Grade 1 Light & Shadows — Printable No-Prep Worksheet

This first-grade science worksheet helps students understand how shadow position changes relative to a light source. Through two drawing tasks, learners apply the concept that light travels in straight lines to predict and illustrate where an object's shadow will fall.

At a Glance

• Grade: 1 · Subject: Science
• Standard: 1-PS4-3 — Investigate the effect of objects in the path of a light beam.
• Skill Focus: Light and Shadow Formation
• Format: 1 page · 2 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Independent practice, science centers, or a sub plan.
• Time: 10–15 minutes

What's Inside

This single-page PDF includes two drawing prompts featuring a giraffe and a tree, each with a sun at a different angle. A clear instruction and a helpful tip box guide the student. A complete answer key is provided for easy review.

A Zero-Prep Science Activity

This worksheet is built for efficiency. The three-step workflow makes it perfect for any lesson. Print the single page in under a minute. Distribute to students, who can begin immediately thanks to clear instructions. Finally, Review their work in minutes using the provided answer key. With total prep time under two minutes, it is ideal for a sub plan, science center, or independent practice.

Standards-Based Learning

This worksheet supports a key concept within NGSS standard 1-PS4-3. It targets the foundational understanding that objects block light to create shadows, which is a prerequisite skill for the broader investigations required by the standard. The standard code can be copied directly into lesson plans or curriculum maps for easy documentation.

How to Use This Worksheet

Use this as an independent practice activity after a hands-on demonstration about light and shadows. For a quick formative assessment, check that students draw the shadow opposite the sun. The task should take 10-15 minutes for most first graders. It also works as a "do now" activity to activate prior knowledge before a lesson on light.

Who It's For

This resource is for first-grade students learning basic physical science concepts. Its clear format is accessible to all learners. To differentiate, precede this worksheet with a hands-on activity where students use a flashlight and toys to manipulate shadows, providing a concrete experience before the drawing task.

This Grade 1 science resource provides focused practice on the foundational principles of light and shadow, aligning with NGSS standard 1-PS4-3. It requires students to apply the understanding that shadows are cast opposite a light source, a key concept in early physical science education. By engaging in the predictive task of drawing a shadow, students move beyond simple observation to application. Research highlights the importance of such hands-on and minds-on activities in building robust scientific models. According to Fisher & Frey (2014), effective instruction moves students through a gradual release of responsibility, and this worksheet serves the independent practice phase. The two distinct problems allow teachers to quickly check for understanding of how a light source's position affects a shadow's location, a concept critical for understanding light's properties and its interaction with objects in the environment, forming a basis for future learning in optics.