A Segregation Before Brown

This reading comprehension worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they build historical understanding, critical reading skills, and civic awareness through the study of segregation in U.S. public schools before Brown v. Board of Education (1954). By examining Jim Crow laws, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, and unequal school conditions, students gain essential context for understanding why Brown was a turning point in civil rights history.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights & Segregation (Grades 5-6) – Understand how segregation was enforced in public schools before 1954.
• Legal & Constitutional Context – Explain the role of Plessy v. Ferguson and the “separate but equal” doctrine.
• Reading for Key Ideas & Details – Identify main ideas and supporting evidence in an informational text.
• Critical Thinking About Equality – Analyze how unequal conditions affected students and violated democratic ideals.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Balanced Question Types – Includes both multiple-choice and short-response questions to assess comprehension and reasoning.
• Clear Historical Context – Helps students understand conditions leading up to Brown v. Board of Education.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, independent practice, small groups, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen reading comprehension and historical reasoning by exploring segregation before Brown v. Board. By connecting laws, court cases, and lived experiences, learners gain a deeper understanding of inequality and the importance of civil rights progress. It’s a meaningful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Brown v. Board of Education collection.