Ocean Currents Worksheets
If you’re working through Earth science topics or exploring the ocean with your kids, these Ocean Current Worksheets are a solid addition to your homeschool lessons.
I’ve included this printable as part of my full collection of Ocean Worksheets for Kids, so if you’re putting together a themed unit study, be sure to check out the rest of the printables there, too. They’re designed for grades 1–6 and all pair well together.
This printable covers global ocean currents and the Coriolis effect and lets your child step into the watery shoes of a plankton—creative and educational.
I’ll walk you through everything inside the pack, why ocean currents matter, and how your child can learn science, geography, and creative writing from one printable. If you’re a visual learner or your kids need something more hands-on, I also share a few ideas we used to make it stick—so keep reading.
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Fun Ocean Current Facts
Ocean currents aren’t just about water moving around—they greatly impact our weather, marine life, and even where people settle. These are a few of the cool facts we discovered while using this printable:
- Some ocean currents move faster than rivers. The Gulf Stream moves about 100 times more water than all the rivers on Earth combined.
- Currents can affect climate thousands of miles away. Warm ocean currents like the Kuroshio and Gulf Stream help keep places like Europe warmer than they would otherwise be.
- Trash can travel across oceans. Ocean currents have created massive garbage patches, including one in the Pacific that’s twice the size of Texas.
Recommended Ocean Books
I pair worksheets with engaging ocean books when we start a new science unit. I recommend finding books with detailed diagrams and real photos—they really help bring these concepts to life.
Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the SeaSwimmyOcean Animals for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Whales, Sharks, and Other Marine LifeShark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist (Women in Science Books, Marine Biology for Kids, Shark Gifts)Save the Ocean (Save the Earth Book 1)Ocean!: Our Watery World as You’ve Never Seen it Before (Knowledge Encyclopedias)
Why teach children about ocean currents?
When we started our ocean unit, my oldest was curious about how plastic in one country’s ocean ends on another continent’s beach. That simple question turned into a great discussion about ocean currents. Teaching kids how these global conveyor belts work helps them understand everything from marine life migration to climate patterns.
And let’s be honest—it’s just more interesting to learn why hurricanes spin differently depending on where they form than to memorize definitions. Kids in upper elementary grades can handle the science when it’s presented in a hands-on, engaging way. That’s what this worksheet does—it makes a big topic feel manageable and even fun.
Recommended Ocean Games
If your kids like to learn through play, ocean-themed games are a great way to reinforce the science concepts from the worksheet. Look for games that include ocean trivia, geography challenges, or memory games that tie into the topic—they keep kids engaged while still learning.
Ocean BingoNext Move Games Reef Board Game (2nd Edition) | Ocean Themed Strategy Game | Abstract Pattern-Making Game | Family Game for Kids and Adults | Ages 8+ | 2 4 Players | Avg. Playtime 30-45 Mins | MadeSit Down! Dive Board Game – Unique Transparent Ocean Cards, Push Your Luck, Catch a Ride on a Sea Turtle or Dolphin – First to 23 Points Wins, 1-4 players, 20-30 mins, Ages 8+Ecosystem: Coral Reef – A Family Card Game About Ocean Animals, Habitats, and The Food Chain – Board Game for Kids 10+ – Family Fun – Science Classroom Game About Environments – Underwater EcologyOcean-Opoly Monopoly Board GameLogic Roots Ocean Raiders Number Sequencing & Addition Game – Fun Math Board Game and STEM Toy for 5 – 7 Year Olds, Perfect Educational Gift for Kids (Boys & Girls), Home Schoolers, Kindergarten & Up
What skills can kids learn from this printable?
This printable pack builds science knowledge and literacy, allowing kids to think critically and creatively.
- Geography and Map Skills: Kids locate and label major ocean currents on a world map, helping them connect physical geography with climate and science.
- Reading Comprehension and Scientific Thinking: One page has a reading passage with questions that guide kids through analyzing information, identifying key ideas, and drawing conclusions.
- Creative Writing with Scientific Context: The plankton diary entry encourages kids to write from a unique perspective while applying what they’ve learned about ocean movement.
Ocean Currents Printable Pack Supplies
Here’s what we used with this worksheet set:
- Printer (I have this one)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Crayons
- Globe or world map (optional but helpful)
I have the HP printer 8710, but it’s not available anymore. It’s been running well for years now. Look for another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.
What’s included in the ocean currents pages?
Where Do Ocean Currents Flow? Diagram
This is a world map that shows the major ocean currents. Red arrows indicate warm currents, and blue arrows show cold ones—a helpful visual for understanding global water movement.
Where Do Ocean Currents Flow Activity
Kids label the ocean currents on a blank version of the map. They also add arrows to show which way each current flows.
Types of Currents
In this activity, children will look at different currents and identify if they’re warm or cold. It’s a good way to test their understanding and helps reinforce the map work.
The Ocean Currents
This page includes a short informational passage followed by a few questions. It’s designed to check reading comprehension and help kids practice science vocabulary in context.
The Coriolis Effect Research
Students answer questions about how the Coriolis Effect influences ocean currents and why hurricanes spin differently depending on their location. We ended up watching a short video on this part—highly recommend if your child is a visual learner.
A Day in the Life of a Plankton
Probably my kids’ favorite part. They wrote diary entries imagining they were plankton drifting along the currents. It turned into a fun writing exercise that also showed me what they’d absorbed from the earlier activities.
Answer Keys
The final three pages include answer keys for all the activities so you can check their work quickly or guide them through it if they need help.
Fun Ocean Activities for Kids to Try
Combine worksheets with engaging activities like crafts, sensory bins, or science projects to make ocean learning more hands-on.
- Ocean Science Activities
- Ocean Books for Kids
- Ocean Zones Worksheets
- Printable Ocean Charades Game by Darcy and Brian
- Ocean Animals Alphabet Printable Pack by 3 Boys and a Dog
I hope this ocean currents activity pack helps you teach science more easily. It’s been an excellent tool for us, primarily as we built our ocean unit.
Science doesn’t have to be complicated—just meaningful and engaging. Let me know how your kids enjoy it.