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What the Sky Does Next is a free printable Grade 1 science worksheet on patterns in the sun, moon and stars that can be predicted, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 1-ESS1-1. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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One paper per student

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

What the Sky Does Next

1-ESS1-1

NameDate

Number the steps from 1 to 4.

1.Put a shadow's day in order.
  • A long shadow again in the evening
  • A long shadow in the early morning
  • A shorter shadow before midday
  • The shortest shadow at midday
2.Put the moon's shapes in order.
  • Half a circle
  • Half a circle on the other side
  • A full round circle
  • A thin curve like a fingernail

LessonPrint · 1-ESS1-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — What the Sky Does Next

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Correct order: 2, 3, 4, 1
  2. 2.Correct order: 4, 1, 3, 2

Questions about What the Sky Does Next

What does the What the Sky Does Next worksheet cover?

It practices patterns in the sun, moon and stars that can be predicted — 2 questions for Grade 1, all on NGSS 1-ESS1-1: Use what the sun, moon and stars do to say what will happen next. The instruction to students is “Number the steps from 1 to 4”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which NGSS performance expectation does What the Sky Does Next practice?

1-ESS1-1, under Earth and Space Science for Grade 1. The published performance expectation reads: “Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

What the Sky Does Next is written for Grade 1, typically ages 6-7. It is one of the sheets on 1-ESS1-1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does What the Sky Does Next come with an answer key?

Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of What the Sky Does Next can I print?

25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is What the Sky Does Next free to print and photocopy?

Yes. What the Sky Does Next, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach 1-ESS1-1?

Yes — “What the Sky Does Next” is a 50-minute Grade 1 plan for 1-ESS1-1, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. What the Sky Does Next is the practice that follows it.

More practice for 1-ESS1-1

Use what the sun, moon and stars do to say what will happen next.

Teaching this next? What the Sky Does Next is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 1 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 1-ESS1-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.