NORTH CAROLINATHE TAR HEEL STATE
North Carolina Grade 1 Science Online Center
There is no state science test in grade 1 or grade 2; the North Carolina End-of-Grade science test is given in grades 5 and 8, with a Biology end-of-course test in high school. Grade 1 is where the habit of looking closely gets built, so this page keeps it small and hands-on: six short practice tests, 7 skill quizzes, and every North Carolina science standard for this grade, free.
Standards source: Standard Course of Study, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
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North Carolina Science by Grade
Every North Carolina science center, grade 1 through grade 8.
Start With a Practice Test
Six grade 1 science practice tests, 14 questions each, no timer, instant scoring, and a written explanation for every question. They are short enough to read aloud together in one sitting. Each one opens right here.
North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 1
Start here. A first look across every science idea for this grade.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 2
Another full set across every science idea for this grade.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 3
Another full set across every science idea for this grade.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 4
Another full set across every science idea for this grade.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 5
Another full set across every science idea for this grade.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Practice Test 6
Another full set across every science idea for this grade.
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Grade 1 Science Skill Quizzes
Pick one science idea, answer 8 questions, and see exactly where it broke down. Every answer comes with a short explanation written for the grown-up reading along. Each quiz opens right here.
Sound and Vibrations
A short check on sound and vibrations, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Light, Seeing, and Shadows
A short check on light, seeing objects, and shadows, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Communicating with Light and Sound
A short check on using light or sound to send a message, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Plant and Animal Parts
A short check on the parts that help plants and animals survive, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Parents, Offspring, and Growing Up
A short check on how young plants and animals grow and resemble their parents, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Patterns in the Sky
A short check on the patterns of the sun, moon, and stars, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Daylight Through the Year
A short check on how daylight changes with the seasons, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Grade 1 Science Study Tools
A few minutes of review between practice tests, easy enough to do together. Both open right here.
Grade 1 Science Flashcards
All 56 words this grade is expected to know, written to be read aloud. Search the deck, filter by science area, star the tricky ones, and mark off what your child has down.
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Grade 1 Science Quick Review
Every must-know idea for this grade on one page, grouped by science area, with the vocabulary for each one.
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North Carolina Grade 1 Science Topics
These are the 10 science standards North Carolina sets for grade 1, from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study – K-12 Science (2023), grouped the way the state groups them. Each one carries its official code so you can trace it straight back to the state document.
Physical Science
- PS.1.1.1Use models to explain the effect
- PS.1.1.2Doing Science
Life Science
- LS.1.1.1Obtain
- LS.1.1.2Analyze and interpret data to compare how
Earth and Space Science
- ESS.1.1.1Use models to recognize differences
- ESS.1.1.2Analyze and interpret data to recognize patterns
- ESS.1.2.1Describing and Sorting Materials
- ESS.1.2.2What Plants Need
- ESS.1.3.1Obtain
- ESS.1.3.2Engage in argument from evidence to explain
North Carolina Grade 1 Science Standards
Every grade 1 science standard in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study – K-12 Science (2023). If your North Carolina classroom or report card mentions a code, you will find it here with its full wording.
Physical Science
- PS.1.1.1Use models to explain the effectUse models to explain the effect of a push or pull on the motion of an object, with or without contact.
- PS.1.1.2Doing ScienceCarry out investigations to compare the effects of a given force on the motion of an object.
Life Science
- LS.1.1.1ObtainObtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize the needs of different plants and animals.
- LS.1.1.2Analyze and interpret data to compare howAnalyze and interpret data to compare how the needs of plants and animals can be met in different environments.
Earth and Space Science
- ESS.1.1.1Use models to recognize differencesUse models to recognize differences in the features of the day and night sky and apparent movement of objects across the sky.
- ESS.1.1.2Analyze and interpret data to recognize patternsAnalyze and interpret data to recognize patterns of observable changes in the moon’s appearance from day to day.
- ESS.1.2.1Describing and Sorting MaterialsObtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize the physical properties of Earth materials, including rocks, minerals, soils, and water.
- ESS.1.2.2What Plants NeedCarry out investigations to compare properties of different local soil samples, relating capacity to retain water, provide nutrients, and support plant growth.
- ESS.1.3.1ObtainObtain, evaluate and communicate information to summarize ways in which humans use natural resources.
- ESS.1.3.2Engage in argument from evidence to explainEngage in argument from evidence to explain ways that humans can protect natural resources in the environment.
North Carolina Grade 1: Math and English Too
Science is one of three North Carolina grade 1 centers. Same format, same standards-first approach, for the other two subjects.
North Carolina Grade 1 Math
Six full practice tests, printable worksheets, step-by-step lessons, and every North Carolina grade 1 math standard.
North Carolina Grade 1 English
Reading, writing, and language standards for North Carolina grade 1, broken into short skill targets with practice for each one.
North Carolina Grade 1 Science FAQ
Does North Carolina test science in grade 1?
There is no state science test in grade 1 or grade 2; the North Carolina End-of-Grade science test is given in grades 5 and 8, with a Biology end-of-course test in high school. The standards on this page are still what grade 1 teachers in North Carolina teach, and they are what later science testing is built on.
Which standards does grade 1 science in North Carolina follow?
North Carolina follows the North Carolina Standard Course of Study – K-12 Science (2023). All 10 of this grade’s standards are listed further down this page with their official codes.
How long are the practice tests?
Each of the six practice tests has 14 questions and no timer. A first grader can work through one in about ten to fifteen minutes, and there is no clock counting down while they think.
My child cannot read the questions yet. Can we still use this?
Yes, and that is how most families use it. The questions are written short and plain so you can read them aloud, and the explanation after each answer is written for you, not for the child. It says why the right answer is right and suggests something you can try together.
Is any of this free?
Yes. Every practice test and quiz on this page is free and needs no login. Progress is saved in your own browser and nowhere else.
What is the fastest way to use this page?
Do practice test 1 together, without helping. Look at the breakdown by science area, pick the weakest one, and do that skill quiz. There are 7 quizzes, one per idea, so you can work on the shaky part instead of everything at once.
Grade 1 Science in Other States
Standards, practice tests, and quizzes for grade 1 science in every state and Washington, D.C.
Start With One Practice Test
Grade 1 is a building year for science in North Carolina. Take a timed test, see which area is thinnest, and fix that one before it compounds.