Grade 1 Animal Diets — Printable No-Prep Worksheet

Understand How Animals Survive

Help first graders understand that all animals need food to survive. This worksheet uses two focused activities where students identify what different animals eat. They'll match animals to their food sources—plants or other animals—and then connect that concept to their own diet.

At a Glance

• Grade: 1 · Subject: Science
• Standard: 1-LS1-1 — Identify that animals get food from plants or other animals to survive.
• Skill Focus: Identifying Animal Diets
• Format: 1 page · 2 tasks · No answer key provided · PDF
• Best For: Introductory lesson, science centers, or homework.
• Time: 10–15 minutes

What's Inside

This single-page PDF contains a short introductory text and two activities. The main 'Science Activity' is a visual matching task connecting six animals to their food. A second 'Science Exploration' task prompts students to list their own foods and identify the plant or animal origin, making the concept personally relevant.

A Zero-Prep Workflow

Designed for immediate classroom use, this worksheet requires minimal teacher prep.

• Print (1 min): The single, black-and-white page is quick and economical to print.
• Distribute & Explain (2 min): Briefly read the instructions aloud to get students started.
• Review (5 min): A quick whole-group review provides an effective check for understanding.

The entire activity can be completed in under 15 minutes, making it an ideal resource for a substitute teacher plan, a science center rotation, or as a quick homework assignment.

Standards Alignment

This activity directly supports Next Generation Science Standard 1-LS1-1 by modeling how animals meet their need for food. It addresses the core idea that animals get food from plants or other animals, a key concept for understanding ecosystems. The standard code can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet to introduce animal diets or as a simple pre-assessment. It works well at the start of a life science unit. For formative assessment, circulate as students work and note any misconceptions about what specific animals eat. The main matching activity should take about 5-7 minutes, with another 5 minutes for the exploration and discussion.

Who It's For

This worksheet is designed for first-grade students. Its clear layout and visual task are accessible for early readers. To add support, complete the first animal-food match as a group. This resource pairs well with a classroom anchor chart depicting different animal diets or after reading a book like Eric Carle's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'.

Foundational science skills are critical for building scientific literacy. This worksheet offers direct practice aligned with NGSS standard 1-LS1-1, focusing on the core concept that animals get energy by eating plants or other animals. Providing students with concrete models and matching activities reinforces these classifications. According to research from Fisher & Frey (2014), moving from a structured activity to independent exploration is a proven method for cementing knowledge. This worksheet follows that model, transitioning from a simple matching task to a personal application. By engaging with this standard, students learn to observe and classify the natural world, a key practice for developing scientific reasoning for future learning in biology and ecology.