Narrative Writing Task: "A Brave Walk" (Ruby Bridges)

Imagine it is November 14, 1960, in New Orleans. You are Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old girl getting ready for your very first day at a brand-new school, William Frantz Elementary. You are the first Black student to go to this school. As you walk toward the front doors, there are four tall Federal Marshals walking with you and a big, loud crowd of people watching.

Write a story about your first day of school. Tell us what happened from the moment you stepped out of your house to the moment you sat down in your new classroom with your teacher, Mrs. Henry.

Use the narrative arc below to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing:

Beginning (The Preparation): How do you feel while putting on your best white dress and your bow? What did your parents say to help you feel brave?

Middle (The Walk): Describe the walk to the school. What do you see and hear in the crowd? How do you feel walking between the tall Marshals?

End (The Classroom): You finally enter your classroom. It is very quiet because you are the only student there. What is your teacher, Mrs. Henry, like? How do you feel as you start your first lesson?

Sensory Word Bank

• Sight: Shiny black shoes, tall Marshals in suits, crowds of people, the big school steps, Mrs. Henry’s kind smile.
• Sound: People shouting, the "thump-thump" of footsteps, the quiet hallway, your teacher’s soft voice.
• Feel: A heavy backpack, holding your mother's hand, a nervous tummy, feeling "brave like a soldier."

Success Checklist

• Does my story have a clear Beginning, Middle, and End?
• Did I write in the first person (using words like "I," "me," and "my")?
• Did I include dialogue (someone talking, like a Marshal or Mrs. Henry)?
• Did I use transition words (First, Next, Later that morning, Finally)?
• Did I check my punctuation and capital letters?

Write a narrative story from Ruby Bridges' perspective about your first day at William Frantz Elementary, following the narrative arc and using the sensory word bank and checklist provided.