Ocean Currents

This worksheet is designed for students in Grades 5 and 6 to build understanding of global climate systems through an informational reading about El Niño and La Niña. Learners read a science-based passage explaining how changes in Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures influence storms, rainfall, winds, agriculture, floods, and droughts around the world, then respond to questions that strengthen comprehension, scientific reasoning, and cause-and-effect thinking.

Learning Goals

• Climate Patterns (Grades 5-6): Understand El Niño and La Niña as major climate events driven by changes in ocean temperatures.
• Cause & Effect in Science: Analyze how warm or cool Pacific waters affect global weather, storms, and rainfall.
• Earth Systems Thinking: Recognize how oceans, atmosphere, and climate systems interact worldwide.
• Scientific Reading Skills: Interpret informational text that includes academic and science-specific vocabulary.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource: Designed to align with upper elementary science and ELA standards.
• Content-Rich Science Passage: Introduces complex climate concepts in an age-appropriate, accessible way.
• Evidence-Based Questions: Encourages students to use details from the text to support explanations.
• Flexible Use: Ideal for science units, climate lessons, homework, assessments, or guided reading.

This printable worksheet helps students develop a clear understanding of how ocean currents and temperature changes drive global climate events. By examining El Niño and La Niña through cause-and-effect explanations, learners strengthen scientific literacy, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. It’s a meaningful, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool learning, supporting deeper insight into Earth’s interconnected climate systems.