Predator or Prey Science Sorting Activity for Third-Grade

How do animals work together to find food? How do they work together to protect themselves against enemies that attack them? Which animals eat other animals and which ones are eaten? Find out the answers to those questions and more with this engaging hands-on science predator and prey sorting activity.

In this science station, students learn about Predators and Prey. This sort is part of our Animal Groups science stations unit where students learn all about how animals live and work together to survive.

What is Included in the Predators and Prey Activity?

Included in the Sort about Predators or Prey are:

• Short Reading Passage to build background knowledge about predators and prey
• Larger table-group color sorting cards
• Smaller cut-and-paste sort for individual students
• Differentiated questions in short-answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple-choice formats. Worksheets and task cards are included for some options.
• Answer key

Colorful Sorting Cards

One way to do the sorting activity is in table groups where students collaboratively read over the descriptions of each animal to decide if the animal is a predator, prey, or a member of both groups.

Each card has a picture of the animal, the name of the animal, and several bullet points that describe what and how the animal eats.

There are a variety of different animals that students can categorize into being predators, prey, or both. Some of the animals include penguins, orcas, bears, kangaroos, blue reef fish, and dolphins.

This sort has colorful images and written descriptions that students analyze to determine the category in which each animal belongs. Students will have to think carefully as some animals are predators and prey.

Cut and Paste Predator and Prey Worksheet

The second way to do the sort is a cut-and-paste option. Students can do both options: the color option as a whole group and the cut-and-paste worksheet individually. Or you can choose to have students do only one option.

The cut-and-paste option is all in black and white and a worksheet format. Students look at the image, read the brief description of each animal, and then decide if the animal is a predator, prey, or both.

Differentiated Responses

Like all of our science stations, differentiated responses are available for students to demonstrate their understanding. Students read the text and respond to it.

Below is an example of the short-answer worksheet. A fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and multiple-choice task cards are also available.

How to Purchase the Animal Groups Science Station

This Animal Groups Sort Science Station can be purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers. It is sold individually and part of a whole Animal Groups – Predators and Prey. Also available is a Third Grade NGSS Science Station BUNDLE.

Also available is a 5E Unit all about Animal Groups. This 5E unit uses an inquiry-based method to help students dig deep into the concepts of how animals live in groups and interact with one another.

Would you like a Free Science Station?

This Predator & Prey Sort Science Station is one of three science stations I give away for FREE on my website!

You can follow the links above to purchase it or one of the accompanying resources or it can be sent to your email inbox!

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