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U.S. Constitution Worksheets

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Why the Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, the Preamble, the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, the articles, and federal and state powers.

Download the the constitution worksheets

Writing the Constitution

A reading passage, a timeline and a Venn comparing the Articles and the Constitution.

  • Preview of the printable “U.S. constitution reading passage for 5th grade” worksheet: explaining why the Constitution was written and how it was approvedView all 2 pages

    U.S. constitution reading passage for 5th grade

    Explaining why the Constitution was written and how it was approved

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages79 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Constitution timeline worksheet for kids” worksheet: sequencing the events that created the U.S. ConstitutionView all 2 pages

    Constitution timeline worksheet for kids

    Sequencing the events that created the U.S. Constitution

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages50 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Articles of confederation vs constitution venn diagram” worksheet: comparing the Articles of Confederation with the ConstitutionView all 2 pages

    Articles of confederation vs constitution venn diagram

    Comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages41 KB

Inside the Constitution

The Preamble, the compromises, the seven articles and federal and state powers.

  • Preview of the printable “Preamble to the constitution Worksheet: what does it Mean?” worksheet: explaining the purposes of government stated in the PreambleView all 2 pages

    Preamble to the constitution Worksheet: what does it Mean?

    Explaining the purposes of government stated in the Preamble

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages31 KB

  • Preview of the printable “The great compromise and the Three-Fifths compromise” worksheet: explaining the compromises over representation, including the Three-Fifths CompromiseView all 2 pages

    The great compromise and the Three-Fifths compromise

    Explaining the compromises over representation, including the Three-Fifths Compromise

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages40 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Articles of the constitution matching worksheet” worksheet: identifying the main subject of each article of the ConstitutionView all 2 pages

    Articles of the constitution matching worksheet

    Identifying the main subject of each article of the Constitution

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages29 KB

  • Preview of the printable “Federal and state powers sort worksheet” worksheet: classifying powers of the federal and state governmentsView all 2 pages

    Federal and state powers sort worksheet

    Classifying powers of the federal and state governments

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages49 KB

Words and review

Vocabulary and a quiz.

  • Preview of the printable “U.S. constitution vocabulary fill in the blank” worksheet: using vocabulary about the ConstitutionView all 2 pages

    U.S. constitution vocabulary fill in the blank

    Using vocabulary about the Constitution

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages38 KB

  • Preview of the printable “U.S. constitution quiz for 5th grade” worksheet: reviewing how the Constitution was written and what it doesView all 2 pages

    U.S. constitution quiz for 5th grade

    Reviewing how the Constitution was written and what it does

    Answer key on page 2

    2 pages41 KB

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these the constitution worksheets

The Articles of Confederation left the national government too weak to tax or enforce laws. In 1787 delegates met in Philadelphia and wrote the Constitution, a new plan with three branches of government. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and is still the plan of our government today.

These Constitution worksheets include a reading passage, a timeline, the Preamble in plain words, the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise, the seven articles, a federal or state powers sort and a Venn comparing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.

Every page is black and white, prints on US Letter or A4, and every page with right answers has an answer key on page 2.

Standards

  • C3 D2.Civ.5.3-5Explain the origins, functions, and structure of different systems of government, including those created by the U.S. and state constitutions.
  • C3 D2.His.1.3-5Create and use a chronological sequence of related events to compare developments that happened at the same time.
  • C3 D2.Civ.3.3-5Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.
  • C3 D2.His.4.3-5Explain why individuals and groups during the same historical period differed in their perspectives.
  • C3 D2.Civ.1.3-5Distinguish the responsibilities and powers of government officials at various levels and branches of government and in different times and places.

How to use them

  1. Read the Preamble aloud together before the matching page.
  2. Use the compromise passage to discuss how people with different interests reached agreement.
  3. Pair the powers sort with the three branches pages on the government topic.
  4. Finish with vocabulary and the quiz.

Teaching tips

  • The Three-Fifths Compromise is stated plainly: it counted enslaved people for representation while denying them any rights, which gave slaveholding states more power.
  • The Preamble keeps its 1787 spelling, such as “defence.”
  • There are 27 amendments; the first ten are the Bill of Rights.

Questions teachers and parents ask

When was the Constitution written?

At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia from May to September 1787. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and took effect after nine states approved it in 1788.

What does the Preamble mean?

It says the government's power comes from the people and lists its goals: a better union, justice, peace at home, defense, the general welfare and liberty.

What was the Great Compromise?

Congress has two parts: the House, where states with more people get more members, and the Senate, where every state gets two senators.