Use this resource in the primary classroom when teaching your students how to match objects based on common characteristics. For this activity, students will be matching underwater creatures based on different characteristics such as fins, tentacles, tails, the number of legs etc.

Print on card and cut them out. Then, use them in a variety of ways, including:

• as a science activity – students must sort and verbally identify the common characteristics between the underwater creatures cards.
• as a back-to-school icebreaker activity – give half of the students an underwater creature card and the other half of the students the matching creature cards. Have students walk around and look for their match. Then, have them introduce their partner to the class. This is also a great pre-assessment at the beginning of the year to see who can sort like items.
• as a random partner generator – give half of the students an underwater creature card and the other half the matching creature cards. When they find their match, they have their partner.
• as a memory game – using a small number of cards, lay them face down in a grid. Students turn over two cards. If they match, they keep the cards. If not, they flip them back over. This can be played individually, with a partner or small group, or as a whole class.

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the colour or black and white version. An editable version has also been provided.