Passage
Grades 5–8
Temperate Rainforest Biome
life science
$1.50
5NGSS-aligned · 5th Grade
5th Grade Science Worksheets & Resources
In 5th grade science, students model matter as tiny particles, investigate how plants get materials for growth, and graph patterns in shadows and stars. Use printable worksheets, games, and reading passages to introduce a skill, practice it, and check understanding. Print them, project them, or assign them online.
Teaching to the standard?
5th Grade Science NGSS standards
See every 5th grade science standard and the resources aligned to each one.
Popular 5th Grade Science resources
Teacher favorites for 5th Grade
Passage
Grades 5–8
Tropical Rainforest Biome
life science
$1.50
Passage
Grades 5–8
Freshwater Biome
life science
$1.50
Worksheet
Grades 3–5
Earth's Third-Hottest August
weather and climate · 5-ESS3-1
$1.50
Worksheet
Grades 3–5
Fibre Cables That Listen for Orcas
life science · 5-ESS3-1
$1.50
Worksheet
Grades K–5
Understanding Evidence of Global Warming
weather and climate · NGSS 5-ESS3-1
$1.50
Worksheet
Grades K–5
Identifying Causes of Climate Change
weather and climate · NGSS 5-ESS3-1
$1.50
Worksheet
Grades K–5
Evidence of Global Warming
weather and climate · NGSS 5-ESS3-1
$1.50
Passage
Grades 5–8
How Mountains and Elevation Affect Climate
weather and climate
$1.50
Passage
Grades 5–8
Coastal vs. Inland Climate
weather and climate
$1.50
Passage
Grades 5–8
Temperate Climate Zones
weather and climate
$1.50
Passage
Grades 5–8
Icecap Climate
weather and climate
Free
5th Grade Science topics & skills
The full 5th grade science scope — pick a topic or jump straight to a skill.
Life Science 5th Grade Worksheets and Activities
9 topics · pick a topic or jump to a skill
Earth and Space Science 5th Grade Worksheets and Activities
6 topics · pick a topic or jump to a skill
Physical Science 5th Grade Worksheets and Activities
5 topics · pick a topic or jump to a skill
Weather and Climate 5th Grade Worksheets and Activities
7 topics · pick a topic or jump to a skill
What do 5th graders learn in science?
In 5th grade science, students learn to model matter as particles, explain how plants grow, and describe how energy moves through ecosystems. They also study Earth's systems and patterns in the sky.
- Matter and Particles. Students model matter as made of particles too small to see. They measure and graph properties like mass and volume, and test how mixing substances can form new materials.
- Gravity and Forces. Students explain that gravity pulls objects down toward Earth. They support their ideas with evidence from everyday examples.
- Energy in Food. Students use models to show that energy in an animal's food came from the Sun. They trace energy from plants to animals.
- Plant Growth. Students explain that plants get the materials they need to grow mostly from air and water, not from soil. They use evidence from investigations.
- Ecosystems and Matter. Students model how matter moves among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. They describe food webs and the recycling of matter.
- Earth's Systems. Students describe how the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact. They graph amounts of salt water and fresh water on Earth.
- Patterns in Space. Students graph patterns in shadows, day length, and the seasonal appearance of stars. They explain why the Sun looks brighter than other stars.
How to use these 5th grade science resources
Pick a 5th grade science topic below. Use a printable worksheet to introduce a skill, then have students practice with an interactive game or reading passage. Assign work to the whole class or to small groups. Most resources can be printed, projected, or assigned online, and online work is auto-graded. Check the standards tags on each resource to match your lesson or state goals. Use them for homework, centers, or summer practice.
Common questions
What science should a 5th grader know?
5th graders learn to model matter as particles, explain how plants get materials for growth, and describe how matter and energy move through ecosystems. They also graph patterns in shadows and stars and describe how Earth's systems interact.
Are these 5th grade science resources NGSS aligned?
Yes. Resources are tagged to grade-level expectations based on the Next Generation Science Standards. You can use the standards browser to find activities that match the skills you are teaching.
What is the trickiest 5th grade science topic for kids?
Many students find matter and particles challenging because the particles are too small to see. Use the printable models and interactive simulations to make the idea concrete. Short reading passages with comprehension questions also help students connect the idea to real examples.
Can I assign these online?
Most resources can be printed or assigned digitally. When you assign online, students complete the work on a device and answers are auto-graded. You can project any resource for whole-class instruction.
Are there free 5th grade science worksheets?
Some 5th grade science worksheets are free. The full library, including games, passages, and auto-graded online work, comes with a Workybooks membership.