FIRST GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

LANGUAGE ARTS

The emphasis of first-grade Language Arts is to improve communication skills through activities that involve listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Students also develop critical and creative thinking skills by predicting, decision-making, and planning. As reading and writing skills develop and improve, they are practiced in all subject areas. Capitalization, alphabetizing, punctuation, suffixes, prefixes, syllables, compound words, opposites, and contractions are introduced and reinforced throughout the first-grade curriculum.

WRITING

First-grade students follow the Handwriting Without Tears program. HWT techniques help children learn handwriting basics and become proficient with letter formation, placement of letters on lines, spacing between letters and words, and differentiating the size of capital and lower-case letters. In addition to formal handwriting instruction, our students practice handwriting skills when they write reports, keep daily journals, create class books, and write creatively.

READING/PHONICS AND SPELLING

Our first-grade reading/spelling textbook is Open Court Collections for Young Scholars, which provides systematic instruction in phonics and rich experiences with authentic literature. In addition to receiving explicit phonics instruction, students read daily from Big Books or other literature and complete daily writing assignments. Comprehension skills are gained through questions and answers, recall of events and facts, and predicting and problem solving of what-if situations. Spelling is also taught through the Open Court program, which promotes the formal teaching of reliable patterns and rules.

The Accelerated Reading program, a computer-based assessment tool, is used to personalize student practice in reading. Students complete readings in class and/or independently and then answer comprehension questions on the computer about the books they have read. Through AR, students are exposed to a variety of genres including non-fiction stories (science and history), fables, fairy tales, poems, short stories, novels, and nursery rhymes.

MATH

In first-grade, students use Everyday Mathematics, a rigorous math curriculum designed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics project. EDM builds a foundation of mathematical knowledge that, in time, enables students to move from the basics to higher-order thinking and critical problem solving.  This program is supplemented by Rocket Math, a basic math-facts program. Each day, first-grade students participate in a class math meeting that includes number practice, written practice, and oral and written assessments.

SOCIAL STUDIES

First graders become increasingly aware of their role as individuals, as members of a family unit, as students of their school, and as citizens of a wider community. They also gain hands-on experience with maps and globes by learning cardinal points, and identifying major oceans and continents. First-grade units include the story of the Pilgrims and important figures in American history. 

SCIENCE

St. Mary's science curriculum is a hands-on approach to learning the fundamental processes of science.  Through direct laboratory or classroom experiences, students interpret, infer, predict, investigate and model. Activities are concrete in nature and consistent with Piagetian levels of intellectual development.

In science class, first graders focus on physical and life sciences and learn to observe and classify information. The curriculum consists of the Hands on Elementary Science and Aims programs. First grade units include plant life (apples, seeds, pumpkins, trees), animal life (bats, owls, polar bears), animal groupings, and the life cycle of the frog. Dental health and fire prevention are also first-grade units of study.

RELIGION

On Wednesday mornings, first-grade students serve as acolytes and light candles for the chapel service conducted by the Rector of St. Mary’s Church. During the fall semester, children learn about the Christian year by studying and portraying Bible stories from the Old Testament. The season of Advent and Christmas are observed in our classrooms, as well as in chapel, and we enter into the New Testament stories about Jesus. In the spring, we end with the observance of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. During each chapel service, students reenact stories from the Bible, sing songs, participate actively in the Lord’s Prayer, and recite our chapel creed.  Birthday blessings also take place during chapel. Chapel lessons and active participation in chapel services foster positive, healthy, and spiritual attitudes in our students. 

FIRST GRADE SPECIALS

ART

First grade art classes include drawing and painting, basic art techniques, imagery and guided art, and 3-dimensional art. Various art activities are incorporated into the regular classroom curriculum, as well.

LIBRARY/TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

First graders participate in enriched literature activities, author studies. and library skills work during their weekly library class. They also visit the computer lab to learn basic technology skills and complete Accelerated Reader assessments.

SPANISH

Our first-grade students have two 30-minute Spanish classes each week. The curriculum currently integrates themes and exercises from two programs designed specifically for young learners: Sube: Learning Language thru Art, Music, and Games and Teach Them Spanish. Throughout the year, first graders study and participate in holidays and traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. Educational films, music, and picture books bring Hispanic culture, history, and geography alive for these beginning learners. This year, first-graders will also explore Hispanic culture in the United States.

MUSIC

In music class, first-grade students experience rhythm, pitch, basic music theory and notation, and a variety of music and movement activities using the Orff Schulwerk approach. They also learn about orchestral families, and composers and their music. In addition, first graders explore cultural music, take part in performances, and gain hands-on instrument experience.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

 Our PE program provides the learner with unique fundamental knowledge, interaction, and physical skills appropriate for each age level.  Our units consist of drills, exercise, physical activities and games. Units are as follows: perceptual-motor development, President’s fitness challenge, dance & movement, archery, relays, volleyball, jogging and cross country. Our goal is to equip the students with knowledge and a desire for lifelong physical activity. Students are encouraged to engage in physical activity outside of the classroom through various forms of team sports and exercise.

Website Powered by Perimeter Technology Center