Carnivore, Herbivore or Omnivore? Free KS1 Science Worksheet

What is on the worksheet

One clear, friendly line drawing of three familiar animals in a row: a rabbit, a fox and a bear. Children colour the animals in, then work through a short set of tick-the-box statements to decide whether each animal is a herbivore, a carnivore or an omnivore.

The drawing has bold, even outlines and plenty of white space, so it is comfortable for small hands to colour and a pleasure to display afterwards. The ticking task keeps the focus on one big idea, sorting animals by what they eat, without too much reading.

How to use it at home or in the classroom

Print the worksheet, or open it on a tablet and print from there. First, let your child colour the three animals however they like, which is a lovely, low-pressure way in.

Then read the three words together, herbivore, carnivore and omnivore, and talk about what each one means. Look at each animal in turn and ask your child what they think it eats, then work through the tick statements together. The rabbit eats grass and plants, so it is a herbivore. The fox mostly hunts and eats other animals, so it is a carnivore. The bear eats berries and plants as well as fish and small animals, so it is an omnivore. For a class, it works well as a starter or as part of a topic on animals and their diets.

What your child will learn

By the end of the activity, your child should be able to use and explain three new words. A herbivore eats only plants, a carnivore eats other animals, and an omnivore eats both. They will practise looking closely at an animal and using what they know to decide which group it belongs to.

Sorting common animals as carnivores, herbivores and omnivores is part of the very first science learning about animals in primary school, and a great foundation for later work on food chains and habitats.

A note for teachers

This worksheet supports the Key Stage 1 science programme of study for animals, including humans, where pupils learn to identify and name common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. It works as a quick check of whether pupils can apply the three terms to real animals, and pairs well with sorting cards or a discussion about what pets and farm animals eat.

There is no log-in, no watermark and no catch. You are welcome to print copies for your class and to link to this page from your school website or newsletter.

Frequently asked questions