Why Biodiversity Matters
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Why Biodiversity Matters" is written for 5th Grade (Ages 10-11), and it covers NGSS 3-LS4-4. That standard sits in the 3rd grade band, so treat this worksheet as an early introduction rather than standards practice for this grade. If your little one is a year younger but already steady on ecosystems, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and biodiversity never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.
5th grade science worksheet: match causes to effects to explain why biodiversity keeps ecosystems healthy. Answer key included. Part of our biodiversity ecosystems collection. Aligned to NGSS standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Ask your child to count the kinds of plants and animals in a yard, park or school field and compare two spots, the same way the pond and lawn pages do. Remind them that biodiversity counts kinds, not totals. Check each page with the answer key.
What students will practice
- Students will compare the biodiversity of two habitats using species counts.
- Students will explain why high biodiversity helps an ecosystem handle change.
- Students will use population data to describe how predators and prey affect each other.
Curriculum Links
Next Generation Science Standards
Science · 5th Grade
That standard sits in the 3rd grade band, so treat this worksheet as an early introduction rather than standards practice for this grade.
View all 3-LS4-4 worksheets →Find this in the curriculum
Browse the grade, subject, and topic this belongs to.
FAQ
How do I use this biodiversity worksheet?
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Ask your child to count the kinds of plants and animals in a yard, park or school field and compare two spots, the same way the pond and lawn pages do. Remind them that biodiversity counts kinds, not totals. Check each page with the answer key.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Match causes to effects to explain why biodiversity keeps ecosystems healthy. Biodiversity is the variety of living things in a place. An ecosystem is all the living and nonliving things in an area working together. High biodiversity helps an ecosystem stay healthy when something changes. The directions on the page read: Write the letter of each cause's effect. Then, answer questions 5 to 7. The answer key shows every answer.
Can I use this biodiversity worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 5th Grade ecosystems, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with biodiversity. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.
What is biodiversity?
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Biodiversity is the variety of living things in a place. It counts kinds, not totals: a pond with five species has more biodiversity than a pond with forty snails and two frogs.
Why does biodiversity matter?
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An ecosystem with many kinds of living things can handle a change better. If one kind of tree is lost, others still give animals food and shelter. Biodiversity also brings pollinators, rich soil and many medicines.
How does a change in one population affect an ecosystem?
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When foxes arrived on an island, rabbit numbers fell, and then fox numbers fell too because there was less food. Predators and prey keep changing each other until the ecosystem settles into a new balance.
Is there an answer key for each worksheet?
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Yes. All five biodiversity sheets have an answer key that shows every answer, including sample answers for the questions children explain in their own words.
How many 5th Grade biodiversity worksheets are there?
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5 printable worksheets, all free to preview. Downloads are included with a ClassWeekly free trial, and every page prints on standard 8.5 x 11 paper.
What age are biodiversity worksheets for?
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These are written for 5th Grade students, roughly ages 10-11. Many teachers also use them a grade up for review or a grade down as an extension, so use the preview to judge the fit for a particular child.
Are these biodiversity worksheets aligned to NGSS?
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Yes. Each one shows the NGSS code it covers on its own page, so you can check the alignment yourself rather than taking our word for it.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 5th Grade |
| Subject | Science |
| Topic | Ecosystems |
| Standard | 3-LS4-4 |
| Pages | 1 page |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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