Little Rock Crisis

This reading comprehension worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they analyze cause and effect, constitutional principles, leadership decisions, and historical conflict during the Civil Rights Movement. Through an informational passage on the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, students examine how resistance to school desegregation led to a clash between state authority and federal power, reinforcing understanding of federalism, civil rights enforcement, and the rule of law.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights History (Grades 5-6) – Understand the events and significance of the Little Rock Crisis.
• Federalism & Constitutional Principles – Analyze the balance of power between state governments and the federal government.
• Cause and Effect Analysis – Explain how leadership decisions led to federal intervention.
• Reading Comprehension – Answer text-based questions using evidence from an informational passage.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Assessment-Ready Format – Multiple-choice questions support review, quizzes, or formative assessment.
• Clear Historical Context – Explains complex constitutional ideas in an accessible, student-friendly way.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, independent practice, small groups, or homework.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen historical understanding, reading comprehension, and civic reasoning by examining how federal authority was used to protect civil rights during the Little Rock Crisis. By connecting leadership, law, and constitutional principles, learners gain deeper insight into how government action can uphold equality. It’s a clear, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our Civil Rights Movement collection.