Brown v. Board Case Study

This case study worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they build civic literacy, historical understanding, and evidence-based reading skills through the study of Brown v. Board of Education. By examining the legal challenge brought by Oliver Brown, the arguments presented by Thurgood Marshall, and the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling, students explore how constitutional principles were applied to confront segregation in U.S. public schools.

Learning Goals

• Landmark Supreme Court Cases (Grades 5-6) – Understand the significance of Brown v. Board of Education in U.S. history.
• Constitutional Reasoning – Analyze how the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause shaped the Court’s decision.
• Reading for Evidence – Answer comprehension questions using details from an informational passage.
• Historical Impact & Limitations – Examine both the importance of the ruling and the challenges that followed desegregation.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies, civics, and ELA standards.
• Clear Informational Passage – Explains complex legal ideas in accessible, student-friendly language.
• Evidence-Based Questions – Reinforces close reading and thoughtful interpretation of historical text.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, Supreme Court studies, independent practice, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen comprehension, civic understanding, and historical reasoning by exploring one of the most important Supreme Court decisions in American history. By analyzing the Court’s arguments, constitutional foundations, and real-world impact, learners gain insight into how law can be used to challenge inequality and promote justice. 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.