First Grade Curriculum Overview

English Language Arts 

The English Language Arts include reading, writing, listening and speaking. Reading is the core of our curriculum. Teachers work to provide a reading program that balances phonics instruction and reading comprehension with a love of reading and literature.

Students complete handwriting practice, write in journals, and complete creative writing activities.

Children read and enjoy selections from basal texts, leveled literature, and chapter books, depending on ability level and reading themes.

Throughout the year, first graders are continually developing their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. During each day, children read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding, for literary response and expression, for analysis and evaluation, and for social interaction. 

Mathematics 

First grade children are continually made aware of numbers and patterns in order to develop a number sense. Throughout first grade, children will:

• Use the words same, more and fewer

• Learn ordinal numbers first through twelfth

• Begin to read, interpret, and construct graphs

• Understand concepts of addition and 
subtraction and learn strategies to solve word 
problems

• Identify symmetrical shapes

• Count by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 100

• Understand place value for tens and ones

• Recognize and add the values of pennies, 
nickels, dimes, and quarters to $1.00, and 
exchange pennies for nickels

• Add and subtract basic math facts

• Tell time to the hour and half hour

• Measure to the nearest inch

• Read a thermometer, and name the 
temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

• Explore two-digit addition and subtraction

• Explore fractional parts of a whole 
Children are assessed through daily performance and formal assessments such as: unit assessments, quarterly tests, and timed addition and subtraction tests. 

 

Science

Throughout first grade, students will: 

• Describe the patterns of daily, monthly, and seasonal changes in their environment.

• Describe physical changes, including changes in states of matter.

• Describe the characteristics of and variations between living and nonliving things.

• Describe the life processes common to all living things.

• Describe how the structures of plants and animals complement the environment of the plant or animal.

• Describe the major stages in the life cycles of selected plants and animals.

• Describe the basic life functions of common living specimens.

• Describe how plants and animals, including humans, depend upon each other and the nonliving environment.

• Describe the relationship of the sun as an energy source for living and nonliving cycles.

• Identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes. 

Social Studies

The grade one social studies program focuses on their own identity as well as their roles as members of families and the school community. Students focus on various family structures within their community and society in general. They learn about citizenship and how to become contributing members within their community. The students will discuss needs and wants and the jobs that people do. Students also begin to locate places on maps and become aware of how maps serve as representations of physical features and objects. Students will explore American history through traditions, celebrations and timelines. 

Handwriting

The grade one Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Program reinforces the proper formation of letters and numerals. This program emphasizes how letters start at the top line and shows where letters fit on the top line, mid line and base line. This weekly handwriting practice assists children with both legibility and efficiency with writing. 

Safety

Children participate in fire safety instruction. Lessons include what to do in an emergency, how to call 9-1-1, and how to prevent fires. In addition to fire safety instruction, children receive child abduction prevention instruction. 

Working together, we can help your child achieve great things!

There are a number of things that you can do at home to help your child.

• Read Homelinks for Everyday Math homework.

• Assist your child in tracking his/her at-home reading time.  First graders are expected to read for 60 minutes per week.

• Review daily work and papers.

• Listen to your child read books to you.

• Read to your child.

• Practice spelling words.

• Practice math facts.

• Practice counting coins and making change.

• Practice telling time with an analog clock.