Grade Level Curriculum Guides

First Grade

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LANGUAGE ARTS

The goal of language arts instruction in first grade is to develop independent, confident, lifelong readers and writers. Through exposure to a variety of literature, children in the first grade will take part in activities in the following areas designed to help them develop the following skills:

ORAL COMMUNICATION

· Ability to listen and follow oral directions.
· Participation in class discussions focusing on the development of self-confidence when speaking to a group.
· Listening to and enjoying stories.
· Use of conversation, oral reading, creative dramatics, and choral speaking to improve the students'
  ability to understand and use spoken language.
· Exploration and use of grammatically correct language.
· Expression of feelings about a story.
· Offering ideas related to a topic.
· Reading aloud fluently and with expression.
 

READING

· Identifying the letters of the alphabet in both upper and lowercase.
· Using knowledge of letter sounds to read new words.
· Recognizing and using initial and final consonants, consonant blends, and short and long vowel sounds.
· Using left to right orientation when reading sentences.
· Introduction of the use of contractions and compound words.
· Interpretation of drawings and illustrations as context clues to the meaning of a story.
· Finding the meaning of words through the content of the story.
· Understanding the difference between reality and fantasy in literature.
· Using repetition, rhythm, and rhyme through exposure to poetry and predictable books.
· Understanding humor and exaggeration.
· Recognizing dialogue in written form.
· Comprehending and retelling a story in proper sequence.
· Beginning to put words in alphabetical order according to the first letter.
 

WRITING

· Using upper and lowercase letters appropriately.
· Learning the mechanics of correct writing form including left to right progression, top to bottom      
  orientation, and word spacing.
· Association of oral language with written words.
· Introduction of the use of capitalization and punctuation in sentences.
· Using developmental spelling.
· Experimentation with writing stories, messages, and letters.
· Beginning to write for meaning.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The focus of social studies instruction in first grade is on the development of a child's sense of self within his or her home, school, and community. Students also  study the family and school from social, cultural, political, economic, geographic, and historic points of view. Activities are designed so students will understand that:

· Each person is a unique individual.
· All people are alike and different in many ways.
· One needs to respect and appreciate the cultural diversity within a community.
· People use tools and methods to get what they need and want.
· Families are unique in their make up and in their customs.
· People and families make rules to protect their health and safety and to maintain order.
· Citizenship means knowing the symbols and celebrations of our country.
· People work to earn money to buy the things they need and want.
· People depend on others to help them meet their needs and wants.
· Communities are organized to provide goods and services to people.
· Places can be located on maps and globes.
· Our nation honors leaders of the past.
· We live in a changing world.
· People have a responsibility to maintain their community and environment.
 

MATHEMATICS

In first grade, students continue to develop concepts of numbers and numeration, operations, with whole numbers, probability and statistics, and geometry and measurement. Throughout the program, the material being learned is applied to solve problems at a level appropriate for the child. Extensive use is made of  manipulative devices to help make concrete what is being studied and to develop understanding. During first grade mathematic study, children will:

· Develop number concepts through classifying and patterning.
· Learn addition and subtraction facts to 20.
· Use the number line to count to 100 and represent each number with a numeral.
· Count by 2's, 5's, and 10's.
· Match number words and symbols from 0 to 15.
· Recognize odd and even numbers.
· Learn place value.
· Construct number sentences using A+@, A-@, and A=@ such as 2 + 5 = 7.
· Collect, organize, and graph data.
· Recognize money notation using pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.
· Use measuring tools (rulers and scales) and compare measurements.
· Identify circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles.
· Learn to tell time to the hour and half hour.
· Introduce time to the quarter hour and five minute intervals.
· Develop problem solving techniques by using data from stories, charts, and graphs.
 

SCIENCE

The goal of science instruction in first grade engages students in active investigations of scientific concepts. It is our belief that hands-on science education will develop positive science attitudes in the students. This will enable them to solve problems so that they will continue to build upon and expand their perceptions of  the world. Those concepts explored in first grade include:

LIFE SCIENCE

· Recognize and understand the needs of living things (air, food, water, shelter).
· Recognize and understand the interdependence of living things.
· Observe and describe the similarities and differences between plants and animals.
· Classify plants and animals according to one characteristic.
· Knows that plants need light, proper temperature, and water to survive.
· Understands that parts of plants have functions that help the plant to live and thrive.
· Develops an awareness of the need to preserve and protect our environment.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

· Understands that objects and events have distinct properties.
· Ability to sort and group common items according to specific categories.
· Identify an object as a solid, liquid, or gas through investigation.
· Distinguish between living and nonliving objects.

EARTH SCIENCE

· Recognize seasonal changes in different parts of the world in weather plants, and animals.
· Recognize how people, plants, and animals respond to weather conditions.

HUMAN BODY

· Understand the importance of good nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
· Begin to value cleanliness and good personal hygiene.