In teaching history, we want to help our children to build understanding of big historical concepts and ways of thinking. One important literacy skill we can help students develop is through social studies instruction is to critically question texts while reading.

When historians read, they pay close attention to sources of information, draw upon their knowledge of the historical context, and are constantly asking questions of the text and themselves to verify evidence. In using trade books in the social studies classroom, we want to enable students to read critically and not just to acquire information from a text unquestioningly.

Through reading several biographies about one person, students can begin to question the versions of the texts they are reading and begin to uncover the authors' purpose or bias in creating these different versions.

There are many biographies available on Rosa Parks. These biographies are written with different levels of complexity. By providing students with diverse versions, and scaffolding their critical reading of these texts, we can begin to foster a questioning stance in our readers. An additional benefit to providing these different versions is that they provide us with an authentic, differentiated task that allows all students to participate in rigorous learning experiences.

Most of the books on the following list are solely about Rosa Parks. Two books, Freedom Walkers, by Russell Freedman, and Let It Shine, by Andrea Davis Pinkney, have chapters specifically relating to Rosa Parks.

Students should read the biographies in small groups or clubs and then work together to complete the worksheet. It will help your students if you complete one book together before sending them off to work on the rest of the texts independently or in groups.

To guide the discussion after students complete the chart(s), consider using the following questions[1]:

• Did the biographers use different sources (pictures, stories, etc.)? Are primary sources included in the book? Are sources cited?
• Did the biographers use different information or different versions of events? How does this change your understanding of the story? What questions does it raise for you?
• How was the information organized? How did this help you or make it more difficult for you to read the biography?
• Did the biographers emphasize different ideas or themes?

Sister Rosa Parks

by The Neville Brothers
D. Johnson, C. Moore, C. Neville, C. Neville, Jr., J. Neville
L. Neville Irving Music, Inc. obo Neville Music, Inc.
Johnson Music; Wm. Claffey & Associates
(p) 1989 A&M Records
Courtesy of A&M Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

December 1, 1955, our freedom movement came alive. And because of Sister Rosa you know, we don't ride on the back of the bus no more.

Sister Rosa Parks was tired one day
after a hard day on her job.
When all she wanted was a well deserved rest
Not a scene from an angry mob.
A bus driver said, "Lady, you got to get up
cuz a white person wants that seat."
But Miss Rosa said, "No, not no more.
I'm gonna sit here and rest my feet."

Chorus
Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark,
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks.
Thank you Miss Rosa you are the spark,
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks.

Now, the police came without fail
And took Sister Rosa off to jail.
And 14 dollars was her fine,
Brother Martin Luther King
knew it was our time.
The people of Montgomery sit down to talk
It was decided all gods' children should walk
Until segregation was brought to its knees
And we obtain freedom and equality, yeah

Chorus Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark,
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks.
We'll sing it again
Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark,
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks.

So we dedicate this song to thee
for being the symbol of our dignity.
Thank Sister Rosa Parks.

Chorus 2x