Legacy of Brown v. Board

This informational reading and reflection worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they develop historical understanding, critical reading skills, and civic awareness by examining the long-term impact of Brown v. Board of Education. Through an accessible passage, students explore both the progress sparked by the decision-such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964-and the continued challenges of educational inequality caused by de facto segregation linked to housing and economic factors.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights Legacy (Grades 5-6) – Understand how Brown v. Board influenced later laws and reforms.
• Main Ideas & Themes – Identify key ideas about progress, resistance, and ongoing inequality in education.
• Contemporary Civic Issues – Analyze how historical decisions continue to shape modern educational equity.
• Critical Reflection – Reflect on why equal education remains a challenge despite legal victories.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed to align with upper elementary social studies, civics, and ELA standards.
• Balanced Historical Perspective – Highlights both achievements and limitations of desegregation efforts.
• Reflection Component Included – Encourages students to connect past events to present-day realities.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, close reading lessons, discussion starters, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students deepen historical literacy and civic understanding by examining the lasting influence of Brown v. Board of Education. By analyzing progress alongside continuing challenges, learners gain a nuanced view of how legal decisions shape society-and why the pursuit of educational equity remains an ongoing effort.

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