Name: Tindell, Carla
E-mail: crt@arbbs.net
Topic: The Little Rock Central High Crisis
Grade: 8th Grade (or above)
Time: One to Two class Periods
Ark. Hist. Framework: 1.1.11; 2.1.11, 5.1.11, 5.1.14
Objective: -The student will be able to identify the events that led to the
Little Rock Central High Crisis.
-The student will observe and explain the causes and affects of the Little
Rock Central High Crisis.
Set: What is “segregation”? (explain) What is integration? (explain) How
many of you have ever heard of the Central High Crisis? Today we are going
to learn about the Central High Crisis . . .
Materials: Arkansas History Text Book, Web Site showing photos from Central
High, Novel from one of the “Nine”, Worksheet
Key Terms: Plessy vs. Ferguson, segregation, separate but equal, Brown vs.
the Topeka Board of Education, integration, “Southern Manifesto”, Blossom Plan,
NAACP, White Citizen’s Council
Key Facts: *Little Rock’s plan to integrate
*Integration at Little Rock Central High 1957
*The Little Rock Nine
*National Guard involvement
*Segregationist agitators
*Groups for and against segregation
*Mob Rule
*President Eisenhower vs. Governor Faubus
Activities: *Worksheet with questions to be answered together (guided
practice). - attachment
*Read excerpts from Warriors Don’t Cry (about her 1st Day at Central High
School.
*Show photos from website (see below)
Closure: Recap the discussion, and assign the Independent Practice
If you could have been one of the Little Rock Nine would you have
signed up to go to Central High? Why/Why not? And,
after seeing the photos of the events at Little Rock and hearing
some of Melba Pattillo’s story would you have gone back into
Central High? Why/Why not? Be sure to support your
claims.
Assessment: *Check the Guided Practice for completion/accuracy.
*Use a Rubric (one that is discussed with the students prior to the
exercise) to assess the student’s response to the writing
prompt
Resources: *An Arkansas History for Young People T. Harry Baker and
Jane Browning
*Warriors Don’t Cry Melba Pattillo Beals
FORM:
NAME: _____________________________ PER: ______ DATE: _________________________
THE LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH CRISIS WORKSHEET
1. What is segregation? Integration?
2. What does the term "separate but equal" mean?
3. What was the Mother's League of Central High?
4. What was the Little Rock Crisis?
5. Who were the people who came to be called the "Little
Rock Nine"? What were they doing?
6. In your own words-how would you describe Elizabeth Eckford's
first day at school at Little Rock Central High School?
7. What did President Eisenhower do in order to "uphold the
authority of the Court"?
8. name the people and/or groups that assist the "nine"
in their endeavors.
9. Who was the first black graduate of the new Little Rock School
District?
10. In the end, after the 1957-1958 school year, what did Governor
Faubus do in order to prevent integration?
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