Science · Colouring and tick-the-statement worksheet
Animal Teeth and What They Eat: Free KS2 Science Worksheet
This free printable worksheet supports the Year 4 science unit on animals including humans, helping children identify the main types of teeth and understand their simple functions. The single colour-in illustration of an open mouth lets children look closely at the different tooth shapes before working through the tick-the-statement task.
It prints neatly onto one A4 page and works equally well as a starter activity, a homework task or a quiet revision sheet. The notes below are written for parents and teachers to explain the science and link it to the curriculum.
Animal Teeth and What They Eat
Free Science worksheet · Ages 8 to 9
Activity 1
Colour the open mouth below. Colour the flat front teeth (incisors) blue, the two pointed teeth (canines) red, and the wide bumpy back teeth (molars) green. Colour the lips pink.
- Colour the flat chisel-shaped front teeth (incisors) blue.
- Colour the two pointed teeth (canines) red.
- Colour the wide bumpy back teeth (molars) green.
- Colour the lips around the mouth pink.
Activity 2
Read each sentence about teeth and diet. Tick the box next to every sentence that is true.
- Incisors are the flat front teeth used for biting and cutting food.
- Canines are pointed teeth that help grip and tear food.
- Molars are sharp front teeth used only for biting.
- Herbivores, such as sheep, have wide flat teeth for grinding plants.
- Carnivores, such as lions, have long sharp canines for tearing meat.
- Omnivores, such as humans, have only one type of tooth.
- The hard outer layer that protects a tooth is called enamel.
Animal Teeth and What They Eatowee.worldAnswer key
- Incisors are the flat front teeth used for biting and cutting food. — tick
- Canines are pointed teeth that help grip and tear food. — tick
- Herbivores, such as sheep, have wide flat teeth for grinding plants. — tick
- Carnivores, such as lions, have long sharp canines for tearing meat. — tick
- The hard outer layer that protects a tooth is called enamel. — tick
The three types of teeth and what they do
Humans have three main types of teeth, each shaped for a particular job. Incisors are the flat, chisel-shaped teeth at the front, used for biting and cutting food into smaller pieces. The canines are the pointed teeth just beside the incisors, which grip and tear tougher foods. Towards the back of the mouth sit the broad, bumpy molars (and premolars), which crush and grind food ready for swallowing. Encouraging children to feel each type with their tongue, and to spot the same shapes in the worksheet illustration, makes the link between shape and function concrete and memorable.
How teeth match an animal's diet
The shape of an animal's teeth is a clue to what it eats. Herbivores such as sheep, rabbits and cows have wide, flat teeth for grinding tough grass and leaves, and often lack large canines. Carnivores such as lions, dogs and foxes have long, sharp canines and pointed teeth for catching prey and tearing meat. Omnivores such as humans, bears and pigs eat both plants and animals, so they have a mixture of all three types: incisors, canines and molars. Comparing these patterns helps children see that body parts are suited, or adapted, to an animal's way of life.
Looking after teeth
Year 4 is also a natural time to talk about keeping teeth healthy, which links the science to everyday life. Teeth are protected by a hard outer layer called enamel, but sugary food and drink can lead to tooth decay over time. Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugary snacks and visiting the dentist all help to keep teeth strong. You might ask children to think about which of their own teeth they use when they bite an apple (the incisors) compared with when they chew it (the molars).
Getting the most from this worksheet
Before children begin colouring, ask them to point to the incisors, canines and molars on the illustration and describe each shape in their own words. The tick task then checks whether they can match each tooth type to its job and connect teeth to diet. To extend the activity, challenge children to sort familiar animals into herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, or to draw and label the teeth they would expect a particular animal to have. This moves them from recognising tooth types towards explaining why those shapes are useful.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three types of teeth taught in KS2?
The Year 4 curriculum focuses on three main types of human teeth: incisors (flat front teeth for biting and cutting), canines (pointed teeth for gripping and tearing) and molars (broad back teeth for crushing and grinding). Premolars are sometimes introduced as the smaller grinding teeth in front of the molars.
What is the difference between herbivore, carnivore and omnivore teeth?
Herbivores have wide, flat teeth for grinding plants and usually small or no canines. Carnivores have long, sharp canines and pointed teeth for catching and tearing meat. Omnivores, including humans, eat both plants and animals, so they have a mixture of incisors, canines and molars.
Is this animal teeth worksheet suitable for Year 4?
Yes. It is designed for ages 8 to 9 and supports the Year 4 science objective to identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions, while extending learning to how teeth suit an animal's diet.
How do I print this worksheet?
The worksheet is designed to print onto a single A4 page. Use your browser's print option and select A4 portrait. It is free to download and print for home or classroom use.
How can I extend this worksheet at home or in class?
After completing the sheet, ask children to sort familiar animals into herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, or to predict and draw the teeth a chosen animal would have. You could also discuss looking after teeth, such as brushing twice a day and limiting sugary snacks.
Curriculum links
- Year 4 Science, Animals including humans: identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.
- Year 4 Science, Animals including humans: construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey (linking diet to carnivores and herbivores).
- Working scientifically (Years 3 and 4): identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes.
- Working scientifically (Years 3 and 4): gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering questions (sorting animals by diet and tooth type).
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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