Lesson Plan
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BuiltByNOF
 Lesson Plan

Title of Book:

Mississippi Bridge

Suggested Grade Level:

5

Book Author:

Mildred D. Taylor

Number of Pages:

62 pgs.

Major Theme:

Prejudice

Summary:

Jeremy Simms watches from the porch of the general store as the weekly bus from Jackson comes through his town.  His neighbor Stacey Logan and Stacey's brothers and sister are there to see their grandmother off on a trip.  Jeremy's friend Josias Williams is taking the bus to his new job.  But Josias and the Logans are black, and in Mississippi in the 1930's, black people can't ride the bus if that means there won't be enough room for white people to ride.  When several white passengers arrive at the last minute, the driver sends Josias and Stacey's grandmother off the bus.  Then comes a terrifying moment that unites all the townspeople in a nightmare that will change their lives forever.

Question #1

Question #2

Question #3

Who was going to be taking a trip on the bus?

Why wouldn't Rudine be able to return the hat if she tried it on?

Why did Pa get so mad with Josias about his new job prospect?

Question #4

Why did Josias finally give in and lie about not having a job? 
What excuse did he make up for taking the bus trip?

Question #5

How did Jeremy feel about the way his dad acted towards Josias?  How would it make you feel?

Question #6

Question #7

Question #8

Question #9

What was special about the Logan family?  Why did Jeremy's Pa look down on them?

What was the "ruckus" at the bus station?  Why was Josias putting up a fight about getting off the bus?  What would you do if you were in that situation?

Why did Pa hit Jeremy in the head and what did he tell him not to do?  Why?

Do you think Jeremy really cares about Josias and the Logan children?

Question #10

Do you think that the whites were being punished for kicking the blacks off the bus?

Question #11

Question #12

Question #13

What kind of boy was Jeremy?  What were his good qualities?

 
 

Question #14

 

Question #15

Question #16

Question #17

Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

 
 
 
 

Construct a model of the bridge described in the book.  You could use toothpicks or popcycle sticks.  Be sure and show the repair work needed to make the bridge safe.

Write about a time your neighborhood or town was united in a common effort  An example might be the great flood of 1993.  How did everyone come together to help each other out.

 

Extension #4

 

Extension #5

 
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