Ruby Goes to School! Mini Ruby Bridges History Lesson for Kids

Ruby Bridges has always been an interesting history figure to me. 

She was such a young girl when she made history and she managed to handle it with grace and class. 

Naturally, I wanted my children to learn about Ruby Bridges but I also like to share her story with my students.

And that’s why this mini Ruby Bridges history lesson is one I’m excited to share with all of you!

This is a fantastic history activity for early elementary grades! 

It’s a great fit for Black History Month, but you could really use it any time of the year, because it’s also American history.

And it’s so easy for early grade students to relate to her experience as well.

Plus, this activity is now available as a digital Black history lesson too!

Read on to see how to pick up your copy.

And, for more black history resources, take a look at our list of 20 Books about African-American Inventors and Scientists!

Elementary Ruby Bridges History Lesson for Kids

To use this Ruby Bridges history lesson for kids, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

• Printer (with ink)
• Printer Paper
• Pencils

The printable Ruby Bridges mini black history lesson includes the following:

• A two-page Ruby Bridges biography
• A page of Fill-In-the-Blank biography review questions
• A Ruby Bridges word unscramble activity
• A Ruby Bridges history timeline sequencing activity

A full answer key and a teaching script are also included!

The biography comes with a blackline version as well.

Digital Ruby Bridges History Lesson

Are you using virtual or distance learning with your students this year?

This Black history lesson is also available as a digital activity for use with Google Slides!

The digital Ruby Bridges history activity includes:

• A five-slide biography
• A two-slide fill in the blank review
• A two-slide word unscramble activity
• And a history sequencing activity for students!

A complete answer key is also available for easy peasy grading.

Read the biography in class with students and then let them complete the review activities on their own!

How to Teach Elementary Students about Ruby Bridges

If you’re unsure how to introduce Ruby to your class, the teaching script offers a sample teaching script to try.

Read the biography together with your students. Be sure to stop and check for understanding during the reading.

Afterwards, you might choose to complete the fill-in-the-blank activity together. Then you can send the word unscramble and the timeline sequencing activities along as homework.

If you decide to send the biography as part of a take-home assignment, let students color Ruby as they read about her!

Use the enclosed answer key for simple grading!

Get a closer look at this resource in the video below.

Scroll down to get your copy of this print or digital Ruby Bridges History Lesson!

Don’t miss these other Black history learning ideas for students!