What Happened and Why is a free printable Kindergarten English worksheet on matching what happened in a story to why it happened, aligned to Common Core standard RL.K.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.
Draw a line from what happened to why it happened.
1.Match what happened to why it happened.
Mia put on her mittens.
Lily took her umbrella.
Kim laughed and laughed.
The cat ran up a tree.
A.It was cold outside.
B.A big dog chased it.
C.It was raining.
D.Her friend told a funny joke.
2.Match what happened to why it happened.
Tom went to bed early.
Sam washed his hands.
Ben got a glass of water.
Rosa turned on the light.
A.They were muddy.
B.The room was dark.
C.He was very tired.
D.He was thirsty.
LessonPrint · RL.K.1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — What Happened and Why
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Mia put on her mittens. — A (It was cold outside.) 2. Lily took her umbrella. — C (It was raining.) 3. Kim laughed and laughed. — D (Her friend told a funny joke.) 4. The cat ran up a tree. — B (A big dog chased it.)
2.1. Tom went to bed early. — C (He was very tired.) 2. Sam washed his hands. — A (They were muddy.) 3. Ben got a glass of water. — D (He was thirsty.) 4. Rosa turned on the light. — B (The room was dark.)
Questions about What Happened and Why
What does the What Happened and Why worksheet cover?
It practices matching what happened in a story to why it happened — 2 questions for Kindergarten, all on Common Core RL.K.1: Answer questions about what happened in a story you have just heard. The instruction to students is “Draw a line from what happened to why it happened”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does What Happened and Why practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 — RL.K.1, under Reading: Literature for Kindergarten. The published standard reads: “With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
What Happened and Why is written for Kindergarten, typically ages 5-6. It is one of the sheets on RL.K.1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does What Happened and Why 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 Happened and Why 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 Happened and Why free to print and photocopy?
Yes. What Happened and Why, 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.
More practice for RL.K.1
Answer questions about what happened in a story you have just heard.