Identify and Label Major U.S. Bodies of Water

Give your students the chance to explore the geography of the United States with this U.S. Geographic Water Features Matching Activity. This can be used as guided notes, homework, or a study guide!

This fun and educational activity is perfect for geography students. Students will have fun matching the terms and descriptions of all ten bodies of water, including the Rio Grande, Gulf of Mexico, and Colorado River. Students will become familiar with the names of all major bodies of water found in the United States!

What are the Major Bodies of Water in the United States?

Bodies of water referenced in this resource are

• Mississippi River
• Great Salt Lake
• Hudson River
• Great Lakes
• Ohio River
• Colorado River
• the Rio Grande
• Gulf of Mexico,
• Missouri River.

This product can be used as guided notes, homework, or a study guide!

Students must match the terms and descriptions of each body of water on a cut and paste worksheet.

An answer key is included with your download to make grading fast and easy!  

Easily Download & Print

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend printing one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete. 

Turn this teaching resource into a sustainable activity by printing on cardstock and slipping it into a dry-erase sleeve. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them. 

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks. 

Get more worksheets to have handy!

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities to shorten your lesson planning time: