After reading the story "Goin' Someplace Special" aloud to elementary-age children, introduce the term "segregation" so they understand why the main character faces the situations that she does. Explain some of the Jim Crow laws that affected children. One of the laws in Alabama prohibited blacks and whites from playing games together such as checkers or cards. After discussing the laws, write a letter together as a class to lawmakers requesting changes to laws that segregate.
After reading the book, ask children to explain how they think the main character, 'Tricia Ann, felt about the examples of segregation she faced in the story. Have children share in writing or a class discussion examples of events that occurred in the story, the feeling they think 'Tricia Ann had about the event and what in the story leads them to believe that is the feeling that she experienced. Further the activity by asking children to write or discuss how they would feel in the main character's place.
In the story, 'Tricia Ann makes a trip to her special place, the public library. The library welcomes everyone, regardless of skin color. Ask children to think of a special place they like to go to and reflect on why it is special to them. Have younger kids draw a picture of their special place, then dictate a sentence to you explaining why they chose the place they did. Have older kids write a short composition explaining their choice and draw an accompanying illustration.
The story explains that 'Tricia Ann's grandmother reluctantly lets her go alone to the library after deciding she was old enough to go alone. Have older elementary students relate to the story and reflect on a time their parents allowed them to do something alone for the first time. Have students write a short reflection about how they felt going alone. Additionally, ask them to think of a different point of view and to imagine how their parents felt letting them go alone. Have students include thoughts about their parents' feelings in the composition as well.
Have a class discussion about the meaning of "human rights." Explain that Jim Crow laws took rights away from certain U.S. citizens. Ask students to think about the rights all citizens currently have. Have students brainstorm a list of these rights aloud as you chart them. Afterward, instruct students to work with a partner to make a chart and rank the rights from the ones they feel are most important to the ones that they feel are least important. Accomplish this as a whole group with younger students. Also ask students to discuss any new rights they think all citizens should have.