Skip to main content
SmartKDP
Log inTry free tool

Free printable directional sorting

Directional Sorting is a left-and-right activity built from picture cards. Each animal has a small arrow; you decide which way it points, then draw that item in the Left box or the Right box at the bottom of the page. Preschoolers and kindergarteners who are still sorting out left from right get a visual, hands-on drill.

Solution page included
Printable Directional Sorting puzzle page
Download the puzzle (PNG)Download the solutionSave to Pinterest
Peek at the solutionDirectional Sorting solution page

This free printable is a high-resolution PNG sized for a 6x9 inch page, plus a solution that shows which animals belong in each box. Save the files with no signup, then print at home or in class.

How to play

  1. Look at the arrow on each of the twelve animal pictures.
  2. Decide whether that arrow points left or right.
  3. Draw the animal (or a simple mark for it) in the Left box or the Right box at the bottom.
  4. Check the solution page to see which animals belong in each box.

Print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper so the left and right arrows on each animal card stay easy to tell apart.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the directional sorting answer key?

A solution image on this page shows how the twelve animals split between the Left and Right boxes. Download it with the worksheet if you want to check a child's sorting, or keep it out of view until the boxes are filled. The key is a PNG, matching the puzzle page.

Is this directional sorting page free to print?

Yes. Both the activity page and the solution download as free PNG files with no signup. Print them for personal use or a classroom center. There is no interactive version and no email gate.

Who is this left-and-right sorting page for?

It is built for young children who are learning the words left and right and can notice a simple arrow. The animals are large and friendly, so the page also works as a quiet fine-motor drawing task. An adult can sit on the child's left or right and point to the matching box for the first few pictures.

How should I print it so the arrows stay obvious?

Print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper so the 6x9 layout keeps the arrowheads large. Shrinking the page makes left and right triangles easy to mix up. A pencil is enough for drawing into the two boxes; crayons work if you want color-coded groups.

More free printables