Trivia Questions for 1st Graders, Built on First Grade Lessons: how it works
The first question is on the card already. Read it aloud, let your first grader point or shout, tap that choice, then press Check answer to see the right one and a short reason. These 120 trivia questions for 1st graders stay inside a first grade year: sums to 20, seasons, community helpers, animal babies, United States symbols, light and sound.
Read it aloud, tap, then check
Most six-year-olds cannot read every word, so read the question and all three choices aloud. Tap the one your child picks, then press Check answer. The card shows the right choice and one sentence of why. A wrong answer goes into Missed, and getting it right later takes it back out. Question of the day shows everyone the same question on one date, a quick opener for morning meeting.
Six topics from the first grade year
Press Topic to stay with one. First grade math has 28 questions on sums and differences to 20, tens and ones, half hours, halves and fourths, and shapes, each tied to a grade 1 Common Core standard. Light and sound, the Sun and Moon, and how young animals resemble their parents follow the grade 1 Next Generation Science Standards. Community helpers and United States symbols are the usual social studies units.
Tips
As trivia questions for 6 year olds these work best in short bursts: one Topic, ten questions, then stop while it is fun.
Let your child count on fingers or a number line for math. The grade 1 standards name counting on and making ten as strategies.
For paper, press Print question sheet: 20 questions with lettered choices and a name line. Print answer key repeats each reason.
Questions and answers
What do these first grade questions cover?
Six topics: first grade math (28 questions), seasons and the sky (20), community helpers (22), animal babies and parents (20), United States symbols (18) and light and sound (12). A teacher who wants trivia questions for first graders by unit can stay on one topic all week.
Are they easy enough for a six-year-old?
By the editors' judgment 61 are easy, 48 are medium and 11 are a stretch, such as what a baby turkey is called. Every question has three choices, not four. Reading is the hard part at this age, so plan to read aloud.
Where do the answers come from?
Each was checked on September 19, 2026. The sums were recomputed by a script and matched to the grade 1 Common Core math standards. Science questions were read against the grade 1 Next Generation Science Standards, and the rest against the Wikipedia article linked under the answer. Where an article hedged, the question was cut.
5 = ? − 3. What number is missing?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.8
8 + ? = 11. What number is missing?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.8
A bowl holds 4 apples, 6 pears and 5 plums. How many pieces of fruit is that?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.2
A pencil is shorter than a ruler. The ruler is shorter than a broom. Which one is the longest?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.MD.1
The clock says half past 7. How do you write that time?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.MD.3
How many flat faces does a cube have?Wikipedia: Cube
How many sides does a trapezoid have?Wikipedia: Trapezoid
How many tens and ones are in 47?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.2
Mia has 9 stickers. A friend gives her 6 more. How many stickers does Mia have now?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.1
The number 15 is one ten and how many ones?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.2
On a clock face, which hand is the short one?Wikipedia: Clock face
Sam has 7 red blocks and 4 blue blocks. How many more red blocks than blue blocks does he have?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.1
Two pies are the same size. One is cut into halves and one into fourths. Which pieces are bigger?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.G.3
What is 10 more than 34?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.5
What is 13 − 4?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.6
What is 15 − 7?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.6
What is 2 + 6 + 4?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.3
What is 23 + 40?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.4
What is 6 + 7?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.6
What is 70 − 30?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.6
What is 8 + 6?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.6
What number comes right after 99?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.1
Which number is greater, 38 or 83?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.3
Which number sentence is true?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.7
Which sign makes this true: 52 __ 25?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.NBT.3
Which solid shape has a flat circle at one end and a point at the other?Wikipedia: Cone
You cut a pizza into 4 equal pieces. What is each piece called?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.G.3
You know that 8 + 3 = 11. What is 3 + 8?Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, grade 1, standard 1.OA.3
Seasons and the sky 20
About how long is it from one full moon to the next?Wikipedia: Full moon
In the United States, which of these is a summer month?Wikipedia: Summer
In the United States, which of these is a winter month?Wikipedia: Winter
In which season do many trees drop their leaves?Wikipedia: Autumn
In which season does daylight last the longest?Wikipedia: Summer
Night is dark because the Sun is where?Wikipedia: Night
On a clear day, what color is the sky?Wikipedia: Sky
What do the Sun and the Moon both seem to do in the sky?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-ESS1-1
What do we call the time when the Sun goes down in the evening?Wikipedia: Sunset
What does the Moon travel around?Wikipedia: Moon
What is another name for fall?Wikipedia: Autumn
What is the soft light in the sky called just after the Sun has set?Wikipedia: Twilight
What time is noon?Wikipedia: Noon
When can you see stars other than the Sun?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-ESS1-1
Which of these is a phase of the Moon?Wikipedia: Lunar phase
Which season comes right after winter?Wikipedia: Spring (season)
Which season has the longest nights?Wikipedia: Winter
Which season is missing: spring, summer, fall and what?Wikipedia: Season
Which season is the coldest?Wikipedia: Winter
Which season is the hottest?Wikipedia: Summer
Community helpers 22
In the United States, which number do you call in an emergency?Wikipedia: 911 (emergency telephone number)
What color are school buses in the United States?Wikipedia: School bus
What does a doctor use a stethoscope for?Wikipedia: Stethoscope
What does an ambulance do?Wikipedia: Ambulance
What is another name for a school janitor?Wikipedia: Cleaner
Where do you go to buy stamps and mail a package?Wikipedia: Post office
Where does a baker work?Wikipedia: Baker
Who brings letters and packages to your home?Wikipedia: Mail carrier
Who collects the trash and hauls it away in a truck?Wikipedia: Waste collector
Who cuts and shapes wood to build things?Wikipedia: Carpentry
Who cuts hair and trims beards?Wikipedia: Barber
Who feeds and cares for the animals at a zoo?Wikipedia: Zookeeper
Who fixes leaky water pipes and drains?Wikipedia: Plumber
Who grows crops and raises animals for food?Wikipedia: Farmer
Who is the leader of a city or town government?Wikipedia: Mayor
Who puts in the wires that carry electricity through a building?Wikipedia: Electrician
Who puts out fires?Wikipedia: Firefighter
Who rides in an ambulance to help people who are hurt or very sick?Wikipedia: Paramedic
Who stops traffic so children can cross the street near school?Wikipedia: Crossing guard
Who takes care of your teeth?Wikipedia: Dentist
Who watches over swimmers at a pool or beach?Wikipedia: Lifeguard
Who works to keep people safe and stop crime?Wikipedia: Police officer
Animal babies and parents 20
A baby bird cheeps loudly in the nest. What is it doing?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-LS1-2
A baby fox can be called a cub, a pup or which other name?Wikipedia: List of animal names
Frog eggs hatch into what?Wikipedia: Frog
What do baby mammals drink from their mothers?Wikipedia: Mammal
What is a baby bear called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby cow called?Wikipedia: Calf (animal)
What is a baby deer called?Wikipedia: Deer
What is a baby duck called?Wikipedia: Duck
What is a baby eagle called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby owl called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby penguin called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby pig called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby seal called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby sheep called?Wikipedia: Sheep
What is a baby spider called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby turkey called?Wikipedia: List of animal names
What is a baby turtle called when it has just come out of its egg?Wikipedia: Hatchling
When a puppy grows up, how does it look next to its parents?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-LS3-1
Where does a bird lay its eggs and raise its young?Wikipedia: Bird nest
Which of these sea animals has a baby called a calf?Wikipedia: List of animal names
United States symbols 18
Flag Day is in which month?Wikipedia: Flag Day (United States)
How many cents is a quarter worth?Wikipedia: Quarter (United States coin)
How many stars are on the United States flag?Wikipedia: Flag of the United States
How many stripes are on the United States flag?Wikipedia: Flag of the United States
On which date is Independence Day?Wikipedia: Independence Day (United States)
What color is the Statue of Liberty today?Wikipedia: Statue of Liberty
What do the 13 stripes on the flag stand for?Wikipedia: Flag of the United States
What does the Statue of Liberty hold up high in her right hand?Wikipedia: Statue of Liberty
What is the Liberty Bell famous for having?Wikipedia: Liberty Bell
What is the national bird of the United States?Wikipedia: Bald eagle
What is the national flower of the United States?Wikipedia: National symbols of the United States
What is the national mammal of the United States?Wikipedia: American bison
What is the national tree of the United States?Wikipedia: National symbols of the United States
Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States?Wikipedia: Statue of Liberty
Which hand goes over your heart when you say the Pledge of Allegiance?Wikipedia: Pledge of Allegiance
Which of these is a nickname for the United States flag?Wikipedia: Flag of the United States
Who lives and works in the White House?Wikipedia: White House
Whose face is on the penny?Wikipedia: Penny (United States coin)
Light and sound 12
A room is completely dark, with no light at all. Can you see the toys in it?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-2
Cardboard blocks light and leaves a dark shadow. What word describes it?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-3
Clear plastic lets light pass right through. What word describes it?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-3
Drum beats and flashes of light can both be used to do what over a long distance?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-4
What can you build from two paper cups and a tight string?Wikipedia: Tin-can telephone
What does a lighthouse send out to guide ships?Wikipedia: Lighthouse
What does a mirror do to light?Wikipedia: Mirror
What makes a shadow?Wikipedia: Shadow
What must something do to make a sound?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-1
What part of a drum do you hit to make a sound?Wikipedia: Drum
What part of your body vibrates when you talk or sing?Wikipedia: Vocal cords
You pluck a stretched string and it hums. What is the string doing?Next Generation Science Standards, grade 1, 1-PS4-1
How this list was compiled: Written for this site by the editors; nothing was copied from another list. Every question, wrong choice and explanation is our own wording. Checked on 2026-09-19. Math questions follow the grade 1 standards of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (the PDF at https://corestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Math_Standards1.pdf, fetched that day): the standard named beside each question was read, and every sum was recomputed by a script. Light, sound, sky and parent-and-young questions marked Next Generation Science Standards quote the grade 1 performance expectations in the topic arrangement PDF at https://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/default/files/AllTopic.pdf, fetched the same day. Every other answer was checked against the English Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org) named and linked beside the question: the article text was fetched that day and the sentence or table row that states the fact was read before the question was kept, and every extra claim in an explanation was checked the same way. Left out because the article hedged or the fact repeats a sibling pack: the direction of sunset (due west only at the equinoxes), the Sun being exactly overhead at noon, the nearest star, the capital city, what an echo is and the word pitch (the 4th grade pack asks all three), the full moon (the science pack asks it), the young of the goose, llama and hare (the baby shower pack asks them), the Liberty Bell's city and the faces on Mount Rushmore (the seniors pack asks both), and the young of the dog, cat, horse, chicken, goat, swan and kangaroo, which the kids pack already asks. For animals with several names for their young, no wrong choice is another correct name. Left out on purpose: records, populations, living people, the national anthem by title, and film, TV, brand and franchise names. Licence: own work