Civil Rights Timeline Puzzle

This chronological reasoning worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they strengthen sequencing skills, historical understanding, summarization, and clarity in writing. By organizing ten major civil rights-related events-from Plessy v. Ferguson to Brown v. Board of Education and beyond-students trace how segregation and desegregation unfolded over time, building a clear picture of legal progress and historical continuity.

Learning Goals

• Chronological Reasoning (Grades 5-6) – Sequence major civil rights events in the correct historical order.
• Civil Rights History – Understand how court cases, laws, and actions contributed to desegregation over time.
• Summarizing Key Events – Write brief, accurate summaries that capture each event’s importance.
• Historical Continuity & Change – Recognize how progress occurred gradually through connected moments.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Multi-Skill Practice – Combines sequencing, estimating dates, and summarizing for deeper understanding.
• Visual Timeline Thinking – Helps students see patterns and progression across decades.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, review lessons, assessments, or enrichment activities.

This printable worksheet helps students develop strong historical thinking skills by organizing key civil rights milestones into a coherent timeline. By sequencing, summarizing, and reflecting on events, learners gain a deeper understanding of how legal and social change unfolded over time. 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.