this Close Reading activity, for example, students can practice identifying the main idea and supporting details.

A worksheet about Rosa Parks features a cartoon drawing of her. Passages are highlighted in yellow, green, and red, describing her role in the civil rights movement and her refusal to give up her bus seat.

The accompanying teacher guide included with the Rosa Parks Close Reading Activity provides tips and suggestions to help guide students through the process of reading and annotating the text.

ROSA PARKS WRITING RESPONSE

The same Close Reading passage above comes with multiple options for writing paper too. This way, students can write about Rosa Parks after reading the passage. Hang up their writing in the classroom, and it makes for a meaningful February bulletin board.

A child’s drawing of Rosa Parks holds a paper with text: “Rosa Parks showed bravery by standing up for what she believed in. In 1955, she…” The paper has a drawing of a bus. Life Between Summers is in the corner.

You could have students write in either the informational or opinion genre. For opinion writing, you might ask students to respond to the text by asking guiding questions like “Why do you think Rosa Parks is a hero?” or “How do you think Rosa Parks felt when she was asked to give up her seat on the bus?”

A handwritten student report titled Rosa Parks is decorated with a pink and purple border and a drawing of Rosa Parks wearing glasses, a pink coat, blue shoes, and holding a purse.

ROSA PARKS BUS CRAFT

In addition to the Rosa Parks Close Reading and Writing, students can get to create a comprehension and writing craftivity where they make the iconic bus that Rosa Parks sat on. 

A drawing of a yellow bus labeled Cleveland Ave. with illustrated passengers, including Rosa Parks. The bus displays facts about Rosa Parks bravery, stating she stood up for her beliefs and was awarded the Medal of Freedom.

They write the main idea on the body of the bus and list supporting details on the tires. Then, students draw passengers riding in each of the windows of the bus. They color the pieces and assemble the bus by cutting and pasting everything together.

Here are a two tips for this Rosa Parks Bus Activity:

  1. Have them write the main idea & details on a white board or separate sheet of paper first. Then you can check it together before starting the craft. This helps prevent a lot of erasing on the actual bus.
  2. Suggest that in their drawings they include a steering wheel for the driver. Also, ask them to paste their picture of Rosa Parks in the second square so that she’s riding in the front of the bus.

Where to Get Rosa Parks Activities & More Resources

All of the Rosa Parks activities I’ve shared are available right here on my website, or on TPT.

Rosa Parks Activities with Close Reading, Writing, and Main Idea & Details Bus Craft includes a close reading passage, main idea bus craft with a cartoon Rosa Parks, plus lined illustrated writing paper on a white background.

You also might want to check out this blog post. In it, you’ll find more ideas for using close reading and writing activities about other important American historical figures.

A classroom display and worksheets titled American Heroes featuring student writing, illustrations, and engaging Rosa Parks activities about figures like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Betsy Ross.

Are you planning to honor Martin Luther King Jr. along with Rosa Parks this school year? You can find similar activities for MLK right there. Including this writing craft, which doubles as a social emotional lesson.

A colorful drawing of a smiling person in a blue suit holds a sign that says, THE CONTENT OF MY CHARACTER. Inspired by Rosa Parks activities, I want to be seen as someone who treats others with kindness and respect, with a rainbow and hearts.

I hope these Rosa Parks activities might help contribute to your class discussions and lessons on Rosa Parks, as students may gain a depth of understanding about the value of her story. Specifically, the importance of standing up for injustice whenever we see it. May they be inspired to stand up (or sit down!) for what they believe is right.