Sea Ice Sequence

This worksheet supports students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 as they build understanding of ocean science and physical processes by sequencing how sea ice forms in the Southern Ocean. Learners read six detailed steps and place them in the correct order, strengthening comprehension of freezing processes, cause-and-effect relationships, and scientific sequencing while practicing careful reading and logical reasoning.

Learning Goals

• Ocean Physical Processes (Grades 4-6): Understand how sea ice forms through stages such as freezing surface water, frazil ice development, slushy mixtures, and solid ice growth.
• Cause and Effect: Analyze how each step leads logically to the next in a natural process.
• Sequencing Skills: Practice ordering informational steps accurately using context clues and scientific reasoning.
• Scientific Vocabulary: Reinforce content-specific terms related to ocean and polar environments.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource: Designed to align with upper elementary science and ELA standards.
• Clear, Step-Based Format: Helps students visualize and understand complex processes without overwhelming detail.
• Flexible Classroom Use: Ideal for science units, warm-ups, review lessons, homework, or formative assessment.
• Supports Diverse Learners: Structured sequencing supports logical thinkers and developing readers alike.

This printable worksheet helps students develop a clear understanding of how sea ice forms while strengthening sequencing, reasoning, and scientific comprehension skills. By ordering each stage of the process, learners build confidence in explaining physical ocean systems and cause-and-effect relationships. It’s a practical, no-prep resource that works well in both classroom instruction and homeschool science learning.

This worksheet is part of our Southern Ocean Worksheets collection.