Animal Survival Needs Worksheet (Free KS1 Science Printable)

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.

Questions children often ask

Children often ask whether fish need air. Fish do need oxygen, the part of the air that keeps animals alive, but they take it from the water using their gills, which is why a fish cannot live out of water. Another common idea is that pets need toys, beds or a house to survive. These help an animal to be comfortable and happy, which is worth saying, but they are not among the three basic needs. Keeping the message clear at KS1, that food, water and air are shared by all animals including humans, gives children a reliable idea to build on when they study habitats and food chains later.

Frequently asked questions