Animal Report for Any Animal

Animal reports are a common research project in elementary classrooms. Students read informational text, gather facts about animals, organize their notes, and turn their research into a written report or presentation.

This animal report template can be used for any animal and helps students organize information about habitat, diet, appearance, life cycle, and other important facts.

Students can use informational articles, research websites, and videos to learn about animals and complete their reports.

If you’re planning a full research unit, you may also find these guides helpful:

• How to teach animal reports in elementary school
• Animal research project ideas
• Animal research websites for kids

This animal report resource is part of a larger guide to animal research projects for elementary students, which includes research websites, project ideas, and lists of animals students can study.

Free Animal Report Templates

If you’re looking for a simple way to get students started with animal research, you can download free animal report pages that guide students through the research process.

These pages help students organize facts such as:

• habitat
• diet
• appearance
• predators
• interesting facts

Students can use the pages while reading articles, exploring research websites, or watching videos about their animal.

You can download the free animal report template here.

What is included in this Animal Report

This animal report resource includes multiple options that allow teachers to differentiate the project based on grade level and student ability.

Students can participate in informational writing and research while choosing from several report formats to display their learning.

The resource includes:

• research graphic organizers
• genre posters
• full-page report pages
• half-page report pages
• trifold report options
• lapbook components
• interactive notebook pages
• teacher notes and examples

Teachers can also adjust the editable rubric and checklist to match grade-level expectations.

Research Graphic Organizers

The animal report resource includes many graphic organizers that students can use while researching their animal.

Students gather information about:

• habitat
• diet
• physical characteristics
• life cycle
• predators
• interesting facts

Students can use these organizers while reading articles or researching online.

For safe research sources, these animal research websites for kids provide student-friendly information about animals.

Many of my animal informational articles also include QR codes that link directly to kid-friendly websites and videos so students can continue their research.

Genre Posters Checklists

Genre posters are available to display or use as a checklist so that students know what they need to include in their reports.

Full-Page and Half-Page Animal Report Options

Students can organize their final report using either full-page or half-page formats.

Options in the Animal Report include:

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Scaffolded Report
• Appearance
• Diet / Feeding
• Habitat
• Characteristics
• Predators
• Life Cycle
• Offspring
• Interesting Facts
• Threats
• Animal Traits
• Vocabulary
• Where in the World
• Venn Diagram Compare and Contrast
• Books & Websites
• Animal Report Posters

Students write about each topic and often include drawings to illustrate their learning.

These pages allow teachers to adjust the level of writing required based on the needs of their students.

Full-Page Options

Here are examples of some full-page options students can use in their animal reports.

There are MANY options and pages students can choose to use in their reports.

Half-Page Options

Half-page options provide a shorter report format for students who may feel overwhelmed by a longer research project.

Students assemble the pages into a small booklet by folding the construction paper and stapling the pages inside.

This format works well for:

• quick animal research projects
• younger students
• shorter science units

Trifold Animal Report

The trifold report is another simplified option that allows students to organize their research on one page.

Sections typically include:

• appearance
• habitat
• diet
• offspring
• animal traits
• interesting facts

This format works well for classroom presentations or science displays.

LaPBook Animal Report

The lapbook option allows students to create an interactive report about their animal.

Students can add foldable sections and organize different parts of their research into a visual display.

Lapbooks can also be placed inside interactive notebooks when students are studying multiple animals.

Animal Research Project Ideas

Teachers often pair written animal reports with creative presentations.

Students may also create:

• animal habitat dioramas
• animal trading cards
• animal posters
• slideshow presentations

Where to Get the Animal Report Resource

The complete animal report resource includes all of the graphic organizers, report pages, lapbook options, and teacher materials described above.

You can purchase the resource here:

• on Teachers Pay Teachers
• on my website

Tips for Teaching and Writing Animal Reports

Teaching students how to research and write about animals can be one of the most engaging parts of a science unit.

This guide explains how to help students:

• research animals
• organize their notes
• write their reports
• present their projects.