Science worksheet · Animal babies and traits
Who Takes Care of the Babies?
Sort ten animals into the ones whose parents care for their babies and the ones whose babies are on their own.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Traits, Inherited and learned, Animal babies
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Write each animal in the right column.
- Parents take care of the babies
- The babies are on their own
- How do grown-ups take care of you?
Words on this sheet
salmonsea turtlegarter snakeladybugmonarch butterflypenguinrobinwolf
Teacher tip
Show a photo of a sea turtle hatchling heading to the sea alone.
How to use it
- Show photos of animal parents and babies side by side.
- Talk about traits you can see and skills you learn.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
Some kids may not live with their birth parents. Keep trait talk about animals or general examples.
Talk about it
- How do animal parents help their babies?
- Where have you seen this outside of school?
Take it further
Make a class graph of a trait, like who can roll their tongue.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More animal babies and traits worksheets
Grades K–2
Does the Baby Look Like Its Parent?
Circle yes or no for eight baby animals, then draw a baby animal and its parent.
Grades 3–5
Inherited or Learned?
Sort ten traits and skills into inherited from parents and learned, then name one of each of your own.
Grades 2–4
Class Traits Survey
Survey your class for six traits, tally the results and tell which trait was the most common.
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