Symbols and Shifts

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 to strengthen historical reasoning, informational reading, and text-based analysis through a deeper examination of the storming of the Bastille. Learners read a higher-level passage that traces how the Bastille evolved into a powerful symbol of royal oppression and how its fall sparked revolutionary momentum, then analyze causes, symbolism, political outcomes, and long-term effects using evidence from the text.

Academic Focus

• French Revolution Causes & Impacts (Grades 6-8) – Students examine how symbolic events can trigger widespread political change.
• Textual Evidence & Analysis – Learners cite and interpret details to support analytical responses.
• Symbolism in History – Explores how structures and events take on meaning beyond their original purpose.
• Cause-and-Effect Reasoning – Analyzes how shifts in public consciousness influenced revolutionary outcomes.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with middle school social studies and ELA standards.
• Higher-Level Informational Text – Supports close reading and deeper comprehension.
• Analysis-Driven 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 move beyond surface-level facts to understand how symbols influence historical movements. By analyzing the Bastille’s shifting meaning and its role in revolutionary change, learners strengthen critical reading, historical interpretation, and evidence-based writing skills. Ideal for classroom or homeschool use, this activity offers a rigorous and engaging way to explore the power of symbolism in the French Revolution.

This worksheet is part of our Bastille Day Worksheets Collection.