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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 1 of 13

The Thirteen Colonies

New England, Middle and Southern colonies

What your child practices

Why the colonies were founded, how land and climate shaped the three regions, the people who founded them, the religious life of the colonies and the First Great Awakening, and early self-government such as the Mayflower Compact and the House of Burgesses.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 5.1(A); 5.1(B); 5.13(B) · why and where the colonies were founded, their founders, and early representative government

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Jamestown, Virginia (1607) was the first lasting English colony.
  2. New England's rocky soil and long winters led to fishing, shipbuilding and trade. Southern Colonies like Georgia grew cash crops.
  3. Colonies grew along rivers and harbors so boats could carry goods. Rhode Island allowed religious freedom.

Example: Why did many colonies grow along rivers and harbors? There were few roads. Boats could carry goods and people. Answer: Boats could carry goods and people.

The Thirteen Colonies in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 1 of 13 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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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

    Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn. Which religious group was he part of?

    • The Vikings
    • The Catholics of Spain
    • The Puritans
    • The Quakers

  2. Question 2

    Virginia's House of Burgesses (1619) was the first…

    • Bank in America
    • Fort on the Atlantic
    • College in America
    • Elected lawmaking group in the English colonies

  3. Question 3

    The Mayflower Compact was important because the Pilgrims…

    • Joined France
    • Agreed to make fair laws and govern themselves
    • Freed all enslaved people
    • Declared war on Spain

  4. Question 4

    What was the "Lost Colony"?

    • Jamestown
    • Roanoke, whose settlers had disappeared by 1590
    • Philadelphia
    • Plymouth

  5. Question 5

    Pennsylvania welcomed people of many faiths because William Penn and the Quakers believed in…

    • rule by bishops
    • one official church
    • banning newcomers
    • religious tolerance

  6. Question 6

    The Great Awakening encouraged many colonists to…

    • stop going to school
    • obey the king in everything
    • move to England
    • question old authorities and choose their own churches

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