Free Summer Printable - 10 Types of Terrestrial and 10 Types of Marine Mammals

Are you ready to take your little explorers on an exciting adventure through the ocean and the forest? Sorting games are an excellent way to develop critical thinking skills and vocabulary in young children. In this post, educators and parents can download free printable sorting cards that feature marine and terrestrial animals. The printable is perfect for pre-k and kindergarten children. These colorful cards will help your learners distinguish between creatures that live in the water and those that call the land their home.

Types Of Terrestrial Mammals And Types Of Marine Mammals

Terrestrial mammals are those that primarily live on land and include carnivores such as lions and bears, as well as herbivores such as giraffes and deer. There are also primates like monkeys and apes, and rodents such as mice and squirrels.

Marine mammals live in the ocean and include cetaceans such as dolphins and whales, pinnipeds such as seals and sea lions, and sirenians such as manatees and dugongs. Unlike terrestrial mammals, marine mammals have adapted to living in the water and have features such as blubber for insulation and flippers for swimming.

Marine mammals are animals that live in the ocean and breathe air. Some of the most well-known marine mammals include dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions.

Mammals, like humans, love the warm weather of summer! Some popular summer mammals include:

Bears: They enjoy feasting on berries and hunting for fish in streams.

Deer: They graze on grass and leaves, and can often be seen drinking from streams or lakes.

Raccoons: These curious creatures are known to scavenge for food in trash cans, but they also enjoy eating nuts, insects, and even small animals.

Squirrels: They are busy collecting acorns, seeds, and nuts to store for the colder months.

Animals in Summer – Science activities for kids

Science hands-on activities can engage children in learning about mammals during the summer months. Children can learn about the characteristics of mammals through engaging activities like measuring the lengths of different mammals, creating a mammal habitat, and making mammal tracks. Young children can also explore mammal life cycles and learn about animal adaptations to summer heat. Additionally, learning games, puzzles, and scavenger hunts can foster critical thinking as well as support their memory and social-emotional development. Such interactive learning can enhance a child’s understanding of mammals while promoting creativity and inquisitiveness.

Build a mammal habitat: Gather materials such as cardboard, popsicle sticks, glue, and markers. Show children pictures of different mammal habitats and ask them to recreate one using the materials provided. Encourage them to use their imagination and creativity.

Mammal animal tracks: Show children pictures of different types of mammal tracks. Allow them to make impressions of the tracks in playdough or clay. Talk about the different types of tracks and what they might tell us about the animal.

Mammal sorting: Print out our pictures of different mammals. Ask children to sort them.

Mammal food chain: Create a food chain of different mammals and their predators using our printable. Talk about how the chain works and what would happen if one animal were removed from it.

Mammal sensory bin: Fill a bin with different materials such as fake fur, pinecones, rocks, and leaves. Hide plastic mammal toys inside and let children use their senses to explore and find the toys.

Mammal scavenger hunt: Create a scavenger hunt where children have to find different mammals in your backyard or local park. Give them a list of clues about each mammal and encourage them to use their observational skills.

Mammal life cycle: Show children pictures of different mammals and their life cycles. Discuss how mammals grow and change over time.

Mammal role-playing: Encourage children to act out different mammal behaviors, such as hibernation or migration. Discuss the different adaptations that mammals have to help them survive in various environments.

Animal sorting printable

Sorting activities are very important for kids because they enhance cognitive, motor, and social skills. When a child is sorting items, they are using their problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination, which are vital for their development. In addition, sorting activities help children to understand patterns and develop their math skills, including identifying and grouping shapes, colors, and sizes.

Through sorting, children also develop their ability to focus and concentrate on a task. This concentration, in turn, leads to an increased attention span and improved memory retention. Additionally, sorting activities teach kids patience and self-control as they learn to work at their own pace.

Socially, sorting activities promote teamwork and collaboration. When children work together to complete a sorting task, they learn to take turns and communicate with each other effectively. These skills are essential as they prepare for future academic and personal relationships.

Sorting activities can provide children with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as they work towards a goal and achieve it. This builds confidence and self-esteem, which, in turn, leads to a positive outlook on learning and life.

Recommendations:

Use this resource with photographs to create hands-on summer activities for your students. This resource will be useful if you plan to explore mammals and ocean animals in your early childhood classroom.

Print on card stock and laminate for longer use. After cutting cards, draw with marker or stick dot stickers to the back of each set – one color for each set. Place the label cards in a row. Explain the difference between the two types of mammals. Invite the child to sort cards into two categories.

After the child completed the task, invite him or her to flip the cards and self-check. Each card has to be under the correct category based on the dot color.

Young children can be encouraged to match the animal cards when printed twice and draw the animals they like the most using their choice of art medium.

Older children might be inspired to research and create their own books about wild mammals that dwell in your region.