Freedom Rides

This informational reading worksheet supports students in Grades 5 and 6 as they strengthen reading comprehension, historical reasoning, and civic understanding through the study of the 1961 Freedom Rides. By examining how Black and white activists challenged segregation in interstate travel, faced violent resistance, and pressured the federal government to enforce Supreme Court rulings, students analyze the power of nonviolent protest and the importance of government action in protecting civil rights.

Learning Goals

• Civil Rights Activism (Grades 5-6) – Understand the purpose and impact of the Freedom Rides.
• Cause and Effect Analysis – Explain how activist actions led to federal enforcement and policy change.
• Civic Responsibility & Protest – Explore the role of nonviolent protest in a democratic society.
• Reading Comprehension – Use details from an informational text to answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Mixed Question Formats – Assesses both factual understanding and analytical thinking.
• Clear Historical Narrative – Presents events and consequences in an accessible, student-friendly way.
• Flexible Use – Ideal for civil rights units, independent practice, small groups, or formative assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students deepen understanding of the Civil Rights Movement by analyzing how the Freedom Rides used courage, nonviolence, and media attention to push the federal government to enforce the law. By connecting activism to policy change, learners gain insight into how citizens can influence government action.

This worksheet is part of our Civil Rights Movement collection.