Voices of the Revolution

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 to deepen historical understanding and informational reading skills by examining the symbolic and emotional meaning of the storming of the Bastille. Learners read a focused passage explaining why the Bastille represented absolute royal power, how ordinary citizens initiated the uprising, and why the event became a powerful symbol of justice, courage, and resistance. Through text-based questions, students analyze public sentiment, cause and effect, symbolism, and long-term historical impact.

Learning Goals

• Causes of the French Revolution (Grades 5-7) – Students explore why the Bastille mattered beyond the number of prisoners held.
• Informational Text Analysis – Learners identify key ideas, symbolism, and supporting details in historical nonfiction.
• Public Sentiment & Symbolism – Examines how shared emotions and beliefs can drive major historical events.
• Cause, Effect, & Historical Impact – Encourages understanding of how a single event influenced long-term revolutionary change.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with middle-grade social studies and ELA standards.
• Focus on Deeper Meaning – Goes beyond facts to explore symbolism and collective action.
• Text-Based Comprehension Questions – Promotes evidence-based reasoning and thoughtful interpretation.
• Low-Prep & Printable – Easy to use for classwork, discussion, assessment, or homeschool instruction.

This printable worksheet helps students think critically about how historical movements are shaped by shared ideas, emotions, and symbols. By analyzing the storming of the Bastille from the perspective of ordinary citizens, learners strengthen comprehension, historical reasoning, and understanding of long-term impact. Ideal for classroom or homeschool use, this activity provides a meaningful way to connect literacy skills with deeper exploration of the French Revolution.

This worksheet is part of our Bastille Day Worksheets Collection.