Civil Rights Vocabulary Builder

This vocabulary development worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they build academic language, reading comprehension, and civic understanding related to the Civil Rights Movement and Brown v. Board of Education. By matching important legal and historical terms-such as segregation, plaintiff, Jim Crow laws, and 14th Amendment-to their definitions and then applying them in context, students gain confidence using essential civil rights vocabulary accurately.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights Vocabulary (Grades 5-6) – Learn and understand key legal and historical terms related to equality and segregation.
• Word Meaning in Context – Use vocabulary correctly to complete sentences that reflect historical understanding.
• Legal & Constitutional Awareness – Connect terminology to Supreme Court cases and constitutional principles.
• Reading Comprehension – Strengthen understanding of informational texts through precise word knowledge.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA, social studies, and civics standards.
• Two-Step Vocabulary Practice – Definition matching followed by contextual application supports deeper learning.
• Builds Academic Language – Prepares students for reading and discussing complex historical texts.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for vocabulary lessons, civil rights units, independent practice, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen vocabulary comprehension and civic literacy by focusing on the language of civil rights and constitutional law. By defining and applying key terms, learners improve reading accuracy, historical understanding, and confidence discussing landmark cases like Brown v. Board. It’s a clear, 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.