Human Impact on the Environment is a Grade 5 science topic that explores how people change Earth's water, air, land, plants, and animals. Every day, human choices either help or harm the planet. Driving cars, burning coal, cutting forests, and dumping trash add pollution and destroy habitats. On the other hand, recycling, planting trees, saving water, and using renewable energy from the Sun and wind protect natural resources. In Grade 5, students learn to identify these actions, compare renewable and nonrenewable resources, and understand pollution types like air, water, land, and noise pollution. They also study real-world problems such as deforestation, climate change, and endangered species. Most importantly, students discover that small individual choices add up. Turning off lights, using reusable bottles, joining cleanup days, and supporting conservation laws all matter. By the end of these worksheets, learners will understand that protecting Earth is a shared job and that every person can make a positive difference.

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Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Planting new trees to replace cut ones is called  
2. Sorting paper, cans, and bottles to be reused is called  
3. Smoke, dust, and gases dirtying the sky cause air  
4. Energy from sunlight that never runs out is called  
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Human Impact on the Environment
Easy
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Wind turbines turn moving air into clean  
2. Saving water, energy, or wildlife is called  
3. When animals lose the place where they live, this is called habitat  
4. Coal, oil, and natural gas are called  
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Human Impact on the Environment
Easy
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Newspapers and cardboard belong in the  
2. Banana peels and coffee grounds can go into a  
3. Aluminum cans belong in the  
4. Empty jars and bottles made of silica belong in the  
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Human Impact on the Environment
Easy
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Turning off the  
2. Fixing a leaky  
3. Switching off  
4. Taking shorter  
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Human Impact on the Environment
Medium
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Pollution that makes lakes and rivers unsafe is called water  
2. Loud sounds from traffic and machines cause  
3. Harmful chemicals soaking into soil cause  
4. Sources like sun, wind, and water are called  
5. Cutting forests on a large scale is called  
6. Protecting endangered species in safe areas is called wildlife  
7. Trash that breaks down naturally is called  
8. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called  
9. Putting things in proper bins keeps trash out of  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Driving cars
→
Air pollution
Dumping waste in rivers
→
Water pollution
Cutting forests
→
Habitat loss
Loud highway traffic
→
Noise pollution

Human Impact on the Environment
Medium
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Coal that took millions of years to form is a  
2. Energy made from flowing rivers is called  
3. Plants that grow back each season are a  
4. Reducing how much you use is called  
5. Using something again instead of throwing it away is to  
6. When ocean water becomes too warm or acidic,  
7. An animal at risk of disappearing forever is called  
8. Smog over cities is mostly caused by car  
9. Capturing rain in a barrel for later use is rainwater  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Solar panels
→
Renewable energy
Coal power plant
→
Nonrenewable energy
Recycling bin
→
Conservation action
Pesticide runoff
→
Water pollution

Human Impact on the Environment
Medium
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The total greenhouse gases caused by your actions is your carbon  
2. Eating more plants and less  
3. Buying  
4. Foods grown in their natural  
5. Throwing away uneaten food wastes the  
6. Animals that lived in an area for thousands of years are called  
7. Plants brought in that crowd out locals are called  
8. Strips of habitat connecting protected areas are called wildlife  
9. Eating  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
National parks
→
Preserve scenic land and habitats
Protected marine zones
→
Allow fish populations to recover
Hunting limits
→
Stop overharvest of game animals
Wildlife corridors
→
Connect fragmented animal habitats

Human Impact on the Environment
Medium
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. An animal naturally found in a region is called a  
2. A species brought from elsewhere that harms local life is  
3. A pathway of habitat linking protected areas is called a  
4. Cutting down forests for farmland is called  
5. Land set aside by law to protect wildlife is a  
6. The variety of life in a place is called  
7. When habitats break into small pieces it is called  
8. Bees, butterflies, and bats are important  
9. A managed plan to save a threatened species is a  
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Bald eagle recovery
→
Banned DDT and grew populations
Yellowstone wolf reintroduction
→
Restored elk-and-river balance
Coral reef sanctuaries
→
Protected fish nurseries from fishing
Highway wildlife overpasses
→
Reduced animal road deaths

Human Impact on the Environment
Hard
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A town's population doubles in 20 years. Which is the MOST likely effect on energy use and air quality?
2. A city replaces 50% of its coal plants with wind turbines. What outcome is MOST expected over time?
3. A farmer sprays heavy pesticides near a stream. Which result is MOST likely downstream?
4. A school launches a recycling and composting program. After one year, the MOST likely outcome is:
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a major  
2. Long-term changes in Earth's average weather are called  
3. Acid rain forms when smoke gases mix with water in the  
4. When too many fish are caught, the population can  
5. Rules or laws made to protect nature are called environmental  

Human Impact on the Environment
Hard
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A factory dumps warm water into a river daily. Which chain of effects is MOST likely?
2. Read: 'A neighborhood plants 200 trees along streets and parks.' Which long-term result is MOST likely?
3. A community can only fund ONE plan. Which gives the BIGGEST environmental benefit?
4. After a city bans single-use plastic bags, which outcome is MOST expected over years?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. When a species disappears forever from Earth, it becomes  
2. An area set aside to protect wildlife is called a nature  
3. Farming methods that protect soil and water are called  
4. A scientist who studies how living things interact with the environment is an  
5. Working as a community to clean a park is called a  

Human Impact on the Environment
Hard
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. The Amazon rainforest is sometimes called the 'lungs of Earth' because it ___.
2. Which choice is the BIGGEST direct cause of Amazon deforestation today?
3. A community plants 10,000 native trees beside a cleared area. The BEST predicted outcome is ___.
4. Compare two solutions: (A) banning all logging vs (B) allowing certified sustainable logging. Which statement is MOST accurate?
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The Amazon stores huge amounts of  
2. Cutting trees to clear land for farming is called  
3. Replanting trees on cleared land is called  
4. Indigenous  
5. An ecosystem with many different species has high  

Human Impact on the Environment
Hard
Busy Bee
Human Impact on the Environment
Name:
Date:
Grade: Grade 5
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is mostly made of ___.
2. Melting glaciers raise sea levels MAINLY by ___.
3. Compare ocean cleanup nets vs reducing plastic use. Which judgment is MOST accurate?
4. A coastal town bans single-use plastic bags. The BEST predicted long-term outcome is ___.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Plastic pieces smaller than a pencil eraser are called  
2. Large rotating ocean currents that trap garbage are called  
3. A massive sheet of slowly moving land ice is called a  
4. Insects like bees that move pollen are called  
5. Global average warming caused by greenhouse gases is called climate  

Human Impact on the Environment

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering human impact on the environment
Complete Answer Key for easy grading
Printer-Friendly Format in black & white
Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged
Common Core Aligned grade 5 standards
Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These human impact on the environment worksheets help grade 5 students develop essential science skills through engaging activities.

How to Use These Worksheets

  1. Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
  2. Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
  3. Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
  4. Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
  5. Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
  6. Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

  • Confusing renewable and nonrenewable resources by thinking coal can grow back like plants; coal forms over millions of years and cannot be replaced.
  • Believing that one person's small actions do not matter; many small choices made by millions of people add up to large environmental change.
  • Thinking pollution only means air pollution and forgetting that water, land, and noise pollution also seriously harm humans, animals, and habitats.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is human impact on the environment?

Human impact means the ways people change Earth's natural systems. Activities like farming, building, driving, and manufacturing affect air, water, soil, and living things in both helpful and harmful ways.

What are examples of positive human impacts?

Positive impacts include recycling materials, planting trees, protecting wildlife reserves, using solar and wind power, conserving water, and cleaning up parks and beaches. These actions restore resources and protect habitats for living things.

Why is deforestation a problem?

Deforestation destroys habitats for animals, removes trees that clean the air, increases carbon dioxide, and causes soil erosion. Forests also help control climate, so cutting them affects weather and rainfall around the world.

How does pollution harm people and wildlife?

Pollution dirties air, water, and land. It causes breathing problems, illness, and poisoning in people and animals. Polluted habitats kill plants, lower food supplies, and can push species toward becoming endangered or extinct.

What can students do to protect the environment?

Students can reduce, reuse, and recycle, save water and electricity, walk or bike when possible, plant trees, pick up litter, and learn about local wildlife. Sharing these habits with family and friends spreads positive impact.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

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