Grades 3–4
Make a Classification Key
Pick four animals and write yes-or-no questions that sort them, one at a time, in a branching key.
Science worksheet · Animal classification
Vertebrate or Invertebrate?
Sort ten animals by whether they have a backbone, then check for your own.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–4
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Animal groups, Classifying, Vertebrates and invertebrates
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- A vertebrate has a backbone. An invertebrate does not. Most animals on Earth are invertebrates!
- 1. Write each animal in the right column.
- Invertebrates (no backbone)
- 2. Feel the middle of your back. What do you feel? Are you a vertebrate or an invertebrate?
Words on this sheet
spidersnakewormsnailfrogeaglesharkcat
Teacher tip
Kids love checking for their own backbone. Let them feel their spine.
How to use it
- Sort picture cards as a class before the sheet.
- Ask what all the animals in one group have in common.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
Whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish. Penguins are birds.
Talk about it
- What question would split these animals into two groups?
- How could we find out if that is true?
Take it further
Make a class animal book with one page per group.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More animal classification worksheets
Grades 2–4
Animal Group Clues
Match the five vertebrate groups to the clue that describes them, then name one animal from each group.
Grades 1–3
Parts of an Insect
Label the head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, legs and wings, then answer two insect questions.
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