Vocabulary in Legal Context

This context-based vocabulary worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they strengthen reading comprehension, academic vocabulary, and civic understanding through the study of Brown v. Board of Education. By reading an informational passage about the case and defining key legal terms such as plaintiff, precedent, and unconstitutional, students learn how context clues reveal meaning while deepening their understanding of constitutional arguments and civil rights law.

Learning Goals

• Vocabulary Through Context Clues (Grades 5-6) – Infer the meaning of legal and civic terms using surrounding text.
• Legal & Constitutional Understanding – Understand how specific vocabulary relates to Supreme Court decisions and civil rights law.
• Informational Reading Skills – Comprehend a summary of Brown v. Board by focusing on key ideas and terminology.
• Applying Word Meaning – Use newly learned terms accurately in context to demonstrate understanding.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA, social studies, and civics standards.
• Context-Based Vocabulary Practice – Moves beyond memorization to meaningful word analysis.
• Strengthens Case Comprehension – Helps students better understand the Court’s reasoning and legal impact.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, vocabulary lessons, close reading activities, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students build confidence with legal vocabulary while reinforcing comprehension of a landmark Supreme Court case. By defining and applying terms in context, learners improve reading accuracy, civic literacy, and understanding of how language shapes constitutional law. 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.