Promise at Sea

This worksheet helps students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 build historical understanding, reading comprehension, vocabulary application, and civic reasoning through a fill-in-the-blank passage about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact. Using a word bank, learners complete an informational text that explains the Pilgrims’ journey, why an agreement was necessary, and how the Compact guided decisions in the new colony.

Skills Reinforced

• Pilgrim Journey & Governance (Grades 4-6) – Understand why the Pilgrims created rules before settling
• Vocabulary in Context – Apply key historical terms accurately within an informational passage
• Purpose of the Mayflower Compact – Explain how the agreement supported order and cooperation
• Historical Reasoning – Reflect on the importance of rules in building a new community

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with upper elementary social studies and ELA standards
• Fill-in-the-Blank Structure – Supports comprehension while reinforcing key vocabulary
• Bonus Reflection Question – Encourages critical thinking about early rule-making
• Flexible Use – Ideal for classwork, review, homework, or homeschool lessons
• Low-Prep Printable – Ready to use with minimal planning

This Promise at Sea worksheet helps students strengthen their understanding of early colonial governance by applying vocabulary in context and reflecting on why agreements were essential for survival and cooperation. Through guided reading and short written reflection, learners build stronger comprehension of the Mayflower Compact and its role in shaping early American self-government. It’s a simple, no-prep resource for classroom and homeschool settings focused on early U.S. history and civic foundations.

This worksheet is part of our Mayflower Compact Worksheets collection.