Grade 1 · Science · Life science

1st Grade Animal Parts and Needs worksheets

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Animal Parts and Needs

Grade 1 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the answer.

1.
A rabbit sees a fox. Which body part helps it run away?
- feathers
- strong back legs
- shell
- gills
2.
Which sentence is true?
- Birds use fins to fly.
- Cats use gills to swim.
- Fish use wings to breathe.
- Fish use gills to breathe.
3.
A duck and a fish both live in water. Which part helps only the fish breathe in water?
- feathers
- beak
- webbed feet
- gills
4.
Which part is matched with its job?
- fur - help it see
- fins - fly in the air
- gills - breathe under water
- wings - swim in the lake
5.
How do a fish and a robin move?
- The fish flies. The robin swims.
- Neither one moves.
- The fish swims. The robin flies.
- Both only walk.
6.
A bird lives where it snows. Which part helps it stay warm?
- antennae
- thick feathers
- gills
- scales
7.
An ant finds food by smell. Which part helps?
- feathers
- gills
- wings
- antennae
8.
A turtle hides when it is scared. Which part keeps it safe?
- its gills
- its feathers
- its shell
- its wings
9.
A cat has sharp claws. How can claws help it?
- breathe
- swim fast
- fly
- climb a tree
10.
A bird has a long, thin beak. It sips sweet juice from flowers. What does the beak help it get?
- food
- air
- shade
- warmth

1st Grade Animal Parts and Needs worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Animals use different body parts to find food, take in air, move, sense danger, and stay safe. First graders readily name a wing or fin, but the deeper science goal is explaining how a part helps an animal meet a need. This worksheet shows a picture of the animal beside each question, so the child can think about how the animal lives. Questions move from naming a body part to matching it with a job and choosing how the animal stays alive.

Support items use familiar jobs such as wings for flying. Standard and challenge items include gills, scales, antennae, and comparisons between animals. Remind your child that a body part can serve more than one useful function, but each question asks for the best match among the choices. A strong explanation connects three ideas: the named part, what it does, and the need it helps the animal meet.

What your child will learn

Identify common external animal parts
Explain how a part helps an animal survive
Connect parts to food, air, movement, and safety
Compare parts used by different animals

NGSS standard: 1-LS1-1

Worked example

A fish uses gills to take air from the water. Gills help the fish breathe while underwater.

Common mistake

Matching parts only by appearance instead of asking what the animal does with each part.

Helpful hint

Name the action the part helps the animal do.

Next skill: Parents and Offspring Earlier: Plant Parts and Needs

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with animal parts and needs?

Matching parts only by appearance instead of asking what the animal does with each part.

How can I help my child with animal parts and needs?

Name the action the part helps the animal do.

Are these 1st grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 1st grade life science

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