Arctic animals are a fun theme during the winter. But it’s important to know what those animals are and where to find resources. So I’ve gathered lots of free Arctic animal printables today along with designing some Montessori-inspired Arctic animal activities. Plus, I’m sharing our latest subscriber freebie!
Here, I’m also sharing the links to free Arctic animal printables for preschoolers through 1st graders (and sometimes older). To keep my list manageable, I don’t share coloring pages unless a page has a specific educational purpose related to Arctic animals. Note: Whenever an Arctic animal pack includes penguins, don’t use the penguins. A penguin is not an Arctic animal. All penguin species are from the Southern Hemisphere, although they don’t all live in Antarctica. The printables are still great as long as you don’t use the penguins unless you’re studying both the Arctic AND Antarctica.
For Arctic animals, you might include polar bear, Arctic fox, Arctic tern, reindeer, caribou (or reindeer if you don’t separate the two), narwhal, beluga whale, orca (killer whale), puffin, walrus, seal, ermine, musk ox, moose, snowy owl, Alaskan malamute, husky, Arctic hare, and Inuit (if you want to include people in your animals).
Free Arctic Animal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Arctic Animal Activities
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Arctic Matching Activity with Safari Ltd. Arctic Figures Plus Arctic Cards
Free Printable: Safari Ltd. Arctic TOOB Key
Free Printable: Arctic Animals (to match non-human animals in Safari Ltd. Arctic TOOB) from Arctic Unit Culture and Geography Pack by Every Star is Different or Animals of the Arctic 3-Part Cards (to match Safari Ltd. TOOB) by Montessori Soul
For this activity, I used a large white Montessori Services tray (which looks much nicer in reality … these days of early darkness make getting decent photos much harder), a clear acrylic tray, and the figures from the Safari Ltd. Arctic TOOB.
Matching Safari Ltd. Arctic Figures with the Safari Ltd. Arctic TOOB Key
My 3-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, loved this activity. I’ll add in the card matching next time.
Animals of the Arctic Roll and Bump Game (Counting or Addition)
Free Printable: Animals of the Arctic Bump Game from The Preschool Mom
For this activity, I used a large white Montessori Services tray, clear glass gems to cover the numbers (I like that you can still see the numbers), a dice, and a small container for the glass gems.
This can be a simple counting and number identification game using one dice. Or you can use two dice for an addition game. You can choose whether or not you want a child to be able to bump another child off a space already taken. Or two children can play this cooperatively, taking turns rolling the dice to see how soon they together can fill the page.
DIY Polar Bear Cub Cards and Counters
Free Printable: Polar Bear Numbers (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) You’ll find phonics printables in the polar bear pack along with the polar bear numbers.
I used a Montessori Services medium-size tray and glass bowl with 55 snowflake gems. (There are enough in a package to have 55 snowflakes, which is the exact number needed for Montessori cards and counters.) I love the snowflake gems (so does Zoey). They can be used for many activities. (I used them in last year’s snowflake post.)
Polar Bear Cards and Counters Layout
I like to lay out my numbers and counters in the traditional Montessori way of rows of two counters with a left-over counter centered below the bottom row. This gives a visual impression of odd and even.
For more about creating DIY numbers and counters and a link on how to present the lesson, check out my DIY Cards and Counters post.
I use a Montessori Services rug on the floor for the layout.
Arctic Number Order and Skip Counting Puzzles
Free Printable: Arctic Number Order and Skip Counting Puzzles by Gracehopper at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I just used the printable and a basket for the strips. (I’m not sure where I found the basket.)
There are a number of puzzles in this printable and a number of different options for skill level. You can just have a simple 1-10 puzzle, like this Arctic hare puzzle, an 11-20 puzzle, or a number of options for skip counting puzzles.
Nonfiction Beginning Reader Printable Book – Arctic (with Optional Gross-Motor Activities)
Free Printable: Nonfiction Beginning Reader Printable Book – Arctic by Hope Laugh Teach at Teachers Pay Teachers (Note: Be sure to remove the page with the penguin.)
For this activity, I used two binder rings (although you could staple it together) and a small tabletop easel to display the book on the shelf.
For a young preschooler, you can assemble the book. For an advanced preschooler through first grader, the child can cut apart the pages, assemble the book, and read the book independently.
I love the versatility of this printable! For children who are interested, you can use this for a gross motor and drama activity. “Polar bears walk in the Arctic. Rabbits hop in the Arctic. Walruses snort in the Arctic. Seals swim in the Arctic. Foxes blend in the Arctic.” The child can simply act out the words on each page.
Another idea would be for a young child to find the Safari Ltd. Arctic animals that match the animals pictured in the book.
Free Arctic Animal Printables for Preschoolers-First Graders
Polar Bear Growls Exercise for Kids {Free Printable} from Christina Chitwood
Free Arctic Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Montessori-Inspired Polar Bear Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
- Polar Animals from FirstPalette
- Arctic Unit from Welcome to Mommyhood (Don’t use the penguins for an Arctic theme.)
- Awesome Arctic Animals Preschool Pack from Preschool Powol Packets
- Arctic Animals Printables from KidSparkz
- Arctic Animal Packs from Royal Baloo (Don’t use the penguins for an Arctic theme.)
- Arctic and Polar Region Printables from Natural Beach Living (This printable is for polar regions, so it includes penguins. Just omit the penguins if you’re studying the Arctic only.)
- The Arctic and Antarctic Calendar Connections from 1+1+1=1 (This printable explains that penguins don’t live in the Arctic.)
- Arctic Animals Printables from Encouraging Moms at Home (Don’t use the penguins for an Arctic theme.)
- Arctic Animal Printables from Preschool Mom
- Arctic Animals Matching Games from Life Over C’s
- Arctic Animal Word Cards from PreKinder
- Arctic Animals Bingo from Gift of Curiosity
- Arctic Animals Do-a-Dot Printables from Gift of Curiosity
- Arctic Animals Camouflage Activity from Gift of Curiosity
- Arctic post with subscriber freebies from Every Star Is Different (Go to Free Printables tab at the top of the Every Star Is Different blog, then to Thematic Activities, then to Continent and Country Activities, and then to The Arctic.)
- Arctic Animal Bingo from Lanternfish
- Arctic Animals Finger Puppets from Education.com
- Animals of the Arctic Tundra Wheel from Scholastic
- Polar Animals Notebooking Pages from Look! We’re Learning
- Polar Animal Resources from Primary Treasure Chest (This includes animals from both poles, so penguins are in the download.
- Printable Arctic Animal Crafts from Learn Create Love (Don’t use the penguin for an Arctic theme.)
- Polar Animals Lapbooks from Homeschool Share (Subscriber Freebie – Includes lapbooks for both North and South Poles, so don’t use the penguin printables.)
- Polar Bear Pack (limited time freebie) from All About Learning Press
- Polar Bear Printables from Making Learning Fun
- Arctic Animal Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
More Arctic Animal Posts
Montessori-Inspired Arctic and Antarctic Unit {Hundreds of Resources}
Montessori-Inspired Toddler Geography Activities with Baby Beluga
Simple Arctic Sensory Bin with Vocabulary or Grammar Activity
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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Where can I get the Eskimo since it isn’t included in the Arctic toob?thanks, Julie
Love your website!