Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Animal Homes Match-Up: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Animal Homes Match Up is a free printable science worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children join each animal to its home. They name the animals, talk about where they live and make careful choices. Page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children look at each animal on page 1, say its name and think about where it might live. Then they join the animal to its home. The sheet is made for sharing, so an adult reads with the child and talks about each choice. There is no need to rush. The thinking and talking matter as much as the matching.
Make it hands on
Toy animal homes
Set out toy animals and some boxes, cloths and tubs. Ask your child to make a home for each animal. Talk about what the animal needs, such as shelter or somewhere to hide.
Animal name sort
Put toy animals in a bag. Pull one out, say its name and ask where it might live. Do this before the sheet to warm up.
Home drawing
Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw an animal on one side and a home it could use on the other. Talk about your choices.
Garden walk
Go outside with an adult and look for small creatures and the places they hide. Look closely and do not touch. Talk about what you see.
Why talk about where animals live?
Every animal needs a place to live. A home can give shelter from weather, a safe spot to rest and somewhere to hide. The place where an animal lives is called its habitat. Young children do not need that word at first. They can begin by noticing that different animals live in different places and that the place helps the animal stay safe.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, this sits within Understanding the World and the natural world. Children are encouraged to talk about what they see, notice differences between living things and ask questions. A matching sheet gives them a clear job to do and a reason to talk. Adults can listen for the reasons children give, even when the match is not the expected one.
If you go outdoors to look for animals or build a bug hotel, an adult should handle any cutting, sawing or heavy lifting. Children should look without touching small creatures and wash their hands afterwards.
Fun facts about animal homes
- The place where an animal lives is called its habitat.
- Animals use their homes to stay safe, rest and shelter from weather.
- Some animals build their own homes. Others use a place that is already there.
- Different animals need different kinds of homes.
- Some animals leave their homes to find food and then come back.
Skills and curriculum link
- Naming animals
- Talking about where animals live
- Matching
- Listening and speaking
- Giving a reason
Ideas that help with matching
- Think about what the animal needsAsk whether the animal needs to stay warm, stay dry, hide or be near food. Those needs can point to a home that suits it.
- Look at the picture cluesAsk your child what they can see. The shape, size and surroundings of each home can help them decide.
- Say the animal name firstNaming the animal aloud helps children recall what they know about it before they choose a home.
- Accept reasons, not only answersAsk, why do you think that? A child who can explain is thinking about the natural world, which is the real aim.
Key words
- AnimalA living thing that can move, eat and grow.
- HomeThe place where an animal lives and rests.
- HabitatThe natural place where an animal lives.
- ShelterA place that keeps an animal safe from weather or danger.
- WildLiving in nature, not looked after by people.
- MatchPut two things together because they belong together.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Read each animal aloud. Ask, what do you think it might live in?
- Match together the first time. Talk about each choice before your child joins the pair.
- Check against the notes on page 2. If your child chose differently, ask them to explain.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with four pairs, as page 2 suggests. Put toy animals on the table and ask where each one might sleep, hide or find food. Say the animal name aloud, then point to a home that could suit it. Do the rest on another day.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to draw one home and say why it suits the animal. Prompt with questions. Is it warm? Is it safe? Can the animal find food nearby? Encourage them to use the word because when they explain.
Make it a game
Build a mini bug hotel in the garden. An adult gathers and cuts the materials. Children stack dry leaves, sticks, bark and cardboard tubes in a sheltered corner. Check it every week and look without touching. Count the small creatures you spot.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child joins the animal to a home because they like the picture, not because it suits the animal.
Try thisAsk what the animal needs. Does it need to hide, stay warm or find food? Then look at the choices again.
Watch forA child says every animal lives in a house like theirs.
Try thisTalk about places animals live outdoors. Use toy animals and boxes to show that different animals need different homes.
Watch forA child joins quickly without saying the animal name.
Try thisSlow down. Say the name together, ask what the animal does all day, and then choose the home.
Talk about it
- Which animal on the sheet is your favourite and why?
- What do you think this animal needs to stay safe?
- Where would an animal hide if it was raining?
- Do all animals live in the same kind of place?
- Have you ever seen an animal outside? Where was it?
- What would you put in a home to make it cosy?
Take it off the page
Animal home play
Use cushions, boxes and blankets to make homes for soft toys. Ask your child to explain why each toy's home suits it.
Garden or park look
Take a short walk with an adult. Look for places where small creatures might shelter. Look closely and do not touch.
Story time
Read a picture book about animals. Pause and ask where the animal lives and what it needs there.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. If they are unsure, use toy animals and talk about what each animal needs.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary or a table activity linked to the natural world in Understanding the World. It needs no preparation. Page 2 gives help and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with picture books, outdoor walks and play with toy animals. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or return to it in a few weeks to see what your child remembers.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children notice animals in stories, songs and outdoor play. They learn to name familiar animals and talk about what they see. Handling toy animals and looking closely at the world around them gives them the words and ideas they need.
After Reception, children meet science in Year 1 and begin to name and describe common animals. Later, in Year 2, they study living things and their habitats. Matching animals to homes now builds the early understanding that living things depend on where they live.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Animal Homes Match Up for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with adult help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise naming animals, talking about where they live and matching each animal to its home. It supports the natural world strand of Understanding the World through talk and careful choosing.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages. Read each animal aloud and ask what it might live in. Then match together and talk about each choice. Check the notes on page 2 afterwards and ask your child to explain their thinking.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do four pairs first and leave the rest for another day. Toy animals help a lot. Let your child hold each one and say where it might sleep, hide or find food before they join a pair.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group of children whenever you need it.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It also encourages talking, which is the heart of early science.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves if they like, but it is not needed to complete the matching.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.