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Bridges, R. (1999). Through my eyes. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN: 0-590-18923-9
Genre: Autobiography, Multicultural
Grade Level: 3-8
Awards/ Honors: Jane Addam's Children's Book Award, Carter C. Woodson Book Award
Summary: This book is the autobiographical work of Ruby Bridges, who was the first to integrate William Frantz Public School in Louisana. In 1960, the NAACP urged Ruby’s parents to allow her to attend the school, since she had passed the required school board tests. On November 14, 1960, six-year old Ruby began school at William Frantz, and faced numerous protestors arguing against integration. Ruby had to be walked in and out of school by marshals and white parents began to pull their children out of the school, because they refused to send their children to an integrated school. Parents who refused to take their children out of the school were harassed and rocks and stones were thrown at their houses. Teachers refused to teach Ruby, and in the end, only one teacher stepped forward— Mrs. Henry. Ruby was the sole person in Mrs. Henry’s class, and she was not allowed to leave the classroom during the school day. Throughout the book, Ruby gives her account of what happened throughout her first year at William Fitz, including numerous pictures. It is interesting to see integration through the eyes of a six-year old, making this book a must-read. The end of the book includes a letter from Ruby about her life after leaving elementary school, which included graduating high school, working as a travel agent, volunteering at Frantz, and establishing the Ruby Bridges Foundation.
Genre: Autobiography, Multicultural
Grade Level: 3-8
Awards/ Honors: Jane Addam's Children's Book Award, Carter C. Woodson Book Award
Summary: This book is the autobiographical work of Ruby Bridges, who was the first to integrate William Frantz Public School in Louisana. In 1960, the NAACP urged Ruby’s parents to allow her to attend the school, since she had passed the required school board tests. On November 14, 1960, six-year old Ruby began school at William Frantz, and faced numerous protestors arguing against integration. Ruby had to be walked in and out of school by marshals and white parents began to pull their children out of the school, because they refused to send their children to an integrated school. Parents who refused to take their children out of the school were harassed and rocks and stones were thrown at their houses. Teachers refused to teach Ruby, and in the end, only one teacher stepped forward— Mrs. Henry. Ruby was the sole person in Mrs. Henry’s class, and she was not allowed to leave the classroom during the school day. Throughout the book, Ruby gives her account of what happened throughout her first year at William Fitz, including numerous pictures. It is interesting to see integration through the eyes of a six-year old, making this book a must-read. The end of the book includes a letter from Ruby about her life after leaving elementary school, which included graduating high school, working as a travel agent, volunteering at Frantz, and establishing the Ruby Bridges Foundation.
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Activity: On page 25 of the book, a Norman Rockwell painting, entitled The Problem We All Live With is featured. Before reading the book, show students a picture of this painting with everything but Ruby cropped out. What are their opinions? What do they think is going on in this painting? Who is the girl? What is the mood of this painting or what feeling do they get out of it? Once they are finished discussing the part with just Ruby in it, show them the whole painting. Does seeing the whole painting change their perspective? What do they now think is going on in the painting? What feeling do they now derive from the painting? Has their opinions about the situation changed? Tell the students that the painting is about Ruby Bridges, and use the painting to lead into reading the book.
After reading Through My Eyes, read the excerpts from John Steinbeck’s work, Travels with Charley about the Ruby Bridges protests. The book is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charley-Search-America-Steinbeck/dp/0140053204
Compare with students how Ruby saw the situation and how John Steinbeck saw it. What are the similarities and differences? Is Steinbeck’s retelling different because he was an outsider or because he was older? How was Steinbeck shaped by the experience of viewing this protest?
Activity inspired by: Through My Eyes Discussion Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/through-my-eyes-discussion-guide
After reading Through My Eyes, read the excerpts from John Steinbeck’s work, Travels with Charley about the Ruby Bridges protests. The book is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charley-Search-America-Steinbeck/dp/0140053204
Compare with students how Ruby saw the situation and how John Steinbeck saw it. What are the similarities and differences? Is Steinbeck’s retelling different because he was an outsider or because he was older? How was Steinbeck shaped by the experience of viewing this protest?
Activity inspired by: Through My Eyes Discussion Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/through-my-eyes-discussion-guide