The Little Rock Nine

This reading comprehension worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they build historical understanding, reading comprehension, and empathy through the study of the 1957 integration crisis at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. By learning about the bravery of the Little Rock Nine and the government’s response to resistance against Brown v. Board of Education, students examine how civil rights laws were enforced and why individual courage mattered in advancing equality.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights History (Grades 5-6) – Understand the significance of the Little Rock Nine in the desegregation of public schools.
• Key Events & People – Identify important figures, decisions, and actions connected to the 1957 crisis.
• Government Response & Enforcement – Analyze the role of state and federal governments in upholding Supreme Court rulings.
• Evidence-Based Comprehension – Answer questions using details from an informational text.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Balanced Question Types – Includes multiple-choice and short-answer questions to assess comprehension and reasoning.
• Empathy-Building Focus – Highlights the personal courage and challenges faced by students during the Civil Rights Movement.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, independent practice, small groups, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen historical reasoning, reading comprehension, and civic awareness by examining the Little Rock Nine’s role in enforcing desegregation. By connecting individual bravery with government action, learners gain a deeper understanding of how civil rights progress occurred-and why it required both law and courage.

This worksheet is part of our Civil Rights Movement collection.