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STAAR Review - Exploration - Printable Social studies Worksheets year 8 - Wayground

STAAR Review - Exploration

Dani Boepple

Created by Dani Boepple

13 questions

8th Grade

Social studies

Updated Oct 2026

This Grade 8 Social Studies worksheet reviews European exploration and the differing motives behind Spanish, French, and English colonization in North America. Students answer nine multiple-choice questions about the search for a Northwest Passage, initial trade goals, French fur trading, English cash-crop cultivation, Spanish Catholic missions, and broader motives such as claiming territory and expanding empires. The worksheet also checks geographic understanding through a matching item, a map-labeling task, and two hotspot questions. Students identify Canada, Mexico, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean, then locate Spanish colonization at St. Augustine and English colonization at Jamestown. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key and can support STAAR review, independent practice, or a short assessment of students’ ability to connect colonial motives with specific regions and locations.

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STAAR Review - Exploration

Total questions: 13

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why did European explorers search for the Northwest Passage?

a)

To find the legendary Seven Cities of Gold

b)

To discover new technology for crossing the Atlantic Ocean

c)

To find the legendary waters of the Fountain of Youth

d)

To discover a new sea route to Asia

2.

What was the INITITAL reason many European explorers sailed to the Americas?

a)

To find new trade routes to Asia

b)

To form military alliances

c)

To spread Christianity to Africa

d)

To find new sources of cheap labor

3.

Which of these describes the primary reason for French colonization?

a)

To convert American Indians in the Southwest to Catholicism

b)

To cultivate cash crops in the Chesapeake Bay area

c)

To extract precious metals from mines in present-day Mexico

d)

To profit from fur trading in the Great Lakes region

4.

Which of these describes the primary reason for English colonization?

a)

To convert American Indians in the Southwest to Catholicism

b)

To cultivate cash crops in the Chesapeake Bay area

c)

To extract precious metals from mines in present-day Mexico

d)

To profit from fur trading in the Great Lakes region

5.

Spanish colonists...

a)

organized utopian societies

b)

established Catholic missions

c)

promoted political freedom

d)

became commercial shipbuilders

6.

French colonists...

a)

Enslaved native populations

b)

focused primarily on fur trading

c)

promoted political freedom

d)

created an early system of public schools

7.
Which reason best completes the list in the image?

Which reason best completes the list in the image?

a)

To spread democratic ideals

b)

To improve efficiency in manufacturing

c)

To locate potential military allies

d)

To claim new territory

8.
Which motive best completes the diagram?

Which motive best completes the diagram?

a)

To promote free enterprise

b)

To extend democracy

c)

To expand empires

d)

To found utopian communities

9.

Which of the following was a primary reason France sought to colonize North America?

a)

To reduce overpopulation in Europe

b)

To create communities founded on religious tolerance

c)

To profit from trading in furs and other goods

d)

To create joint ventures with other European powers

10.

Match the following

Spain

To convert natives and search for gold

France

To profit from fur trading

England

To profit from agriculture and cash crops

11.

Label the important places on the map

a)Canada
b)Mexico
c)Great Lakes
d)Atlantic Ocean
1
2
3
4
1)
2)
3)
4)
12.

Locate where the Spanish colonized America at St. Augustine, Florida.

A
B
C
D
E
13.

Locate where the English colonized America at Jamestown, Virginia.

A
B
C
D
E
WaygroundAnswer Key

STAAR Review - Exploration

Total questions: 13

1.
d)

To discover a new sea route to Asia

2.
a)

To find new trade routes to Asia

3.
d)

To profit from fur trading in the Great Lakes region

4.
b)

To cultivate cash crops in the Chesapeake Bay area

5.
b)

established Catholic missions

6.
b)

focused primarily on fur trading

7.
d)

To claim new territory

8.
c)

To expand empires

9.
c)

To profit from trading in furs and other goods

10.

Spain

 - 

To convert natives and search for gold

, 

France

 - 

To profit from fur trading

, 

England

 - 

To profit from agriculture and cash crops

11.
a
b
c
d
12.
13.

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FAQs

What does this worksheet cover about European exploration and colonization?

This Grade 8 worksheet uses nine multiple-choice questions to review why Europeans explored North America and why Spain, France, and England established colonies. Students distinguish goals such as finding a sea route to Asia, profiting from fur trading, cultivating Chesapeake cash crops, establishing Catholic missions, claiming territory, and expanding empires. A matching item, map-labeling task, and two hotspot questions then connect those ideas to colonial regions and locations.

How can I use this worksheet to teach exploration and colonial motives?

Begin by having students sort the worksheet’s motives into categories such as trade, religion, agriculture, and empire-building. Discuss why the Northwest Passage and a new trade route to Asia mattered before students compare French fur trading, English cash-crop cultivation, and Spanish Catholic missions. Use the map-labeling and hotspot items afterward to connect each colonial purpose to places such as the Great Lakes, St. Augustine, and Jamestown.

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

Students may confuse the search for the Northwest Passage with the pursuit of gold or the Fountain of Youth, or treat religious conversion as the primary motive for every European power. They may also mix up French fur trading with English cash-crop cultivation and misidentify St. Augustine as an English site or Jamestown as a Spanish site. In the map tasks, check that students distinguish the Great Lakes, Atlantic Ocean, Canada, and Mexico before selecting the hotspot locations.

How do I assign and grade this exploration worksheet?

The worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, with a complete answer key for all 13 items. You can grade printed submissions by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app, or review responses from the digital version. The printable format also gives schools an option for reducing screen time.

How can I differentiate this worksheet for my students?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing or choose a larger font size to make the multiple-choice choices, matching item, and map-labeling instructions easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font for the exploration questions and translate the worksheet when students need language support with colonial motives or map labels.

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.

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