Grade 5 · The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Worksheet

Fifth graders practice naming and comparing the five Great Lakes, identifying their bordering states and Canada, and explaining their shipping role.

15 questions · Matching · Multiple choice · True or false · Short answer · Application

This worksheet gives fifth graders focused practice on the five Great Lakes — their names, relative sizes, bordering states, and role in North American trade. Four exercise types guide students from simple recall to analytical reasoning. The matching section asks students to connect each lake to a distinctive geographic feature. Multiple-choice questions test knowledge of borders and water flow. True-false items sharpen critical thinking by presenting one clearly wrong detail for students to catch. Finally, two short-answer questions ask students to explain ideas in their own words rather than copy a fact. Use this sheet after a classroom lesson on the Great Lakes region, or assign it as a review before a unit test. A printed fact box at the top gives students the geographic framework they need without giving away any answers.

The Great Lakes Worksheet — Grade 5 Geography

Use what you know about the Great Lakes to complete each section. Read the fact box before you begin.

Remember

The five Great Lakes are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Their first letters spell HOMES.
Eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario share shorelines with one or more of the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway, which allows large ships to carry cargo to and from inland ports.

Part A — Match each Great Lake to its description

Draw a line from each description in the left column to the correct Great Lake in the right column.

Choose from

A. Lake Erie
B. Lake Ontario
C. Lake Superior
D. Lake Huron
E. Lake Michigan

1.
The largest Great Lake by surface area
2.
The only Great Lake that lies entirely within the United States
3.
The smallest Great Lake by surface area
4.
The shallowest of the five Great Lakes
5.
The Great Lake that borders Michigan and Ontario but no other U.S. state

Part B — Choose the best answer for each question

Circle the one best answer for each question.

6.
Which U.S. state touches four of the five Great Lakes?
1. A.Ohio
2. B.New York
3. C.Wisconsin
4. D.Michigan
7.
Which Great Lake is the only one that does not share a shoreline with Canada?
1. A.Lake Superior
2. B.Lake Huron
3. C.Lake Michigan
4. D.Lake Erie
8.
After leaving Lake Erie, into which lake does water flow next?
1. A.Lake Superior
2. B.Lake Michigan
3. C.Lake Huron
4. D.Lake Ontario
9.
Which of the following states does not touch any of the Great Lakes?
1. A.Ohio
2. B.Indiana
3. C.Missouri
4. D.Wisconsin
10.
Which Great Lake shares a shoreline with the state of Pennsylvania?
1. A.Lake Superior
2. B.Lake Huron
3. C.Lake Erie
4. D.Lake Ontario

Part C — Mark each statement True or False

Write True or False on the line after each statement.

11.
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that lies entirely within the United States.
12.
The Great Lakes drain into the Mississippi River on their way to the Atlantic Ocean.
13.
Lake Ontario is larger than Lake Erie by surface area.

Part D — Answer each question in your own words

Answer each question in one to two complete sentences on the lines provided.

14.
The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. How did this waterway change trade for cities on the lakes?
15.
Lake Michigan does not share a border with Canada. What does this tell you about which government has control over it?

Answer key

Part A — Match each Great Lake to its description

1.Lake Superior
2.Lake Michigan
3.Lake Ontario
4.Lake Erie
5.Lake Huron

Part B — Choose the best answer for each question

6.Michigan
7.Lake Michigan
8.Lake Ontario
9.Missouri
10.Lake Erie

Part C — Mark each statement True or False

11.True
12.False - the Great Lakes drain into the St. Lawrence River, not the Mississippi River.
13.False - Lake Erie is larger than Lake Ontario by surface area.

Part D — Answer each question in your own words

14.Example: Cities on the Great Lakes could now ship goods like steel and grain directly to other countries by ocean-going vessels. This made ports such as Chicago and Cleveland much more important for international trade.
15.Example: Because Lake Michigan lies entirely within the United States, only the U.S. government has authority over it. The other four Great Lakes are shared with Canada, so both countries must cooperate to manage those waters.

What this sheet teaches

Name all five Great Lakes and identify at least one U.S. state that borders each.
Identify the Great Lake that lies entirely within the United States.
Explain how the St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to world trade.

Notes for the adult

Students often think all five Great Lakes touch Canada; remind them that Lake Michigan lies entirely inside the United States.
Use a physical map to trace Lake Michigan's coastline and show students it never crosses into Canada.
A student is ready to move on when they can name all five lakes in size order and give at least one bordering state for each.

The Great Lakes Worksheet

The Great Lakes Worksheet — Grade 5 Geography

Part A — Match each Great Lake to its description

Part B — Choose the best answer for each question

Part C — Mark each statement True or False

Part D — Answer each question in your own words

Part A — Match each Great Lake to its description

Part B — Choose the best answer for each question

Part C — Mark each statement True or False

Part D — Answer each question in your own words

What this sheet teaches

Notes for the adult

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