What It Is: This
Living and Non-Living Things – Circle the Correct Group worksheet helps students practice identifying whether an object is living or non-living by circling the correct label. Using real-life images such as a tree, rock, slug, chicken, birdhouse, squid, crab, and flower, students apply science concepts by remembering the seven characteristics of living things: nutrition, respiration, movement, excretion, growth, reproduction, and sensitivity.
This worksheet follows the activity
“Living and Non-Living Things – Drag and Drop Sorting” and leads into the next worksheet
“L / NL Classification Boxes” for deeper classification practice.
Why Use It: Students build a deeper understanding of what makes something alive by examining real examples instead of simple icons. The worksheet strengthens observation skills, scientific thinking, and early biology knowledge, making it ideal for science units on organisms and the environment.
How to Use It: • Have students circle either
living or
non-living for each picture.
• Review the characteristics of living things as a class or in small groups.
• Encourage students to explain their reasoning for each choice to support critical thinking.
• Use this worksheet as a warm-up, assessment, or science center activity.
Grade Suitability: Best suited for
Kindergarten–Grade 2.
•
Kindergarten: Builds early identification skills using clear visuals.
•
Grade 1: Reinforces understanding of living characteristics through guided practice.
•
Grade 2: Strengthens classification skills with more reasoning and explanation.
Target Users: Designed for
elementary science teachers, homeschool families, intervention specialists, and young learners exploring basic biology and classification.
