Power Holders

This worksheet supports students in Grades 4 and 5 as they develop historical understanding, civic knowledge, analytical thinking, and classification skills through an examination of power distribution in the early United States. Students analyze ten different governmental powers and determine whether each belonged to Congress, the states, or neither under the Articles of Confederation, helping them see how limited national authority shaped early governance.

Learning Goals

• Division of Power (Grades 4-5) – Students identify how authority was divided between Congress and the states under the Articles of Confederation.
• Federalism Foundations – Learners understand early ideas about federal and state responsibilities.
• Interpreting & Categorizing Information – The activity strengthens students’ ability to sort and classify information accurately.
• Historical Reasoning – Students analyze how weak central power affected national unity and problem-solving.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with elementary social studies and ELA standards.
• Clear, Concept-Based Practice – Powers are presented in a way that encourages reasoning, not memorization.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Suitable for independent work, partner activities, review lessons, or assessment.
• Builds Civic Understanding – Helps students recognize why the Articles of Confederation were ultimately replaced.
• Low-Prep Printable – Ready for classroom or homeschool use.

This Power Holders worksheet helps students gain a clearer understanding of early American government by analyzing who held authority and who did not. By categorizing powers and reflecting on their impact, learners strengthen civic awareness, historical comprehension, and critical thinking. It’s a practical, engaging resource for both classroom and homeschool instruction.

This worksheet is part of our Articles of Confederation Worksheets collection.