Fur, Feathers or Scales? is a free printable Grade 1 science worksheet on sorting animals by the outside covering that protects them, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 1-LS1-1. It prints 3 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.
1.Sort each one: Covered in fur or Covered in feathers or Covered in scales?
Sort: A goldfish, A fox, A penguin
Covered in furCovered in feathersCovered in scales
2.Sort each one: Covered in fur or Covered in feathers or Covered in scales?
Sort: An owl, A mouse, A snake
Covered in furCovered in feathersCovered in scales
3.Sort each one: Covered in fur or Covered in feathers or Covered in scales?
Sort: A polar bear, A trout, A duck
Covered in furCovered in feathersCovered in scales
LessonPrint · 1-LS1-1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Fur, Feathers or Scales?
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. A fox — Covered in fur 2. A goldfish — Covered in scales 3. A penguin — Covered in feathers
2.1. A mouse — Covered in fur 2. A snake — Covered in scales 3. An owl — Covered in feathers
3.1. A duck — Covered in feathers 2. A polar bear — Covered in fur 3. A trout — Covered in scales
Questions about Fur, Feathers or Scales?
What does the Fur, Feathers or Scales? worksheet cover?
It practices sorting animals by the outside covering that protects them — 3 questions for Grade 1, all on NGSS 1-LS1-1: Solve a human problem by copying a body part that helps a plant or animal survive. The instruction to students is “Sort each animal into the right group”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which NGSS performance expectation does Fur, Feathers or Scales? practice?
1-LS1-1, under Life Science for Grade 1. The published performance expectation reads: “Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.” The worksheet assesses that performance expectation rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Fur, Feathers or Scales? is written for Grade 1, typically ages 6-7. It is one of the sheets on 1-LS1-1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Fur, Feathers or Scales? come with an answer key?
Yes. All 3 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 Fur, Feathers or Scales? 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 Fur, Feathers or Scales? free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Fur, Feathers or Scales?, 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 1-LS1-1
Solve a human problem by copying a body part that helps a plant or animal survive.