Primary Source Analysis – Brown Decision

This primary source analysis worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they strengthen close reading, constitutional understanding, and civic literacy through direct engagement with a landmark Supreme Court opinion. By analyzing an excerpt from Chief Justice Earl Warren’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, students explore how language, tone, and purpose were used to challenge segregation and uphold the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Learning Goals

• Primary Source Interpretation (Grades 5-6) – Read and analyze an authentic excerpt from a Supreme Court opinion.
• Tone & Purpose Analysis – Identify how word choice and tone communicate authority, fairness, and moral clarity.
• Constitutional Principles – Understand how the Court applied the Equal Protection Clause to public education.
• Close Reading Skills – Examine key phrases such as “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” to determine meaning and impact.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary ELA, civics, and social studies standards.
• Authentic Legal Text (Scaffolded) – Introduces students to real judicial language in an accessible, guided format.
• Structured Guiding Questions – Supports comprehension, analysis, and evidence-based responses.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, Supreme Court studies, close reading lessons, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students deepen understanding of Brown v. Board of Education by working directly with the Court’s own words. By analyzing tone, purpose, and constitutional meaning within a primary source, learners build essential skills for interpreting historical documents and understanding how judicial language can drive social change. 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.