‘Rosa Parks Day’ is celebrated twice a year, on 1st December in Ohio and Oregon, which was the date she was arrested, and on 4th February in California and Missouri which was her birthday. Rosa Parks helped to begin the civil rights movement in the United States, when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Her actions inspired the leaders of the local black community to organise the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Where can I read more? You can read more about who Rosa Parks was and why ‘Rosa Parks Day’ is celebrated on the Family Tree website here.

Links to national resources: You can access BBC Bitesize here, with information, video clips and activities related to Rosa Parks which are suitable for KS1 children. BBC Teach has produced a video which tells the life of Rosa Parks in the first person and involves drama, movement and music. There is also accompanying teacher and curriculum notes, including key questions. You can access the resources here. The National Geographic Kids website has lots of facts and photos about Rosa Parks, suitable for KS1 and 2 children, which you can access here. The Black Lives Matter website includes information and video clips which are suitable for children in KS2. You can visit the webpage here. You can access key facts and information about Rosa Parks, suitable for children in KS3 and 4, plus some free sample activities on the School History website here. The Teaching Packs website includes Rosa Parks facts, video clips, suggested books plus links to teaching ideas and additional resources. You can visit the website here.

Recommended books: There are many books available about Rosa Parks. Here are just a few examples:

Rosa Parks: (Little People, Big Dreams) A true story about Rosa Parks, suitable for KS1 and LKS2 children.

Rosa Parks: A Children's Book About Civil Rights, Racial Equality, and Justice A child-friendly biography about Rosa Parks, suitable for KS1 and KS2 children.

Rosa Parks: A Kid's Book About Standing Up For What's Right A book about standing up for what's right, suitable for KS1 and KS2 children.

Rosa Parks: My Story A chapter book suitable for KS2 children.