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Busing Brewster

Busing Brewster

Busing Brewster by Richard Michelson

Title: Busing Brewster (.pdf lesson plan)

Author: Richard Michelson

Grade Level: 3-5

Standards*

  • Common Core: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.1, 3.2, & 3.3; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, 4.2, & 4.3; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.1, 5.2, & 5.3
  • Virginia Standards of Learning: 3.5; 4.5; 5.5

Overarching Theme(s): Segregation, Fairness, Point of View, Empathy, Inferencing

Timeframe: (45-60 minutes)

Summary

This story takes place in the 1960s during the busing movement, in which students were bused to schools different from the ones they would normally attend to integrate schools. In this story (told from the perspective of Brewster), Brewster and his brother learn they are going to be bused to a new, traditionally all-White school. The story talks about their feelings about the change and their experiences on the first day.

Lesson Goals

  1. Identify feelings and motivations of characters
  2. Determine the fairness of school busing practices