Forest Animal Biome Sorting
Recommended Grade Level:
Type of Resource: PDF
Number of Pages: 3
Coordinating Activities
Forest Animal Biome Sorting
- Rainforest and deciduous forest sorting mat
- 12 animal cards: rabbit, brown bear, moose, fox, raccoon, hedgehog, iguana, howler monkey, anaconda, jaguar, macaw and piranha
Kids sort each animal to the forest where it lives.
Required Materials:
- Paper, printer and ink
- Laminator
- Paper cutter or scissors
Standards for Animals and Habitats
This sort supports early science standards connected to animals and the places they live.
NGSS and Common Core State Standards
- NGSS K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the places they live. Kids sort each animal to its forest home.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.5.A: Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent. Kids sort the animals by habitat.
Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
- PK4.VI.B.1: Child observes, investigates, describes and discusses the characteristics of organisms. Kids describe each animal and where it lives.
Virginia Science Standards of Learning
- K.7.a: Living things need adequate food, water, shelter, air and space to survive. Kids talk about what each forest gives its animals.
Forest Animal Biome Sorting gives kindergarten and first grade kids a simple way to compare the rainforest and the deciduous forest.
Kids sort 12 animal cards to the forest where each animal lives, like a fox in the deciduous forest and a jaguar in the rainforest.
Talk about how the two forests are different, like the weather, the trees and the food the animals eat.
How to Use Forest Animal Biome Sorting
- Print, laminate and cut apart the mat and cards.
- Kids name each animal.
- Kids decide where it lives.
- Kids sort the card to the rainforest or the deciduous forest.
- Kids tell one fact about each forest.
Science Center: Set out the sort during a habitat unit.
Small Group: Read a book about forests before sorting.
Easy Ways to Differentiate This Biome Sort
Every group has a mix of science and vocabulary skills. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.
For Children Who Need More Support:
- Name each animal together.
- Sort 4 cards at a time.
- Use real photos.
- Talk about each forest first.
For On-Level Practice:
- Sort all 12 animals.
- Name each animal.
- Tell why each animal lives there.
- Check with a partner.
For an Extra Challenge:
- Add more animals.
- Write a fact about each forest.
- Draw a third habitat.
- Research one animal.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:
- Talk through each step together and give plenty of wait time.
- Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
- Use real objects next to the cards.
- Name each picture together.
Forest Animal Biome Sorting Is Perfect For:
- Kindergarten
- First grade
- Habitat and forest units
- Science centers
- Small-group instruction
- Special education
- ELL and multilingual learners
- Homeschool
