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Grade 5 Earth's Water: Fresh & Salt Worksheet with Answers

Grade 5 (US) · Year 6 (UK) · Class 5 (India) · Science

Unit 4: Earth's SystemsEarth's WaterNGSS 5-ESS2-2

How much of Earth's water is salty, fresh or frozen, and why fresh water is precious. This free upper elementary worksheet has 11 questions and a full answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF — every answer is checked by code, not guessed.

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Earth's Water: Fresh & Salt

Grade 5 · Science

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Class

Date

Learning goal: Earth's Water · NGSS 5-ESS2-2

Directions: Read each question carefully and write your answer on the line.

RememberWhere Earth's water is

97% salt water (oceans)2% ice1% fresh liquid waterOnly a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh water we can use.
  1. 1

    Where is most of Earth's fresh water?

  2. 2

    Why do some countries remove salt from seawater (desalination)?

  3. 3

    Is lake water usually fresh or salt water?

  4. 4

    Of all Earth's water, about what percent is fresh water?

  5. 5

    About what fraction of Earth's water is salt water?

  6. 6

    Can people drink ocean water safely?

  7. 7

    Name a way to save water at home.

  8. 8

    Why is fresh water precious?

  9. 9

    What is water stored underground called?

  10. 10

    Why does melting glaciers matter for drinking water?

  11. 11

    How does groundwater get into a well?

★ Challenge corner for fast finishers

I am the hottest planet, even though I am not the closest to the sun. What am I?

How did I do?

Teacher's comments

Free printable worksheets with answer keys · aethelsystems.com/worksheets/science/5/earth_water

Answer key (click to show)
  1. 1.frozen in glaciers and ice caps
  2. 2.they don't have enough fresh water
  3. 3.fresh (most lakes)
  4. 4.about 3%
  5. 5.about 97%
  6. 6.no — it is too salty
  7. 7.shorter showers, fix leaks, turn off the tap (any one)
  8. 8.only a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh and easy to reach
  9. 9.groundwater
  10. 10.glaciers store fresh water that feeds rivers
  11. 11.rain soaks into the ground and fills spaces in rock and soil
  12. ★Venus (challenge corner)

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How to use this worksheet

  • Use it as a 10–15 minute warm-up or homework task rather than a long drill.
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