Look around the room with your child for a second — a plant on the windowsill, a pencil on the table, a pet dog asleep in the corner. Some of these things are alive, and some aren't, and figuring out the difference is one of the very first "big idea" science lessons a young child learns. This living and non-living things worksheet pack is built to make that lesson click, with six different hands-on activities — from simple sorting to cut-and-paste to fill-in-the-blanks — plus a set of 54 flashcards for extra practice. Every printable is free to download as a PDF.
What Are Living and Non-Living Things?
Living things are things that are alive. They breathe, eat, grow, move on their own, and can have babies. A dog, a tree, a butterfly, and you are all living things.
Non-living things are things that are not alive. They don't breathe, eat, or grow by themselves, and they can't move unless something else moves them. A chair, a ball, a stone, and a car are all non-living things.
A simple way to explain it to a preschooler: if it can grow and needs food to live, it's living. If it doesn't, it's non-living.
Examples of Living and Non-Living Things
Here are a few everyday examples to point out to your child before they start the worksheets:
| Living Things | Non-Living Things |
|---|---|
| Dog, Cat, Bird | Chair, Table |
| Tree, Flower, Grass | Ball, Toy Car |
| Fish, Butterfly | Book, Pencil |
| Human (you!) | Stone, Cloud |
Pointing to pictures like these and asking "does it grow? does it eat? does it need air?" is a great way to build the concept before your child even picks up a pencil.
Basic Needs of Living Things
All living things need certain things to survive — but not all living things need the exact same things. Here's the quick version:
- Animals need air, food, water, and shelter.
- Humans need air, food, water, shelter, and also love and care.
- Plants need air, water, sunlight, and soil to grow.
This idea of "basic needs" is what two of the worksheets below are built around, so it helps to talk through it with your child first.
Free Living and Non-Living Things Worksheets
Here's everything included in this printable pack. Each one targets a slightly different skill, so use them together — or one at a time — depending on your child's age and how they learn best.
1. Living & Non-Living Fill-in-the-Blanks Worksheet
Children read simple sentences or short paragraphs describing an object, then fill in the blank to say whether it's Living or Non-Living. This one is great for kids who are already reading independently, since it asks them to connect reading comprehension with the science concept, not just picture recognition.
2. Matching Worksheet – Basic Needs of Living Things
A simple, fun matching activity. Kids draw a line connecting Animals, Humans, and Plants to their basic needs — Air, Food, Water, Sunlight, and Shelter. It reinforces the "basic needs" section above in a hands-on way.
3. Basic Needs of Living Things Worksheet
This one takes it a step further. It has three separate boxes — one each for Animals, Humans, and Plants — and children choose the correct basic needs from a list of options and write them in the right box. It's a good next step after the matching worksheet, once your child is ready to write short words on their own.
4. Living & Non-Living Sorting Worksheets (2 Worksheets)
Two colorful worksheets full of pictures — animals, plants, everyday objects, and more. Children look at each picture, decide if it's living or non-living, and color the box next to it Green for Living or Red for Non-Living. This is one of the best worksheets for younger kids or early sorters, since it doesn't require reading at all.
5. Cut-and-Paste Worksheets (2 Worksheets)
An interactive, screen-free activity kids love. Two columns are labeled Living and Non-Living, and children cut out the picture cards provided, then paste each one into the correct column. Great for building fine motor skills alongside the science concept.
6. 54 Living & Non-Living Flashcards
A set of 54 vibrant, colorful flashcards featuring a wide variety of living and non-living objects — animals, plants, household items, vehicles, and more. Use them to introduce the concept for the first time, review it after the worksheets, or turn it into a quick game: hold up a card and ask "living or non-living?"
Who Are These Worksheets For?
This pack is designed for preschool, kindergarten, and grade 1 children who are just starting to explore basic science concepts. The picture-based sorting and matching worksheets work well for younger preschoolers who aren't reading yet, while the fill-in-the-blanks worksheet is a nice stretch activity for kids who are already reading simple sentences. Teachers can also use the flashcards for whole-class discussion or small-group review.
How to Download
All six worksheets and the 54-card flashcard set are available in one free PDF. Just click the download button below to get your living and non-living things worksheet PDF.
FAQs
What is the difference between living and non-living things? Living things grow, breathe, eat, and move on their own; non-living things don't do any of these things by themselves.
What are some examples of living things? Dogs, cats, birds, trees, flowers, fish, and humans are all examples of living things.
What are some examples of non-living things? Chairs, tables, balls, books, pencils, and stones are all examples of non-living things.
Is fire a living or non-living thing? Fire can seem like it's "alive" because it moves and grows, but it's non-living — it doesn't eat, breathe, or reproduce the way living things do. It's a fun one to discuss with kids, since it makes them really think about the difference!
What grade level are these worksheets for? These worksheets are designed for preschool, kindergarten, and grade 1 children, with activities ranging from simple picture sorting to short sentence fill-in-the-blanks.
If you're a parent, teacher, or anyone who loves helping little ones learn, we hope this pack makes living vs. non-living things click for your child. Download the worksheets and flashcards above, and let us know in the comments how your child does with the "trick" questions like fire and clouds!
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