Spring is here and it’s the perfect time for an insect vs. non-insect photo sort. Download the free printable and get talking, learning, and playing right away.
Insect vs. non-insect photo sort is a preschool classic
Ever since the beginning of time, preschool teachers have been doing an insect vs. non-insect photo sort every spring.
It is one of my MOST FAVORITE activities of the whole year.
Sitting around with kids chatting about animals, counting legs, looking for wings, talking about what makes an insect an insect? Absolute preschool magic.
Get ready to talk about why a butterfly is an insect, why a tiger is not, and why a snail might seem like it’s an insect but is actually not.
🦋 Related: Our GIANT 10-foot bug coloring banner is not only one of our best sellers four years in a row, but it’s one of my favorite designs and kids LOVE it.
Why we don’t use clipart for the insect vs. non-insect photo sort
Clipart has its time and place, but when kids are looking closely at animals for scientific observation, we use real photos of real animals.
In clipart, the images are often distorted to make them look “cute.”
All of the images in this freebie are real photos so kids can get a good understanding of what each animal really looks like.
Looking for more insect activities? We’re buzzing with excitement for these:
Materials
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That’s it!
📕 If you’re looking for more materials to extend your insect learning and play, here are some of kid- and teacher-approved favorites:
- National Geographic Little Kids: First Big Book of Bugs – the best, best, best insect book!
- National Geographic Kids: Caterpillar to Butterfly – perfect for learning about the life cycle of butterflies
- Butterfly Habitat – Grow Your Own Butterfly Kit – this is one of the coolest things we have ever done with kids
How to play insect vs. non-insect photo sort
Print off the freebie, cut out the animals, and sort on the insect vs. not an insect sorting paper.
As you pick up each animal card, talk about why certain animals are and are not insects.
The conversations you have during this activity will be precious.
What makes an insect an insect?
Check out this fantastic “What is an Insect?” video by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
This is a fantastic starting place before beginning your sorting activity.
You can also read your favorite insect books (such as the ones linked above) to get the insect learning party started!
The quick guide for identifying insects is knowing:
- They have three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
- Adults have six legs
- Most have wings
We did insect vs. non-insect photo sort – now what?
Keep the insect learning going!
You can do this by watching videos about insects, reading about insects in books, and going on nature walks and observing the animals you see and deciding which ones are insects and which ones are not.
Insect vs. non-insect sorting is a classic for a reason and we hope you have the best time learning together.
Frequently Asked Questions
We do this type of activity with our 3-6 year old preschoolers every year. It’s important that your child has a foundation laid for what makes an insect an insect through reading books, videos, or the like.
There are six pages, each with four animals (24 animals total).
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