Free printable PDFs · answer keys included

Animal and nature science worksheets

5 free worksheets made from real science news, with new ones as stories are published. Print, learn and check the answers.

All worksheetsK to Class 2Class 3 to 5Class 6 to 8HindiSpaceAnimals & natureHuman bodyTechnology & inventions

Animals and the planet are where many kids fall in love with science. These worksheets come from real stories: Jonathan the giant tortoise, about 194 years old, whose genes may explain his long life; a baby walrus rescued from a faraway beach; a shrimp that sees light most animals can't.

Class 3 to 5Earth 2.0

The Oldest Shipwreck Found Underwater in Turkey

Ages 8 to 10 · Source: Phys.org

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Also: K to Class 2 · Class 6 to 9

Answer key
  1. What did scientists find that helped them learn about the ancient ship?B. Pottery vessels from the ship's cargo
  2. Where was the oldest shipwreck found?B. Off Turkey's coast
  3. About how old is the shipwreck?A. Around 4,500 years old

Big word: amphorae

Class 3 to 5Earth 2.0

How cuttlefish use colors to catch their food

Ages 8 to 10 · Source: Live Science

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Also: K to Class 2 · Class 6 to 9

Answer key
  1. What do cuttlefish use to change their colors when hunting?A. Chromatophores and other special cells
  2. Why do cuttlefish change colors when they are close to their prey?B. To confuse or stop the prey
  3. What is hypnosis according to the story?B. A mental state of relaxation mostly in humans

Big word: chromatophores

Class 3 to 5Earth 2.0

Jonathan the tortoise is about 194 years old, and his genes may explain why

Ages 8 to 10 · Source: Singularity Hub

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Also: K to Class 2 · Class 6 to 9 · हिंदी

Answer key
  1. About how old is Jonathan?C. 194 years
  2. Where does Jonathan live?A. The island of St. Helena
  3. How did the vet get Jonathan's cells?A. From inside his mouth

Big word: DNA

Class 3 to 5Earth 2.0

Mantis shrimp can see a kind of red light most animals cannot

Ages 8 to 10 · Source: Phys.org

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Also: K to Class 2 · Class 6 to 9 · हिंदी

Answer key
  1. About how many visual pigments does a mantis shrimp have?B. About 30
  2. How many colour pigments do human eyes have?A. 3
  3. Where does the mantis shrimp live?A. In the sea

Big word: pigment

Class 3 to 5Earth 2.0

Scientists rescued a baby walrus from a faraway Alaskan beach

Ages 8 to 10 · Source: Popular Science

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Also: K to Class 2 · Class 6 to 9 · हिंदी

Answer key
  1. Where did the scientists keep the walrus safe from the storm?B. In an empty building
  2. How far away was the animal hospital?A. More than 800 miles
  3. Who did the scientists ask for permission to help the calf?A. The local Inupiaq community and wildlife officials

Big word: orphaned

How to use Osmo worksheets

  1. Read together first. Read the story aloud, or let your child read it to you. Pause on the big word.
  2. Circle the answers. Three questions check understanding. The answer key is on each card above.
  3. Do "Your turn". The drawing, building or experiment task is where the learning sticks. Ask "why?" and "how do we know?"
  4. Write a question. The last box is for your child's own question about the story. Curiosity is the point.

Worksheet questions parents ask

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes. Every worksheet on this page is a free PDF you can print at home or for your class. Osmo Plus subscribers can also print a worksheet for every new story in the Osmo app.

Where are the answers?

Each worksheet card has an Answer key button showing the correct option for all three quiz questions. The "Your turn" activity is open-ended, so there's no single right answer.

Which class or grade should I choose?

Kindergarten to Class 2 sheets suit ages 5 to 7, Class 3 to 5 suit ages 8 to 10 and Class 6 to 8 suit ages 11 to 14. The same story is written at each level, so siblings can do the same topic together.

Where do the stories come from?

Each story is based on a real article from a science publisher such as NASA, ESA, ScienceDaily or MIT News, rewritten for kids with the help of AI and approved by a person. The source is credited at the bottom of every sheet.

Can teachers use them in class?

Yes. Printing worksheets for your own students and showing them on a classroom screen is fine. Please don't resell them or republish them on other websites.

More free resources: printable science worksheets guide · reading comprehension for Class 3 to 5 · the Osmo blog

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