Mini Lesson - Great Lakes Formation, Labeling, Diagram - 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are labeling the Great Lakes and some natural features on a map. The word bank gives us these names:

- Lake Huron
- Lake Ontario
- Lake Michigan
- Lake Erie
- Lake Superior
- Straits of Mackinac
- Niagara Falls
- Manitoulin Island
- Ontario, Canada

Also, we see states already labeled: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York — so we can use those to help place the lakes.

Step 1: Identify the largest lake at the top left — that’s Lake Superior. It borders Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Step 2: Below Lake Superior, between Wisconsin and Michigan (the mitten-shaped state), is Lake Michigan. That’s the only lake entirely in the U.S.

Step 3: To the right of Lake Michigan, connected by a narrow waterway, is Lake Huron. The narrow waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is the Straits of Mackinac.

Step 4: Below Lake Huron is Lake Erie. It’s south of Lake Huron and north of Ohio/Pennsylvania (not shown, but we know it’s there).

Step 5: East of Lake Erie is Lake Ontario. It’s the smallest of the five Great Lakes and flows into the St. Lawrence River.

Step 6: Between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is Niagara Falls — that’s where the Niagara River drops from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

Step 7: In Lake Huron, there’s a big island — that’s Manitoulin Island, which is part of Ontario, Canada.

Now let’s match each blank box on the map with the correct label based on location:

Top center box → points to Lake Superior → Lake Superior

Box below that, pointing to the water between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron → Straits of Mackinac

Box to the right of that, pointing to Lake Huron → Lake Huron

Box above Lake Ontario → points to Lake Ontario → Lake Ontario

Box pointing to the falls between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario → Niagara Falls

Box pointing to the island in Lake Huron → Manitoulin Island

Box pointing to the area north of Lake Huron/Ontario → Ontario, Canada

Box pointing to Lake Michigan → Lake Michigan

Box pointing to Lake Erie → Lake Erie

Wait — let’s count the boxes on the map. There are 9 blank boxes total.

Looking again:

From top to bottom, left to right:

1. Top middle box → Lake Superior
2. Box below it, pointing to strait → Straits of Mackinac
3. Box to the right of #2 → Lake Huron
4. Box above Lake Ontario → Lake Ontario
5. Box pointing to Niagara Falls → Niagara Falls
6. Box pointing to Manitoulin Island → Manitoulin Island
7. Box pointing to Ontario, Canada → Ontario, Canada
8. Box pointing to Lake Michigan → Lake Michigan
9. Box pointing to Lake Erie → Lake Erie

Yes — all 9 labels from the word bank are used.

Final Answer:
Top middle box: Lake Superior
Box below it (pointing to strait): Straits of Mackinac
Box to the right of that: Lake Huron
Box above Lake Ontario: Lake Ontario
Box pointing to falls: Niagara Falls
Box pointing to island: Manitoulin Island
Box pointing to Canadian province: Ontario, Canada
Box pointing to Lake Michigan: Lake Michigan
Box pointing to Lake Erie: Lake Erie