Hot Seat Role Play
NCSS Thematic Strand 2: Time, Continuity, and Change Students will show knowledge and understanding of the past enable us to analyze the causes and consequences of events and developments, and to place these in the context of the institutions, values and beliefs of the periods in which they took place. NCSS Thematic Strand 10: Students will demonstrate an understanding of Civic Ideas and Practices Through social studies programs, students acquire a historical and contemporary understanding of the basic freedoms and rights of citizens in a democracy, and learn about the institutions and practices that support and protect these freedoms and rights, as well as the important historical documents that articulate them.
Group Work
Students will get into groups of 3. Each member will role play a specific group or person related to the Bus incident involving Sarah Mae Flemming in Columbia, SC on June 22, 1964. After researching their character, the students will present their findings at the front of the class in a skit form to demonstrate understanding of the events that took place on and following that day. Some possible roles could include: Sarah Mae Flemming, The Bus Driver, White Passengers, The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, etc.
Sarah Mae FlemmingPrior to the Rosa Parks incident, Sarah Mae Flemming had her own situation with the bus system in Columbia, SC. When She noticed an open seat near the white passengers on the bus, she proceeded to sit down in the seat.
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The Bus DriverUpon recognizing that Flemming had taken a seat in the "whites only" section of the bus, the driver instructed her to get up and move to the back of the bus. When Flemming denied the request and opted to get off the bus at Washington St. and Main St., the driver struck Flemming in the abdomen.
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CourtThe court ruled in 1955, that the same precedent that was used in Brown vs. Board could be extended to the transportation systems as well. Flemming's actions ultimately desegregated the bus system of Columbia, SC.
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