Here are the answers to the questions on the worksheet, broken down by section.
Section 1: True/False and Map
Q.1: Write T or F
1.
F (The water in the ocean is salty, not pure.)
2.
T (Salinity changes due to rain, evaporation, and melting ice.)
3.
F (The ocean floor has mountains, trenches, and valleys; it is not flat.)
4.
T (All oceans connect to form one global ocean.)
5.
T (Dissolved salt makes water heavier/denser than fresh water.)
Q.2: Label the Oceans
* Between North/South America and Europe/Africa:
Atlantic Ocean
* Between Asia/Australia and Americas:
Pacific Ocean
* Around the South Pole:
Southern Ocean
* Around the North Pole:
Arctic Ocean
* Between Africa, Asia, and Australia:
Indian Ocean
Q.3: Largest Ocean?
*
c) Pacific Ocean
Q.4: Smallest Ocean?
*
a) Arctic Ocean
Q.5: Percentage of Earth covered by water?
*
d) About 70%
Q.6: Percent of Earth's water that is salt water?
*
b) About 97%
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Section 2: Currents and Gyres
Q.24: Currents in upper 400 meters?
*
b) Surface currents
Q.25: Currents below 400 meters?
*
a) Deep water currents
Q.26: Which is a cold current?
*
c) California Current (It flows from the north/poles towards the equator.)
Q.27: Name of circular flows created by currents?
*
b) Gyres
Q.28: Fill in the blanks (Gyre direction)
* I. Water moves
clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere gyres.
* II. Water moves
counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere gyres.
Q.29: Most important cause of surface currents?
*
d) Wind activity (Global winds push the water.)
Q.30: Impact of Earth's rotation on direction?
*
c) Coriolis Effect
---
Section 3: Ocean Life Cut and Paste
Here is how you should sort the animals into the boxes:
Plankton
*(Definition: Tiny organisms transported by currents)*
*
Zooplankton
*
Phytoplankton
*
Copepod
Benthos
*(Definition: Organisms that live on the ocean floor)*
*
Starfish
*
Crab
*
Oyster
Nekton
*(Definition: Organisms that swim independently)*
*
Shark
*
Whale
*
Dolphin
Final Answer:
Q1: 1.F, 2.T, 3.F, 4.T, 5.T
Q2: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Southern
Q3: c) Pacific Ocean
Q4: a) Arctic Ocean
Q5: d) About 70%
Q6: b) About 97%
Q24: b) Surface currents
Q25: a) Deep water currents
Q26: c) California Current
Q27: b) Gyres
Q28: I. clockwise, II. counterclockwise
Q29: d) Wind activity
Q30: c) Coriolis Effect
Life Sort: Plankton (Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, Copepod); Benthos (Starfish, Crab, Oyster); Nekton (Shark, Whale, Dolphin)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of ocean currents worksheet 6th grade.
