Characteristics of Living and Non-Living Things Worksheet
A hands-on characteristics of living and non-living things worksheet for 2nd grade, where students sort words, judge true traits, and compare examples. Includes an answer key for quick, no-prep science practice.
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About this resource
Description
This characteristics of living and non-living things worksheet helps young scientists notice what makes something alive. Living things grow, need food and water, breathe, move on their own, and can have babies, while non-living things such as rocks, toys, chairs, and books do none of these. Learning to spot these differences is one of the first big ideas in life science, and it gives children a simple, reliable way to make sense of the world around them.
This second grade life science worksheet asks students to sort familiar words as living or non-living, decide whether each statement describes a living or non-living thing, and then write one way a living thing and a non-living thing are different. Use it as a quick warm-up, a science center task, or take-home practice, and review the answers together using the included answer key so every child leaves with the correct thinking.
What’s Included
- 1 print-ready PDF worksheet
- Answer key
- A word sort, a living or non-living characteristics activity, and a compare-and-contrast writing prompt
Kids build real understanding with this characteristics of living and non-living things worksheet in three ways. First, sorting everyday examples strengthens their ability to classify objects into clear groups. Second, the characteristics section pushes them to reason about why something counts as alive instead of just guessing. Third, the compare-and-contrast writing prompt lets them explain their thinking in their own words, turning a simple sorting page into genuine science practice.
Extend the lesson by going on a living and non-living scavenger hunt around the classroom, backyard, or neighborhood, and sorting the objects children find into two groups. Ask students to draw one living thing and one non-living thing, then label what each one can or cannot do. You can also keep a class chart on the wall and add new examples all week long as your young scientists discover them.
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