Icy Circulation

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 and develops advanced informational reading and scientific reasoning skills through a focused passage on Arctic Ocean circulation. Students examine major currents such as the Beaufort Gyre and the Transpolar Drift Stream, learning how water and ice move through the Arctic system and how climate change is altering these patterns. The accompanying analysis questions require careful reading, cause-and-effect reasoning, and evidence-based explanation.

Academic Focus

• Arctic Ocean Systems (Grades 6-8) – Understand how major currents circulate freshwater, saltwater, and sea ice
• Climate Change Impacts – Analyze how warming temperatures affect ocean circulation patterns
• Cause-and-Effect Reasoning – Explain how changes in currents influence Arctic and global environments
• Scientific Text Analysis – Interpret complex vocabulary and processes in a nonfiction passage

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Developed by educators with strong alignment to science and ELA standards
• Higher-Order Questioning – Encourages analysis, synthesis, and explanation rather than simple recall
• Content-Rich Reading – Challenges students with authentic scientific language and ideas
• Flexible Use – Suitable for earth science units, climate studies, assessment, or homeschool instruction

This Icy Circulation worksheet helps students build a deeper understanding of how Arctic ocean currents function and why they matter in a changing climate. By analyzing scientific processes and supporting responses with evidence from the text, learners strengthen comprehension, reasoning, and scientific literacy. Ideal for classroom or homeschool settings, this printable resource offers meaningful practice with real-world environmental systems and advanced nonfiction reading.