Big and Small Bugs Sorting Worksheets for Preschoolers (Free To Print)

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If your little one lights up at the sight of bugs and loves hands-on fun, you’ll love these free printable big and small bugs sorting worksheets! They’re a playful way to help your child explore early math and comparison skills, while giggling over every cute critter they sort.

With cheerful bugs, colorful illustrations, and an interactive cut-and-paste format, your little learners will love identifying and sorting insects while strengthening foundational concepts like size comparison, categorization, and fine motor skills.

This post will explore why sorting by size is an important early childhood skill, what’s included in this printable set, how to use it at home or in the classroom, and creative ways to extend the learning experience.

Free Printable Big and Small Bug Sorting Worksheets

Sorting objects by size helps children build essential early math skills and understand how to compare and classify objects, which are critical abilities for later academic success. Activities that ask kids to identify “big” and “small” not only build vocabulary and observation skills but also lay the groundwork for more complex skills like:

• Measurement
• Estimation
• Sequencing
• Visual discrimination
• Categorization
• Critical thinking

By learning to recognize and sort insects based on size, kids also apply what they see to everyday experiences. This hands-on practice with real-world visuals helps solidify their understanding of spatial relationships and size-based comparison.

What’s Included in the Insect Sorting Worksheet Set?

This printable set includes three unique insect sorting pages designed to help preschoolers, kindergartners, and early learners develop size recognition in a fun, bug-themed way.

Each worksheet features:

• A printable sorting mat with two categories labeled BIG and SMALL.
• A vertical strip of insects on the right-hand side, ready to be cut out.
• A variety of adorable insect illustrations, including butterflies, ants, ladybugs, dragonflies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, snails, bees, spiders, beetles, and more
• There are both color and black-and-white versions so you can use them in multiple ways (great for printing in grayscale or for coloring practice).

The bugs vary in size and style, giving kids a wide range of visuals to practice comparing. The insects are friendly and engaging, with bold outlines and playful faces, perfect for younger learners.

These worksheets are designed to be no-prep and easy to use.

1. Print your desired worksheet(s) on regular printer paper or cardstock.
2. Provide your child with safety scissors and glue or a glue stick.
3. Have your child cut out each insect along the dotted lines.
4. Let them examine the size of each insect and decide whether it belongs in the BIG or SMALL box.
5. Paste the insects into the appropriate sorting space on the worksheet.

You can also laminate the worksheets and insects for repeated use with Velcro dots or magnets.

How to Use These Free Printable Sorting Worksheets?

This simple worksheet offers multi-skill development, making it a powerful addition to any early learning environment. Here’s what your child will be working on:

• Size recognition – Understanding the difference between large and small
• Visual discrimination – Spotting differences and similarities between objects
• Cutting practice – Developing fine motor skills and scissor control
• Hand-eye coordination – Carefully placing and gluing the cut-out insects
• Problem-solving – Making decisions about where each item belongs
• Vocabulary development – Using comparative language like “bigger,” “smaller,” “tiny,” or “huge”

These worksheets foster independence and confidence, as kids can complete most activities independently or with minimal guidance.

Worksheets for Classrooms or Homeschool Learning

Whether you’re a preschool teacher, homeschool parent, or childcare provider, these worksheets make an excellent addition to your early learning curriculum. They’re ideal for:

• Centers or stations
• Independent seat work
• Small group instruction
• Morning work or early finishers
• Spring and summer bug themes
• Rainy-day educational activities
• STEM or science lesson tie-ins

They’re also a wonderful way to introduce insect vocabulary and encourage curiosity about nature and the world around us.

How to Organize Educational Worksheets

To make the most of your insect sorting worksheets, especially if you plan to reuse them in a classroom setting, try these quick tips:

• Laminate the pieces and use Velcro dots for a reusable sorting activity.
• Store cut-out insects in small baggies labeled by worksheet set.
• Clip the full printable pages together and keep them in a theme-based folder (e.g., “Spring,” “Insects,” “Size Sorting”).

Having everything stored and ready to go makes it easy to pull out this activity again and again!

Extend the Learning

Want to get even more educational value out of these free printables? Try these extension ideas:

1. Add a Counting Element

Have your child count the number of big bugs and small bugs. Which group has more? How many more?

2. Use Descriptive Language

Encourage your child to describe each insect using terms like “tiny,” “long,” “wide,” “round,” or “winged.” This builds both language and observation skills.

3. Insect Hunt

After sorting, go on an outdoor insect hunt. Can your child spot any real-life bugs that are big or small? Try matching real bugs to the ones on the worksheet!

4. Storytime Tie-In

Pair this activity with a bug-themed children’s book. Great options include:

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Read our disclosure policy here.

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff[SHAPE OF ME & OTHER STUFF-BOAR][Board Books]The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Little Learning LibraryThe Grouchy LadybugBugs! Bugs! Bugs!: (Bug Books for Kids, Nonfiction Kids Books)

 

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
• Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
• I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd

Free Preschool Worksheets

These big and small bug sorting printables are free to download and easy to print at home or school. Ready to help your little one explore the world of insects while learning about size and comparison?

With bright illustrations, hands-on interaction, and meaningful learning outcomes, these big and small insect sorting worksheets are necessary for any preschool or early learning setting. They’re fun, engaging, and provide a strong foundation for important early math and cognitive skills.

Whether your child loves butterflies, beetles, or creepy crawlies, they’ll enjoy cutting, sorting, and playing with these friendly little bugs while learning something new.

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So grab your scissors and glue, it’s time to sort the bugs and spark your child’s love of learning!

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