First Grade Curriculum

Religion

A student will learn that:

• God made the world
  
• God made us to be like God
  
• He promised to love us always
  
• The Bible is God’s own story
  
• God gave us Jesus, His own Son
  

Language Arts

A student will be able to:

• read orally, listen, speak, and respond to oral language activities
  
• develop phonological awareness and letter sound knowledge
  
• read a variety of classic and contemporary works and distinguish among different types of literature
  
• develop strategies to gain meaning from text, monitor comprehension and build independence
  
• build critical thinking skills, retell and summarize stories read
  
• build vocabulary through meaningful and concrete experiences followed by   discussion and/or response activities
  
• respond to literature through writing
  
• be able to write a complete sentence
  
• learn correct use of grammar and spelling rules

Science

The Houghton Mifflin Science program uses the 5 E’s of instructional learning model to involve every student actively in scientific inquiry.

A student will be able to:

1. Engage – introduce concept and task, connect to prior experiences, and to pose a problem or questions.
2. Explore – work with materials, explore, collaborate, design, plan and collect data.
3. Explain – explain understanding of concepts and practices.
4. Extend – expand concepts learned, apply understanding and new knowledge to problems or situations.
5. Evaluate – assess students understanding throughout instructional process.

The scope of Grade 1’s program is Life Science (Plants, Animals, and People), Earth Science (Earth, Our Home, and Weather and Sky), Physical Science (describing Matter and Energy Sources and Motion)

Math

A student will be able to:

• add and subtract from 1 to 12
• count by ones, twos, fives, and tens to one hundred
• identify geometric shapes
• identify penny, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar
• count groups of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and half dollars
• tell time to the hour and half hour
• apply estimation skills
• read and interpret tables and graphs
• measure objects using inches, centimeter, kilograms, pounds, cups, pints and quarts
• identify and create patterns
• problem solve

Social Studies

A student will be able to:

• describe a family, identify the members of a family and give examples of rules
  
• recognize a famous American and describe an American holiday
  
• compare families today with families long ago
  
• compare school now and long ago
  
• identify members of their church, parish, and school families and their role as a parishioner and student
  

Art

A student will be able to:

• use the basic elements of art to complete original works of art
  
• strengthen fine motor skills through the completion of art projects
  
• develop a sense of craftsmanship and respect for the work of others
  

Computer

A student will be able to:

• turn on and shut down a computer
  
• acquire basic mouse skills
  
• develop proper typing skills
  
• use correct computer terminology
  
• create a file in Microsoft Word
  
• use a variety of computer programs to enhance skills in other subject areas
  

Library

A student will be able to:

• visit weekly and check out a library book for the week
  
• identify the structure of a book and the proper treatment of a book
  
• identify fiction and non-fiction books
  
• enjoy weekly story time
  

Music

A student will be able to:

• feel strong and weak beats in double and triple meter
  
• imitate and read rhythmic patterns which include quarter note and quarter rests
  
• recognize melodic movements by leaps and repeats
  
• sing and use hand signals for the solfege syllables sol, mi, and la
  

Physical Education

A student will be able to:

• practice basic manipulative skills with equipment – bean bags, balls, hoops, scooters, jump ropes, and parachutes
• explore locomotor movements, play recreational games, participate in lead-up sport games – soccer,  volleyball, and baseball
  SpanishA student will be able to:

• comprehend and respond appropriately in Spanish when greeted and following a command
  
• name the primary, secondary, and neutral colors in Spanish
  
• count from zero to twenty in Spanish
  
• sing and comprehend Spanish songs
  
• identify foods, clothing, classroom objects, community, and family