Wayground
Reformation F&C - Printable Social Studies Worksheets year 8 - Wayground

Reformation F&C

18 questions

6th - 8th Grade

Social Studies

Reformation F&C is a Grade 6–8 social studies worksheet that builds foundational understanding of the Protestant Reformation through 18 questions: 15 multiple-choice items and 3 multiple-select items. Students identify conditions in the pre-Reformation church, explain how Renaissance humanism and the printing press contributed to reform, and connect indulgences to criticism of church practices. The worksheet also focuses on Martin Luther’s role, including his background, religious beliefs, 95 Theses, response from church authorities, and the emergence of the term Protestants. Students must distinguish causes from non-causes, recognize key vocabulary, and select all accurate effects or events in multi-select questions. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for classroom practice, review, or assessment.

Worksheet settings

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Reformation F&C

Total questions: 18

Name
Class
Date
1.

Before the reform, there was only ONE church, called the _______________________?

a)

Roman Catholic Church

b)

Christian Church

c)

Roman Orthodox Church

d)

The Church

2.

Which Renaissance idea helped Europeans study ancient texts which led to them putting more worth on the individual's reason and logic? This led people to start questioning the church.

a)

Humanism

b)

perspective

c)

secularism

d)

rationalism

3.

What was the church like before the reform? Click all that apply.

a)

Most Europeans did not know how to read and were just told what the Bible said.

b)

Christians were too afraid to question at risk of being killed

c)

Church leadership was too involved in politics and had influence over many kingdoms.

d)

The Church was a fair organization that did not get involved in politcal matters

4.

Why did some have a problem with the sale of indulgences?

a)

The church was attempting to get money from their members by selling the pardons

b)

Indulgences gave everyone equal - rich & poor

c)

This statement is false; no one had a problem with the sale of indulgences

d)

These pardons were only getting other church leadership out of trouble

5.

Who was Martin Luther?

a)

Martin was a priest that questioned the church

b)

Martin was a leader that helped sell indulgences

c)

Martin helped the creation of the printing press

6.

What were the 95 Theses?

a)

A list of complaints about the Church

b)

95 new church rules that helped the church gain control

c)

The name of the first newspaper created in Germany

7.

How did the invention of the printing press help the Reformation?

a)

Bibles printed allowed more people to read them.

b)

People could read translations of the Bible in their language.

c)

It allowed reformers to spread their ideas.

8.

Why did Luther disagree with the selling of indulgences?

a)

He believed they should cost more.

b)

He believed people had to work to earn salvation.

c)

He believed salvation was a gift of grace.

d)

He believed his 95 Theses could get people to Heaven.

9.

If a person was accused of heresy, he/she could be kicked out of the church or ______________________.

a)

ordained

b)

crowned

c)

killed

d)

reformed

10.

Which was NOT a cause of the Protestant Reformation?

a)

Bibles being available for people to read.

b)

Luther's 95 Theses

c)

Crusades

d)

People becoming more educated and a focus on humanism

11.

What inspired Martin Luther to become a monk?

a)

It had been his dream since childhood thanks to his deep faith

b)

He as convinced by his father to enter into this life because the family had no money

c)

He prayed to a saint to save his life in a thunderstorm and promised to become a monk if he lived

d)

He loved to read and write and was fascinated by the stories of the bible

12.

Where was Martin Luther from and where did he attend university?

a)

Germany

b)

France

c)

Italy

d)

England

13.

What happened to Martin Luther after he posted the 95 Theses?

a)

He was banished from the Holy Roman Empire

b)

He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church

c)

He had to stand trial at the Diet of Worms

d)

The church had him killed

14.

Why was Martin Luther frustrated in his quest to become closer to god?

a)

He realized he did not believe in god after all

b)

He found the Latin language barrier too challenging to overcome

c)

He kept getting sidetracked by other hobbies and career problems

d)

He found that the amount of corruption in the church disrupted his efforts

15.

What was the name of the people who sided with Luther and opposed the church?

a)

Protestants

b)

The Opposition

c)

Reblidites

d)

Catholics

16.

At the Diet of Worms, the Holy Roman Emperor demanded that Luther take back his statements. Which word best fits this description?

a)

recant

b)

reaffirm

c)

explain

d)

rationalize

17.

What did Martin Luther do at the Diet of Worms?

a)

He recanted his writings

b)

He refused to recant his writings and had to be hidden away

18.

True or False: Luther translated the bible into German?

a)

True

b)

False

Answer Key

Reformation F&C

Total questions: 18

1.
a)

Roman Catholic Church

2.
a)

Humanism

3.
a)

Most Europeans did not know how to read and were just told what the Bible said.

, b)

Christians were too afraid to question at risk of being killed

, c)

Church leadership was too involved in politics and had influence over many kingdoms.

4.
a)

The church was attempting to get money from their members by selling the pardons

5.
a)

Martin was a priest that questioned the church

6.
a)

A list of complaints about the Church

7.
a)

Bibles printed allowed more people to read them.

, b)

People could read translations of the Bible in their language.

, c)

It allowed reformers to spread their ideas.

8.
c)

He believed salvation was a gift of grace.

9.
c)

killed

10.
c)

Crusades

11.
c)

He prayed to a saint to save his life in a thunderstorm and promised to become a monk if he lived

12.
a)

Germany

13.
a)

He was banished from the Holy Roman Empire

, b)

He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church

, c)

He had to stand trial at the Diet of Worms

14.
d)

He found that the amount of corruption in the church disrupted his efforts

15.
a)

Protestants

16.
a)

recant

17.
b)

He refused to recant his writings and had to be hidden away

18.
a)

True

Browse by subjects

Browse by grades

Browse by format

FAQs

What does the Reformation F&C worksheet cover?

This Grade 6–8 social studies worksheet covers the causes and early developments of the Protestant Reformation through 15 multiple-choice and 3 multiple-select questions. Students connect humanism, increased Bible access through the printing press, indulgences, and church corruption to reform, while identifying Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, beliefs about salvation, excommunication, the Diet of Worms, and the rise of the Protestants.

How can I use this worksheet to teach the causes of the Protestant Reformation?

Introduce the worksheet by reviewing the pre-Reformation church, indulgences, Renaissance humanism, and the printing press as background factors. Then have students complete the questions in sections, pausing to explain how each factor encouraged people to question church authority. Use the multi-select items to discuss why several conditions or effects can be correct at the same time.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this Reformation worksheet?

Watch for students confusing humanism with secularism or rationalism, and for treating the Crusades as a cause even though the worksheet identifies them as a non-cause. In the multi-select questions, students may choose only one correct effect of the printing press or omit one consequence Luther faced after posting the 95 Theses. Students may also confuse indulgences with salvation and misidentify the 95 Theses as church rules rather than complaints.

How do I assign and grade this Reformation worksheet?

The worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, with a complete answer key for all 18 questions. Grade the multiple-choice and multiple-select responses using the key, or scan printable student work with the Wayground for Teachers app to streamline grading. The printable format can also support schools that are reducing screen time.

How can I differentiate this Reformation worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing and font size so the text-heavy questions and answer choices are easier to follow. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, while keeping the multiple-choice and multi-select format focused on Reformation causes and Martin Luther’s role.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

© 2026 Wayground Inc.

Accessibility and Inclusion