This 5th grade social studies worksheet is about why six of the 13 colonies were founded and who founded them. Students complete a table for Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Georgia, writing the founder and a reason letter from A to F. Page 2 asks them to name two colonies founded for religious reasons and one founded mainly to make money. A table on page 3 gives every answer.
“Explain why English colonists founded the colonies and who led their founding.”
The matching table pairs each of six colonies with its founder and reason.
“Tell religious reasons for founding a colony from economic ones.”
Questions 7 and 8 ask students to sort the six reasons into religion and money.
A founder list and six lettered reasons sit above a table. For each colony students write the founder and the letter of the reason, from Virginia with the Virginia Company of London to Georgia with James Oglethorpe.
Question 7 asks for two colonies founded for religious reasons. Question 8 asks which colony was founded mainly to make money. Lines are provided for written answers, next to a picture of a colonial village.
A table of founders and reason letters for all six colonies, with four colonies accepted for question 7 and Virginia for question 8.
Use the table first
Tell students to start with the reasons they are sure of, such as the Quakers and Pennsylvania. Doing the rest by elimination is part of the task.
Rhode Island talk
Reason E mentions being forced out of Massachusetts. Ask students to say aloud why Roger Williams left, then link it to reason F for the Puritans.
Exit ticket
Use questions 7 and 8 alone as a quick check at the end of a lesson on colonial founders. They take about five minutes.
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