Simple Arctic vs. Antarctic Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables} - Montessori Monday

It can be challenging to find the best way for children to learn the difference between Arctic and Antarctic. How many adults still think penguins live in the Arctic?! This simple cut-and-paste activity helps preschoolers see the difference between Arctic and Antarctic animals and their habitats.

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Free Printables for Arctic and Antarctic Cut-and-Paste Activity

Free Arctic Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)

Penguin Cutting Strips with Basket

Free Penguin Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)

Satellite Composition of the Whole Earth’s Surface (Public Domain Image from NASA)

Preparing a Simple Arctic vs. Antarctic Cut-and-Paste Activity

Arctic vs Antarctic Animals Gluing Tray

Materials Used:

Multicraft Tray
Smaller Container for Animals cut from Arctic Animal Cutting Strips and Penguin Cutting Strips (I used a Bambu condiment cup.)
Animals cut from Arctic Animal Cutting Strips and Penguin Cutting Strips
Satellite Map of the World
Glue Stick (or another type of glue)

Simple Arctic vs. Antarctic Cut-and-Paste Activity

Gluing Arctic and Antarctic Animals on Satellite Map of the World

Zoey enjoys the themed cutting strips I share as free printables each month. In December, she used the polar bear cutting strips. In January, she used the penguin cutting strips. (If you want to study Arctic and Antarctic animals together, you could have a mixture of Arctic and Antarctic cutting strips in the same basket.)

I saved the pieces Zoey cut and put one of each animal in a container on the gluing tray.

We talked about which animals were Arctic and about penguins as only in the Southern Hemisphere. With a young preschooler, you can just focus on penguins being from Antarctica. With a child a bit older, you could focus on the location of the king penguin in the cutting strip. Its home is actually closer to the southern tip of South America.

Then Zoey glued the animals on the satellite map of the world. I love that this simple activity focuses on both world geography and important fine-motor skills (and it’s a great winter activity)!