Free Life Cycle of a Reindeer Worksheet

The life cycle of a reindeer worksheet became part of our December routine a few years ago when we wanted something seasonal but still rooted in real science.

It turned out to be one of those rare activities that worked across a few age levels, just enough coloring for younger kids, just enough research for older ones.

We’ve used it in the weeks leading up to Christmas as a way to balance fun and learning.

The spinner wheel, cut-and-paste craft, and research pages all help explain how reindeer grow and live, without being too complicated or too fluffy.

It’s an easy way to bring winter into your science plans while still keeping things festive.

Cut-and-paste reindeer life cycle craft, life cycle spinner, and reindeer body parts worksheet for kids.

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Table of Contents

Reindeer Life Cycle Activities for Kids

This set of reindeer life cycle printables is one we come back to every December. It’s a hands-on way to mix science with seasonal fun, whether you’re homeschooling or just looking for a creative winter project.

From coloring and labeling to crafts and writing, it covers everything in a way that’s easy to adapt for different ages and attention spans.

What’s Included in the Printable Pack

You’ll get 9 pages of themed worksheets, each one designed to help kids explore how reindeer grow, live, and survive in their natural environments.

Reindeer planning sheet – space to jot down habitat, diet, movement, and other interesting traits
Creative opinion prompt – kids choose between being a reindeer or a snowman and explain their reasoning
Simple fact sheet – kids use books or the internet to research and record facts
4-stage life cycle activity – helps students understand how reindeer develop over time
Parts of a reindeer page – color and label antlers, hooves, muzzle, and more
Life cycle labeling page – cut, color, and label the stages
Foldable craft – color, cut, and glue each stage underneath a reindeer illustration
Spinner wheel craft – spin through the stages of the life cycle, hands-on style

We’ve used different pages depending on how much time we have. The spinner is always a hit, but the opinion writing prompt has sparked some surprisingly thoughtful (and funny) discussions, especially when snowmen enter the debate.

Black-and-white worksheet with boxes to record reindeer appearance, movement, habitat, diet, and 8 interesting facts.

Reindeer Facts for Kids

Here are some fun facts kids can explore while working through the worksheets:

Reindeer and caribou are the same species
Both males and females grow antlers
They can swim, and they spend about 40% of their lives in snow
Their noses really do warm up in the cold, thanks to lots of veins
Male reindeer drop their antlers in December; females drop theirs in summer
Reindeer hooves change with the seasons to help them walk on snow
There are 8 types of reindeer, and they’re found in places like Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Alaska
Their hearing and sight aren’t great, they rely mostly on smell
They can be domesticated
Of course, Santa’s reindeer have their own names: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen (plus Rudolph, if you count the song)

Research and Writing Prompts

Some of the worksheets encourage kids to dig a little deeper. They’ll need internet access or a book to help answer:

Printable opinion writing worksheet for kids with reindeer and snowman illustrations and a lined section for writing preferences.

Where do wild reindeer live?
How long is their lifespan in the wild vs captivity?
How many babies do they usually have, and are they live-born?
What do they eat, and how do they find food?
What are their biggest threats in the wild today?

Printable worksheet with research prompts about reindeer habitat, lifespan, diet, offspring, and population threats, featuring a cartoon reindeer.

You can extend this into a mini research project or just let them pick a few questions to explore casually.

Labeling and Coloring Activities

These are great for visual learners and for younger kids who aren’t ready to write much:

One worksheet helps kids label reindeer parts like ears, legs, tail, antlers, muzzle, and hooves
Another lets them color the stages of the reindeer life cycle and match each stage with a label

Coloring and labeling worksheet of a reindeer with arrows pointing to parts such as antlers, tail, legs, ears, hooves, and muzzle.

These pair nicely with read-alouds or animal documentaries if you want to build out a whole lesson.

Coloring and sequencing worksheet showing five stages of the reindeer life cycle with arrows and labels: newborn, calf, cow, bull, and swimming.

Foldable Reindeer Life Cycle

Kids color each stage, cut out the pieces, and glue them in order underneath a reindeer illustration.

Scissors-and-glue craft activity for sequencing the reindeer life cycle, with cartoon reindeer cutouts labeled newborn, calf, cow, and bull.

We usually color before cutting (less messy that way), and for younger kids, it helps to pre-cut the parts so they can just glue and go.

Finished cut-and-paste reindeer life cycle craft showing four life stages stacked in order: newborn, calf, cow, and bull.

Spinner Wheel Craft

This is the favorite in our house. Cut out the two circles, remove one quarter from the top image, then attach the pieces with a brass fastener.

Two printable spinner templates for reindeer life cycle craft, with scissors and brass fasteners ready for assembly.

As the wheel spins, each stage of the reindeer life cycle appears through the window.

Finished reindeer life cycle spinner craft with labeled sections showing different growth stages and Arctic-themed illustrations.

More Reindeer Printables

If you’re looking to keep the reindeer theme going, there are a few more activities we’ve really enjoyed.

The reindeer handprint craft is always a favorite, easy to prep and a sweet keepsake for December.
You can also grab our free reindeer food printable, which adds a bit of magic on Christmas Eve.
The parts of a reindeer worksheet is great for younger learners who enjoy coloring and labeling simple diagrams.
For a bit of writing fun, try the if I were a reindeer worksheet, kids can imagine their reindeer name, job at the North Pole, and even their favorite holiday treat.
And if you’re working with preschoolers, we’ve got a full set of free reindeer preschool worksheets with coloring, counting, and simple matching activities just for them.

Holiday Reindeer Books for Kids

Once the crafts are done and the glitter’s been swept up (mostly), we love winding down with a good story.

These reindeer-themed books have been on repeat in our house over the years, they’re silly, sweet, and just the right mix of fun after a hands-on learning day.

Fritz the Farting Reindeer – Always gets a laugh and somehow never gets old.
How to Catch a Reindeer – A favorite if your kids are into the whole “trap” idea.
Santa’s Lost Reindeer – Sweet and funny with just the right amount of Christmas chaos.

They’re great for cuddling up on chilly afternoons or turning your reindeer day into a themed read-aloud session.

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For even more learning, explore our complete set of life cycle worksheets with 247 pages covering 23 different animal life cycles.

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Last Updated on 4 August 2025 by Clare Brown