Valley Forge Reading Comprehension Worksheet
How did a winter of hunger and disease help turn the Continental Army into a stronger fighting force?
This Valley Forge reading comprehension worksheet helps middle school U.S. History students understand the 1777–1778 winter encampment as both a crisis and a turning point for the Continental Army.
Students read about the army’s hardships, George Washington’s leadership, Baron von Steuben’s training, and the French alliance, then use evidence to explain why the army left Valley Forge stronger than it arrived.
What Students Will Do
Students read the article, then mark it a second time for hardships, responses, signs of transformation, and allied assistance, drawing arrows to connect them. They answer eight analysis questions, including one on Dr. Albigence Waldo’s diary, and finish with a short constructed response explaining why Valley Forge was a turning point.
What’s Included
Student reading: Valley Forge: The Winter that Forged America’s Army
Marking the Text activity for hardship, response, transformation, and allied assistance
Six-term vocabulary list in student-friendly language
8-question analysis with multiple choice, multiselect, matching, multipart, cause and effect, misconception correction, and a short constructed response
Teacher overview with learning target and core understanding
Answer key and 2-point scoring guide with a sample full-credit response
Marking the Text guidance and teacher notes on common misconceptions
Printable PDF with an editable Google Docs version
More Than Recall
Students trace how the army survived and changed, not just what happened at camp:
Hardship → Leadership and Training → Foreign Support → A Stronger Continental Army
By the end, students can explain why Valley Forge was a turning point even though no battle was fought there.
Best For
Middle school U.S. History • High school U.S. History review • American Revolution units • Revolutionary War turning points • Close reading • Independent or small-group work • Sub plans • Printed or digital assignments
Standards Alignment
Texas TEKS
Primary Alignment: TEKS 8.4(C) Students explain the issues surrounding enduring the winter at Valley Forge, including hardship, leadership, training, and the army’s transformation.
Supporting Alignment: TEKS 8.4(B) Students explain the roles of George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette during the American Revolution.
The student-facing resource does not display Texas standards so it remains useful in classrooms nationwide.
Other State Standards
This resource also supports middle school U.S. History standards commonly taught across the United States, including:
the Revolutionary War and the winter at Valley Forge
George Washington’s leadership
Baron von Steuben and the training of the Continental Army
the French alliance and foreign assistance
analyzing primary sources
cause-and-effect relationships
State standards vary in wording and grade placement, so teachers should compare these learning objectives with their own state or district standards.
