First Grade
First Grade Current Unit of Inquiry
Theme: Sharing the Planet
Central Idea: Characteristics of plants and animals are unique and are essential to their survival.
An Inquiry Into:
• Appearance and movement of plants and animals
• Ways plants and animals survive
• Factors that threaten survival
English Language Arts
The English Language Arts curriculum at the first grade level concentrates on building a solid foundation to become independent readers through balanced instruction. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills develop during the year as students are exposed to a wide variety of texts including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and fantasy. Reading fluency is emphasized which evolves through independent, group, oral, and individualized instruction. Daily reading takes place in the classroom with reinforcement at home to develop fluency in reading. Students are also introduced to grammar basics including parts of speech and sentence mechanics. Written composition skills are taught through daily journaling and process writing, as well as through descriptive and narrative writing. In grade 1 the unit of inquiry with a Language Arts focus will be Lights, Camera, Action.
Math
The basic skills and concepts presented in the kindergarten curriculum are reviewed with an emphasis on mastery of addition and subtraction facts. A variety of instructional methods are used including hands-on activities and small group learning. Course work includes developing a solid understanding of place value. Students learn to say, read, and write whole numbers to one thousand. In addition, they collect, order, and display data on a chart. Measuring length, area, capacity, weight, temperature and time, develops strong measurement skills. Students also learn to recognize and exchange coins as well as how to explore 2-dimensional shapes and patterns. Mental and written arithmetic is explored in a problem-solving context.
Science
Students are introduced to the study of life, earth, and physical sciences. The material presented teaches students to classify objects, organisms, actions, and events from the environment according to similarities and differences. Studies include magnets and electricity, plants, matter, sound, heat, and light, how the human body works, nutrition, vertebrates/invertebrates, weather and seasons, the earth, and our solar system. Students are given the opportunity to manipulate laboratory materials and equipment and to have hands-on experience construction models. Scientific process skills include observing, communicating, classifying, estimating, measuring, inferring, predicting, hypothesizing, collecting data, and experimenting. In grade 1 the units of inquiry with a science focus will be As the World Turns, Ch Ch Changes, and Fly Away Home.
Social Studies
Students are introduced to important concepts and generalizations from history and the social sciences discipline. Activities are coordinated to integrate with reading instruction to ensure the understanding of all concepts. At the first grade level, children explore their community and gain awareness for the people who make up their community. Throughout the year, children learn American symbols, economics, and map skills. Stories of “real-life” heroes from around the world encourage the natural interest that children have for history. This in depth study builds the foundation for an understanding of historical events and helps the child gain a sense of time throughout our human history. In grade 1 the units of inquiry with a Social Studies focus will be Ch, Ch Changes, Journeys, and Who Are the People in My Neighborhood.
Art
Art students have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of mediums and activities emphasizing experimentation and discovery. Although the primary goal of the program is creative expression and appreciation for individuality of others, studies will include an introduction to art history and varied art techniques. In grade 1 the unit of inquiry with an art emphasis is Lights, Camera, Action.
Music
The primary music program is designed to begin to develop students’ ability to sing, learn about pitch, beat, tempo, and dynamics, and experiment with sound. Students learn to acquire specific techniques to develop music appreciation and singing confidence.
Computer Technology
Students at this age are learn concepts used in applications programs. Reinforcement of skills acquired at previous levels are purposefully included to solidify the foundation. Vocabulary such as minimize, maximize, menu, copy, paste, and font are taught. Basic keyboard practices and advanced mouse control skills are included in the program. In addition, students are introduced to shortcuts, scrolling, right clicking, copy & paste function, and retrieve and edit skills.
Physical Education
The focus of the primary physical education program is the introduction and exploration of physical education skills and concepts, emphasizing the total development of the child. Through many organized games, students develop coordination, strength and endurance, a sense of fair play, and cooperation with others. This program focuses on physical fitness, rhythms, group games, and individual and partner activities. Numerous activities are offered to help students improve coordination of large muscles. Body control is demonstrated through activities that require bending, twisting, and swinging. Eye-hand-foot coordination is explored using a variety of physical education equipment. All students participate in the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge as part of the Physical Education program.
Spanish
Building on their previous knowledge of Spanish, students will develop their vocabulary and be able to speak in simple sentences in Spanish. Using oral language for social interaction and to obtain knowledge of Spanish life and culture, they will use language for greetings and polite behavior. Students will learn the functional vocabulary related to daily experiences both in school and outside tin the community. Increasing their vocabulary knowledge, student at this level are encouraged to speak and explore the Spanish language through hands-on activities. Centered around the Spanish culture, this course builds basic grammar, sentence structure and communication skills of Spanish speaking countries.
Personal and Social Education
Personal and social education is concerned with developing the characteristics embodied in the Student Profile together with the attitudes that are one of the essential elements of the Primary Years Program. Throughout the year, the children will develop an awareness of self-identity and their strengths and weaknesses. They will show self-confidence and self-worth. They will learn to recognize, communicate and manage their own feelings and emotions. In addition, students will reflect on their own abilities and behavior and will set achievable personal goals. Students will take responsibility for their actions and develop a sense of safety and an ability to protect themselves from danger. They will develop social skills when interacting with others in different situations and will respect the views, needs, and rights of others. Finally, they will show appreciation of cultural, racial, social, linguistic, and religious differences while learning to deal appropriately with conflict situations. In grade 1 the unit of inquiry with a Personal and Social Education focus will be Ch, Ch, Changes.
Library
Students will be able orient themselves in the library, understand and use the library terminology and select books by interest and reading material. In addition, they will learn to locate materials both by browsing and using the online catalog, distinguish between fiction and non-fiction texts, and extract, record, and categorize information.
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