Vertebrate-Invertebrate Sort

Use some of the cards to sort into vertebrates and invertebrates

(those animals that have a backbone, those that do not)

5 Vertebrate Groups Sort

Sort animals into the following groups:

mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians

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How to use this set:

Print the cards out on cardstock.

If you laminate the cards, your students can use a

dry-erase marker to practice tracing the words.

Students can use the sorting mat to sort the cards

(I suggest that you choose some, not all of the
cards provided) into vertebrate and invertebrate
groups.

There are also vertebrate – invertebrate card labels that can also be used for sorting.

Five Vertebrate Groups: Use the 5 vertebrate group cards and have your students sort the
cards into mammals, birds, fish,
reptiles and amphibians.

There are 12 different picture cards for

each group. I suggest you pull out just
three cards for each group (and a few
invertebrate cards if you want) and
have your kids sort different sets every
other day or so.

Montessori 3-part cards: You can also use these cards as Montessori 3-part cards. Print out
two copies of the cards. Cut one set out with both the picture and word. Cut the other set
separating the picture and the word. Have your student match the pictures and the words.

You can use these to play a matching game as well. Turn all the cards face down and try to
make sets of three. I would do this with just a half-dozen cards or so at a time!
vertebrate-invertebrate sorting mat

vertebrate invertebrate
backbone no backbone

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vertebrate-invertebrate sorting mat

vertebrate invertebrate
backbone no backbone

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Cut these pictures out and glue them ointo the third row of the vertebrate, invertebrate sorting page.

Cut these pictures out and glue them into the third row of the vertebrate, invertebrate sorting page.

Cut these pictures out and glue them into the third row of the vertebrate, invertebrate sorting page.

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 MAMMALS

mouse giraffe cat

tiger whales buffalo

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 MAMMALS

seal koala platypus

cow dolphin lion

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 BIRDS

owl budgie humming bird

ostrich duck pigeon

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 BIRDS

turkey toucan penguin

flamingo cardinal sparrow

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 FISH

butterflyfish largemouth bass tuna

piranha reef shark trout

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 FISH

clownfish mandarin fish angelfish

swordfish anglerfish flounder

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 REPTILES

kingsnake gecko cobra

rattlesnake alligator turtle

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 REPTILES

crocodile frilled-necked lizard skink

chameleon iguana garter snake

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 AMPHIBIANS

frog salamander tadpole

tree frog dart frog toad

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 AMPHIBIANS

tree frog salamander dart frog

toad frog red-eyed tree frog

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 INVERTEBRATES

spider beetle crab

sea urchin caterpillar clam

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 INVERTEBRATES

starfish brain coral jellyfish

sponge bee leech

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 INVERTEBRATES

scorpion ant centipede

tarantula sea anemone earthworm

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 INVERTEBRATES

butterfly octopus grub

lightning bug praying mantis planaria

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vertebrates

invertebrates

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mammals birds

fish reptiles

amphibians
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Note: If your child is older, you can go into more depth studying
the invertebrate groups such as...
• arthropods (trilobites, crustaceans, insects, spiders, myriapods-
centipedes, millipedes)
• annelids (earthworms)
• mollusks (octopus, snail, clam)
• echinoderms (starfish, sea cucumber)
• cnidarians (jellyfish, anemone, brain coral)
• porifera (sponges)
• nematodes (flat worms)
• protozoa

This is a really helpful chart:

http://jvillis.edublogs.org/files/2012/05/Classification_2-1en08sq.jpg
arthropods mollusks

annelids echinoderms

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cnidarians porifera

nematodes protozoa
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 Name: _________________________
In the boxes below write I (invertebrate) OR if it is a vertebrate write which animal group it is:
F (fish), A (amphibian), R (reptile), B (bird) or M (mammal).

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 Name: _________________________
In the space below write invertebrate OR if it is a vertebrate write which animal group it is:
fish, amphibian, reptile, bird or mammal.

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

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_________________________________
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 Name: _________________________
In the space below trace the words invertebrate OR if it is a vertebrate trace which animal group
it is: fish, amphibian, reptile, bird or mammal.

mammal
invertebrate
amphibian
invertebrate
reptile
bird
invertebrate
mammal
invertebrate
reptile
amphibian
invertebrate
invertebrate
bird
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 Name: _________________________
In the boxes below write I (invertebrate) OR if it is a vertebrate write which animal group it is:
F (fish), A (amphibian), R (reptile), B (bird) or M (mammal).

M I

I
A
B

R
M

I
R
I
I
A
I
B
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You may want to check out some of our other science
units: