This material helps children classify animals into two groups: those with backbones and those without. Each card comes in a two-part set — simply print, fold, and glue the front and back sides together to create double-sided cards.
Scientific terms like vertebrates and invertebrates can be too complex for young children. That’s why this set starts with a simpler question: “Does it have a backbone?” If the word “backbone” is still unfamiliar, you can begin by introducing the idea of “bones” in general.
The activity is easy to set up: Place the two label cards — “Has a backbone” and “No backbone” — side by side. Children then sort the animal cards underneath each label. Once sorting is complete, they can turn the cards over to check their answers. The icons on the cards also help non-readers participate independently.
Note: While each animal card includes its scientific class (such as mammals or fish), this material focuses only on sorting by presence or absence of a backbone.
We recommend printing on A4-sized, slightly thick paper. For long-lasting use, laminating the cards is a great option.
This set includes both Japanese and English versions.
