Science · Counting and ticking worksheet
Animal Survival Needs Worksheet (Free KS1 Science Printable)
This free printable worksheet introduces a core Year 2 science idea: that every animal, including humans, needs the same three basic things to stay alive. Children count the animals in the scene and tick which things living creatures truly need to survive, building both their early science vocabulary and their counting confidence on a single A4 page.
It is designed for use at home or in the classroom and prints cleanly in black and white, so children can colour the picture as they talk through what each animal needs. The page works equally well as a quick starter, a homework task, or a calm independent activity.
Animals and Their Survival Needs
Free Science worksheet · Ages 5 to 7
Activity 1
Look carefully at the picture and count the animals. Write your answers in the boxes.
- How many animals are in the picture altogether?
- How many animals have four legs?
- How many water bowls can you see?
Activity 2
All animals, including humans, need food, water and air to stay alive. Tick the things that every animal needs to survive.
- Animals need food to survive.
- Animals need water to survive.
- Animals need air to breathe.
- Animals need a television to survive.
- Animals need toys to survive.
Animals and Their Survival Needsowee.worldAnswer key
- How many animals are in the picture altogether? — 4
- How many animals have four legs? — 3
- How many water bowls can you see? — 1
- Animals need food to survive. — tick
- Animals need water to survive. — tick
- Animals need air to breathe. — tick
What children learn from this worksheet
This worksheet supports the Year 2 science topic Animals, including humans, where pupils learn that all animals need water, food and air to survive. By looking at a rabbit, a bird, a cat and a dog together, children begin to see that very different animals share the same basic needs. The ticking task asks them to separate genuine survival needs (food, water, air) from things that may be nice to have but are not essential for life, such as toys. This distinction between a need and a want is an important early-science idea that pupils will revisit throughout primary school.
How to use the page at home or in class
Begin by talking about the animals in the picture and asking what each one might do during the day. Encourage the child to count the animals carefully, pointing to each in turn so none are missed or counted twice. For the ticking activity, read each statement aloud together and ask why a living thing might need that item. Linking the abstract idea (air) to something familiar (we breathe in and out) helps younger children grasp it. Colouring the scene afterwards gives a natural moment to reinforce the vocabulary: "What does this rabbit need to stay healthy?"
Extending the learning
Once the worksheet is complete, you can stretch the conversation in simple, age-appropriate ways. Ask the child to name other animals and check that they, too, need food, water and air. Point out that humans are animals and need exactly the same three things, which is often a surprising and memorable idea for this age group. You might go on a short "needs hunt" around the home or garden, spotting where food, water and air can be found. Avoid introducing shelter or warmth as core survival needs at this stage, as the Year 2 curriculum focuses specifically on water, food and air.
Why basic needs matter in early science
Understanding survival needs lays the foundation for later work on habitats, food chains and how living things depend on their environment. When children can confidently explain that animals need food, water and air, they are better prepared for Key Stage 2 topics on living things and their surroundings. Keeping the message clear and consistent at KS1, that the three basic needs are shared by all animals including humans, gives pupils a reliable framework they can build on in Years 3 and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
What do all animals need to survive in KS1 science?
In Year 2 science, children learn that all animals, including humans, need three basic things to survive: water, food and air. This worksheet focuses on those three needs and helps children tell them apart from things that are not essential for life.
What age group is this animal survival needs worksheet for?
It is designed for children aged 5 to 7 (KS1, Years 1 and 2), and it links directly to the Year 2 "Animals, including humans" objective on basic needs for survival.
Is this printable worksheet free?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free to download and print. It is built to fit on a single A4 page and prints clearly in black and white, so children can also colour the animals in.
Do humans have the same basic needs as animals?
Yes. A key idea in the Year 2 curriculum is that humans are animals too, so we need the same three basic things to survive: water, food and air. Pointing this out helps children connect the science to their own lives.
How can I extend this worksheet for my child?
After completing the page, ask your child to name more animals and check whether they need food, water and air. You can also go on a short "needs hunt" around the home or garden to spot where these three things can be found.
Curriculum links
- Year 2 Science, Animals including humans: find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air).
- Year 2 Science, Animals including humans: describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amounts of different types of food, and hygiene (supporting context for needs).
- Working scientifically (Years 1 and 2): observing closely, using simple equipment, and identifying and classifying.
- Mathematics, Year 1 and 2 Number: count objects reliably and recognise small quantities (cross-curricular counting practice).
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
More learning, made playful
Owee turns topics like this into age-right quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, with a treehouse that grows as they learn. Three subjects are free, forever.
Get Owee free