Free Life Cycle of a Reindeer Worksheet

These reindeer life cycle worksheets help kids learn how reindeer grow from newborn calves into adults through labeling, research, coloring, and hands-on activities.

The free printable set includes a life cycle diagram, cut-and-paste activities, a spinner wheel, reindeer anatomy, research pages, and an opinion writing prompt.

They’re a fun addition to a winter science lesson, especially in December when reindeer suddenly become considerably more interesting to kids.

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Life Cycle of a Reindeer

The printable activities below help kids put these stages in order and see how a reindeer changes as it grows.

Reindeer begin life as calves, usually born in spring after a gestation period of around seven and a half months. Newborn calves can stand and walk remarkably quickly, which helps them keep up with their mothers and the herd.

As calves grow, they begin eating vegetation as well as drinking their mother’s milk. Young reindeer continue developing through their first year before eventually reaching adulthood.

Adult female reindeer are called cows, while adult males are called bulls. Once mature, they reproduce and the life cycle begins again with the birth of a new calf.

Reindeer Life Cycle Activities for Kids

These reindeer printables cover more than just the stages of growth. Across the 9-page set, kids can learn about reindeer anatomy, habitat, diet, movement, and survival while also completing several hands-on life cycle activities.

The activities work particularly well for elementary science in December, when reindeer are an easy way to sneak some animal science into all the Christmas excitement.

What’s Included in the Reindeer Worksheets

The printable set includes:

• Reindeer information sheet – research appearance, habitat, diet, movement, and interesting facts.
• Reindeer research worksheet – find out where reindeer live, what they eat, how long they live, how many calves they have, and the threats they face.
• Parts of a reindeer – identify and label the antlers, hooves, muzzle, ears, tail, and legs.
• Reindeer life cycle stages – color the pictures and match the stages with the correct labels.
• Life cycle foldable – cut out the newborn, calf, cow, and bull pictures and place them in the correct order.
• Reindeer life cycle spinner – make a rotating wheel that shows each stage through the viewing window.
• Opinion writing activity – choose whether it would be better to be a reindeer or a snowman and explain why.

An answer key is also included for the activities that need one.

Reindeer Life Cycle Crafts

There are two hands-on ways to put the stages in order.

For the foldable activity, kids color and cut out the pictures before placing each stage into the numbered spaces. Younger children may need some help with the cutting, so you can prepare the pieces beforehand if necessary.

The reindeer life cycle spinner uses two circles attached in the center with a brass fastener. As kids turn the wheel, the different stages appear through the opening.

Reindeer Research and Anatomy

The research pages give older elementary students more to investigate. They can find out:

• Where reindeer live in the wild
• How long they live
• What they eat and how they find food
• How many calves they usually have
• How reindeer move
• What threats they face in the wild

There is also a parts of a reindeer diagram for labeling the antlers, muzzle, ears, legs, tail, and hooves. Kids can color the reindeer once they’ve finished identifying each part.

Since reindeer are members of the deer family, our free deer worksheets are a useful follow-on for comparing their anatomy, diet, habitat, and other characteristics.

Reindeer Facts for Kids

A few interesting facts to explore alongside the worksheets:

• Reindeer and caribou are the same species.
• Both male and female reindeer can grow antlers.
• Reindeer are strong swimmers.
• Their wide hooves help them travel across snow and soft ground.
• Reindeer have an excellent sense of smell, which helps them locate food beneath the snow.
• They live across Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Reindeer have been domesticated by people in northern regions for thousands of years.

And, of course, the most famous fictional reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

More Reindeer Printables

If you’re looking to keep the theme going, there are a few more reindeer 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.

Get Your Free Reindeer Life Cycle Worksheets Here!

If you want everything in one place, this complete life cycle bundle includes 247 pages across 23 different topics.

If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free worksheet.

Last Updated on 19 August 2026 by Clare Brown