1-ESS1-1: Predicting Patterns in the Sky
Also called NGSS 1-ESS1-1 · Topic: Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles · Earth and Space Science
The Official Wording
Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
Clarification statement: Examples of patterns could include that the sun and moon appear to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; and stars other than our sun are visible at night but not during the day.
Assessment boundary: Assessment of star patterns is limited to stars being seen at night and not during the day.
NGSS Lead States, 2013 · Read it on nextgenscience.org · checked October 15, 2026
What 1-ESS1-1 Means in Plain English
First graders watch the sky and describe patterns that repeat, so they can predict what comes next. The sun rises on one side, climbs high around midday and sets on the other. The moon also rises and sets, and stars show up only at night.
Star work stops at noticing that stars show at night but not in the daytime, with no constellations. 1-ESS1-2 pairs this with daylight across the seasons, and 5-ESS1-2 later graphs these daily and yearly patterns.
1-ESS1-1 I Can Statements
- I can describe how the sun moves across the sky.
- I can predict where the sun will be later today.
- I can tell that stars show at night but not by day.
1-ESS1-1 Worked Example
A schoolyard investigation run three times in one school day from the same chalk mark.
Where will the sun be in the sky this afternoon?
Set It Up: A chalk X on the playground placed so the flagpole stands to the south, plus clipboards and crayons.
- At 9 a.m., stand on the X facing the flagpole and point at the sun without staring at it.Sun low, to the left of the flagpole
- Sketch the flagpole, the school roof and a sun where everyone pointed.First sketch
- At noon, stand on the same X and do it again.Sun high, close to the flagpole
- Before going out at 2 p.m., mark a guess for the sun on the sketch.Most guess: lower, to the right
- At 2 p.m., check from the X.Sun lower, to the right of the flagpole
- Repeat on the next sunny day.Same path again
The sun moved from low on the left, to high in the middle, to lower on the right, and it followed the same path the next day.
Why it works: Earth spins once a day, so the sun seems to cross the sky along the same predictable path every day.
Common Mistakes with 1-ESS1-1
Thinking the moon only comes out at night
“The moon only comes out at night.”
Try this: Look for the moon on a clear morning or afternoon. It is often up in daylight, rising and setting on its own schedule.
Thinking stars go away in the day
“The stars leave in the morning.”
Try this: The stars are still there in the daytime. Sunlight makes the sky so bright that we cannot see them until it gets dark.
Moving the observing spot
First sketch from the swings, the next from the doorway
Try this: Stand on the same chalk X and face the same landmark each time, so any change you see comes from the sun moving.
Where 1-ESS1-1 Fits
Practice 1-ESS1-1
Quick Check
- The sun rises in the east. Where does it set?
- Why can't you see stars at lunchtime?
- Can you ever see the moon during the day?