Compact Concepts

This worksheet supports students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 as they build reading comprehension, main idea identification, historical reasoning, and civic understanding through a focused passage about the Mayflower Compact. After reading a short explanation of why the Pilgrims created the Compact, learners select the best main idea and then complete a brief writing task explaining why rules were needed before homes were built, reinforcing connections between cooperation and early self-government.

Skills Reinforced

• Early Colonial Government (Grades 4-6) – Understand why the Mayflower Compact was created and what it established
• Main Idea Identification – Distinguish central ideas from supporting details in informational text
• Civic Understanding – Explain the importance of rules, cooperation, and agreements in new communities
• Historical Reasoning – Apply context to explain decision-making in early colonial life

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards
• Main Idea Focus – Helps students practice an essential reading comprehension skill
• Bonus Writing Component – Extends learning through short written explanation
• Flexible Use – Suitable for classwork, reading groups, assessments, or homeschool instruction
• Accessible Format – Clear passage and questions support independent and guided learning

This Compact Concepts worksheet helps students strengthen comprehension by identifying the main idea of a historical passage and applying that understanding through writing. By exploring why the Pilgrims created rules before building their settlement, learners gain insight into early colonial governance, cooperation, and the foundations of self-government. It’s a simple, no-prep resource for classroom and homeschool settings focused on building strong early American history and reading skills.

This worksheet is part of our Mayflower Compact Worksheets collection.