Ruby Bridges

Introduce your KS1 class to Ruby Bridges, the courageous six-year-old who changed history by becoming the first black child to attend an all-white school in 1960s America.

Pupils will learn what segregation meant for black and white people at the time, before discovering Ruby’s extraordinary first day at school and the powerful impact of her bravery.

Through the provided activities, children will step into Ruby’s shoes and reflect on how she might have felt in different moments. An alternative group task helps pupils experience the unfairness of segregation for themselves, encouraging empathy and thoughtful discussion.

For further exploration, take a look at our Year 1 English scheme of work, Coming to England, inspired by Floella Benjamin’s moving account of arriving in Britain as part of the Windrush Generation.