classroom · bingo · free printable
Free Printable Animal Bingo Cards
Say the word, make the sound or describe the animal, for learners at three different stages.
Made by the PaperCarnival team · Updated
36 curated squares · unique cards every time · US Letter & A4
An ESL animal round can be called three ways: say the word, make the animal’s sound, or describe it. Learners find the match on their own card, so one set of cards serves a class hearing the words for the first time and a class ready for a description instead of a name. It is low-pressure practice that works across ages.
For extra practice, describe an animal instead of naming it, “it says moo and gives milk”, and have the winner say each animal in their line aloud.
Animals are one of the easiest first vocabulary sets because they’re vivid and familiar. Add native emoji beside each word in the generator for picture support, or paste your own word list for any topic, and, because there’s no server, nothing you create leaves your device.
The word list
Every square, ready to print, or edit the list in the generator
- Dog
- Cat
- Cow
- Horse
- Sheep
- Pig
- Duck
- Chicken
- Rabbit
- Frog
- Fish
- Bird
- Lion
- Tiger
- Elephant
- Monkey
- Bear
- Fox
- Wolf
- Deer
- Owl
- Snake
- Turtle
- Mouse
- Goat
- Camel
- Bee
- Butterfly
- Spider
- Whale
- Dolphin
- Penguin
- Kangaroo
- Giraffe
- Zebra
- Crocodile
Ways to play
Classic line
Say an animal name (or make its sound); students find and mark it.
Describe it
Describe an animal instead of naming it ("it says moo and gives milk"); students find the match. Great listening and speaking practice.
Blackout
Fill the entire card, a full review of the animal vocabulary.
Say it back
When a student wins, they name each animal in their winning line aloud, turning the win into speaking practice.
Questions
How does animals bingo help ESL learners?
It pairs a spoken word with recognition and repetition, which is exactly how vocabulary sticks. Describe an animal instead of naming it, or ask the winner to say each animal aloud, and it becomes listening and speaking practice too.
Can I add pictures or my own words?
Yes, add native emoji next to each word for picture support, or swap in your own vocabulary list in the generator.
What levels is it for?
It works for young learners and beginner ESL classes alike. For absolute beginners, a smaller grid of animals they can already name is the place to start.