Printable PDF Teaching Resources
Explore printable PDF worksheets, activities and thousands more teacher resources you can add to your lesson plans with just a few clicks — including free printables!
Thousands of Teach Starter's teacher-created resources are available in PDF file format, making it easy for any teacher to use anywhere — no matter what type of computer or software you have.
Curious about the advantages of PDF resources for teachers? Read on for a quick guide from our teacher team!
What Does PDF Stand For?
Before we dive into all the ways you can use a PDF in your classroom, it's worth looking at the meaning behind the acronym. PDF stands for "Portable Document Format."
It's a file format that was developed by the software company Adobe in the 1990s. The format was designed to protect the appearance and layout of documents across different platforms and devices.
That's exactly what makes it so easy for teachers to use. You can print a PDF worksheet on the school printer and send that same PDF via email to a student's parent, and the layout will remain exactly the same — even if you are using entirely different computers.
How Do I Open a PDF File From Teach Starter?
Most web browsers — like the one you're using right now to access our teacher resources — will allow you to open a PDF file directly in the browser.
What if you want to open the file without opening a browser? We suggest downloading Adobe's free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to easily display any PDF.
How Do I Print a PDF Document for My Students?
The ease of printing has made the PDF format a must for teacher resources, so how do you actually print your new worksheet or activity?
Simple!
- Open the PDF file in your browser or PDF viewer (like Adobe Acrobat Reader, mentioned above).
- Click on the "File" menu in the top-left corner.
- Select "Print" or use your keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + P" (Windows) or "Command + P" (Mac).
- In the print dialog box, choose your printer from the list.
- Adjust print settings like orientation, paper size and the number of copies you'll need for your students.
- Click "Print" to start printing.
Can I Edit a PDF File?
This is a common teacher question, and the answer is a bit complicated.
There's special software out there that will allow for some edits on a PDF, but you will typically need to have the original document to get the best results.
To make sure teachers can make the edits they need to adjust our resources for their lesson plans and their individual students, most Teach Starter resources are available in other (editable) formats, such as Google Slides!
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Persuade Your Parents – Persuasive Writing Project
Download this ‘Persuade Your Parents’ persuasive writing project to guide your students through the process of convincing a parent or carer to change a household rule.
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Persuasive Writing Assessment Pack Year 2
Use this task to guide students through the full persuasive writing process for a persuasive assessment piece (including criteria sheet).
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Who Lives Here? Animal Habitat Task Cards
Identify producers, consumers, and decomposers in different habitats with our Who Lives Here? Animal Habitat Task Cards.
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Environmental Impact Experiment Pack
Observe the effects of soil, salinity, sunlight, and temperature on the growth of plants with an engaging Environmental Impact Experiment.
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Effects of Habitat Stress Activity Cards
Explore how environmental stress affects plants and animals with our Effects of Habitat Stress Activity Cards.
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Insect Infestation - Habitat Impact Worksheet
Explore the effects of rapid insect population growth in ecosystems with our Insect Infestation Habitat Impact Worksheet.
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Metamorphic or Not? Worksheets
Draw, write, and compare animal life cycles with our printable “Metamorphic or Not?” Worksheets.
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Comparing Baby vs. Adult Features Worksheet
Compare human adults and their babies with a printable Adult vs. Baby Comparison Worksheet.
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Opinion Essay Structure Escape Room – Mission Persuasion!
Teach opinion essay structure with this engaging escape-room game that helps students build a series of strong, convincing arguments.
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Guided Narrative Writing Prompts for Beginning Writers
Help your young writers build confidence with this set of engaging narrative writing prompts, available as both printable worksheets and digital slides.
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Investigating Food Chain Disruptions Worksheet Pack
Explore what happens when a food source is removed from an ecosystem with our Investigating Food Chain Disruptions Worksheet Pack.
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Comparing Food Chains Across Habitats Worksheet Pack
Compare and contrast different habitats and how energy flows through them with our Comparing Food Chains Across Habitats Worksheet Pack.
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All About Cats - 1st Grade Reading Comprehension Passage
Explore informational text and learn all about cats and their external features with a printable 1st grade reading comprehension passage.
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Easter Addition Coloring Pages (Differentiated)
Grab a fun set of Easter Addition Coloring pages to help your little learners practice adding 1 and 2-digit numbers without regrouping.
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Build a Persuasive Text - Cut and Paste Worksheets
Use this set of basic persuasive texts to build students' awareness of the structure required when writing opinion texts with this Build a Persuasive Text worksheet set.
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Wild Wonders! Nature Observation Activity Book
Explore and observe the natural world with our Wild Wonders Nature Observation Activity Book.
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Reflecting on Resilience Worksheets (4-5)
Improve student resilience and reading comprehension skills with our Reflecting on Resilience Worksheets.
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We're Going on a Book Hunt - Mini-Book
Send your students on a book hunt either in your classroom or the school library with this fun minibook activity.
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Does It Lay Eggs? Classifying Animals Game
Use our Does It Lay Eggs? Classifying Animals Game to identify examples of oviparous and viviparous animals.
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Do You See What I See? Observation Activity Sheets
Observe, predict, and record changes in the natural world with our ‘Do You See What I See’ Observation Activity Sheets.
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Butterfly Life Cycle Diagram Poster Pack
Display the stages in a butterfly's life with a printable Butterfly Life Cycle Diagram Poster Pack.
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Linking Words in Informational Writing Worksheet Pack
Teach how linking words can be used to connect ideas in informative writing with this set of 5 activity worksheets with answers.
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Repeating Patterns Task Cards
Practice recognizing, copying, and describing different repeating patterns using pony beads and our set of 30 Repeating Patterns Task Cards.
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Story Elements Anchor Charts
Display these story elements anchor charts when learning about narrative texts.
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Producer, Consumer, or Decomposer? Activity - Outdoor Search and Find
Explore animal roles in habitats in the field with a search-and-find Producers, Consumers, Decomposers activity.
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Build a Scientific Data Table Worksheets
Improve scientific data collection skills with printable Construct A Data Table Worksheets.
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Human Features Picture Cards
Explore the similarities and differences between humans by using these printable Human Features Picture Cards.
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Identifying Variables and Constants Worksheets
Identify components of science investigations with our Identifying Variables and Constants Worksheets.
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Winter Paralympic Games – Inquiry-Based Project
Have your students investigate the requirements of being a Paralympic Winter Games host city with this inquiry-based learning project.
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Concepts About Print Assessment Checklists
Use these concepts of print assessment checklists to check all aspects of print are understood.
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Ordering Steps in a Scientific Process Worksheet Pack
Help your 3rd-5th-grade students strengthen their understanding of the science investigation process with this set of cut-and-paste sequencing worksheets.
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Paralympics Activity – Snow Globe Craft
Download this Paralympics activity that inspires students to explore the Winter Games through craft, writing and art.