The Declaration of Independence
6-8
1
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Lesson Details
Grade Level
6-8
Duration (minutes)
1
Summary
A grade 6-8 U.S. History and social studies lesson covering the Montgomery Bus Boycott, from Rosa Parks's arrest through the 381-day boycott to the Supreme Court ruling that ended bus segregation.
Student Worksheet: The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Teacher Note: Students can watch the video lesson above and answer the questions. Click the “Teacher Answer Key” dropdown below when you are ready to review the solutions!
Key Concepts:
• Segregation: The forced separation of people based on race, including on public buses.
• Rosa Parks: Refused to give up her bus seat on December 1, 1955, and was arrested.
• The Boycott: Black citizens stopped riding city buses for 381 days.
• The Outcome: The Supreme Court ruled bus segregation illegal.
Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided.
- Question 1: What did Rosa Parks refuse to do on December 1, 1955?
- Question 2: What happened to Rosa Parks because of her refusal?
- Question 3: What is a boycott?
- Question 4: Name one leader who helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
- Question 5: How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last, and how did it end?
Click to reveal Teacher Answer Key
1. Give up her bus seat to a white passenger
2. She was arrested
3. When a group of people refuses to use or buy something as a form of protest — in this case, refusing to ride the bus
4. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (or other Black community leaders)
5. 381 days; it ended when the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was against the law
Disclaimer: This worksheet was generated with AI assistance based on original video content. It is intended for educational reference only. Teachers are encouraged to review and adjust questions to fit their curriculum standards before classroom use.
🎯 Extension Activity: Have students write a short paragraph imagining they were a Montgomery resident during the boycott, describing how they might have gotten to work or school for 381 days without riding the bus.