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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 7

The Thirteen Colonies

New England, Middle and Southern colonies

What your child practices

Why the colonies were founded, how the three regions differed in land, climate and work, and early self-government such as the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: History 1; Geography 2 · the thirteen colonies, their regions and how geography shaped life in each

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The 13 colonies formed three regions: New England, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies.
  2. New England fished and built ships; the Middle Colonies were diverse farm country; the South grew cash crops.
  3. A cash crop is grown to sell. An indentured servant worked several years to pay for the trip.

Example: Is Pennsylvania a New England, Middle or Southern colony? New England is the far northeast, like Massachusetts. Pennsylvania sits between New England and the South. Answer: a Middle Colony

The Thirteen Colonies in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 1 of 7 in 5th grade Social Studies, before Colonial Trade & Work.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Maine Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What was a town meeting in New England?

    • A meeting of the king's army
    • A church service only
    • A trial in England
    • A gathering where townspeople discussed and voted on local issues

  2. Question 2

    Why did many colonies grow along rivers and harbors?

    • Rivers kept people away
    • The king ordered it
    • Boats could carry goods and people
    • There was no water inland

  3. Question 3

    Which colony is in New England?

    • Pennsylvania
    • Virginia
    • Massachusetts
    • Georgia

  4. Question 4

    What is a cash crop?

    • A crop given away free
    • A crop grown to sell, not to eat at home
    • A crop grown only in winter
    • A crop that grows coins

  5. Question 5

    New England had rocky soil and long winters. So many people there worked in…

    • Growing rice in swamps
    • Gold mining
    • Growing cotton on huge plantations
    • Fishing, shipbuilding and trade

  6. Question 6

    Why did Southern plantations come to depend on enslaved Africans?

    • Africans chose to move there for jobs
    • The king paid them well
    • Planters forced enslaved people to do the hard work without pay to make large profits
    • The work was easy

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