Grade 1 Curriculum

The first grade curriculum continues to integrate academics and arts to explore themes and skills. Faculty build early literacy and math skills; developmentally appropriate activities extend students' individual abilities through small and large group work. Students particularly enjoy filling specially-decorated book bags with “just right” books to read at home and celebrating the 100th day of school with games that emphasize counting, measuring and predicting. This is an exciting year of “firsts” as students experience lunch in Coolidge Hall, participate in our Field Day, learn in the woodworking studio and perform in a play—all for the first time.

Program Highlights

  • Robotics
  • Grades 1 and 2 class play
  • Book Bag program
  • Earth Week
  • eBook publishing
  • Native American studies
  • Lunch in the lunchroom
  • Weather forecasts
  • Field trip to Ecotarium
  • 100th Day of School celebration

Specialist Time

  • French once a week for 30 minutes
  • Art studio once a week for 45 minutes
  • Music once a week for 30 minutes
  • Theater arts once a week for 30 minutes
  • Woodworking once a week for 45 minutes
  • Physical education three times a week for 30 minutes
  • Library once a week for 30 minutes

Grade 1 Subjects

Creating independent readers and instilling a love of reading and literature are primary goals in the first grade. The reading program focuses on phonics instruction, sight words, and comprehension. First graders also come to see themselves as authors who can write confidently and creatively.

Language Arts

Creating independent readers and instilling a love of reading and literature are primary goals in the first grade. The reading program focuses on phonics instruction, sight words, and comprehension. First graders also come to see themselves as authors who can write confidently and creatively.

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Two boys play a math game

Math

First graders appreciate the joy and power of mathematics as they develop problem-solving strategies and make mathematical connections to everyday life. Students collect and organize data on graphs and use pattern blocks to explore the concept of area.

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First graders explore their role as members of a society and their responsibilities to their country and planet. Students come to understand the meaning behind national holidays and appreciate cultural observances. They also study the historical and modern society and culture of the Wampanoag people.

Social Studies

First graders explore their role as members of a society and their responsibilities to their country and planet. Students come to understand the meaning behind national holidays and appreciate cultural observances. They also study the historical and modern society and culture of the Wampanoag people.

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First graders conduct an experiment about clouds

Science

First graders apply their curiosity and emerging scientific skills to better understand themselves and their world. They learn about healthy eating choices and diagram the human digestive system. They build rain gauges, study weather and create their own forecasts. They also build Lego robots that they program with iPads.

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Each week first graders explore French through puppets, songs, poems, and games. From pre-kindergarten through grade 2, the emphasis is on developing listening and oral skills, with topics revisited and broadened each year. Students interact as a group, then in pairs, practicing their social and linguistic skills in French. 

World Language

Each week first graders explore French through puppets, songs, poems, and games. From pre-kindergarten through grade 2, the emphasis is on developing listening and oral skills, with topics revisited and broadened each year. Students interact as a group, then in pairs, practicing their social and linguistic skills in French. 

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First graders explore increasingly challenging media and techniques as they learn about color, shape, texture, contrast, form, and pattern.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts

First graders explore increasingly challenging media and techniques as they learn about color, shape, texture, contrast, form, and pattern.

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Weekly music classes emphasize expressive singing, appreciation of master compsers’ works, and Orff instruments. Every first grader performs an instrumental overture and sings as part of the chorus in a musical play.

Music

Music

Weekly music classes emphasize expressive singing, appreciation of master compsers’ works, and Orff instruments. Every first grader performs an instrumental overture and sings as part of the chorus in a musical play.

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First graders are introduced to performance skills through drama games, creative movement, and by performing alongside second graders as the chorus in a musical production.

Theater Arts

Theater Arts

First graders are introduced to performance skills through drama games, creative movement, and by performing alongside second graders as the chorus in a musical production.

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Beginning in first grade, students apply critical thinking and creativity to hands-on construction projects.

Woodworking & 21st Century Skills

Woodworking & 21st Century Skills

Beginning in first grade, students apply critical thinking and creativity to hands-on construction projects.

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First graders refine movement skills and encounter basic sports as they practice working with peers toward a common goal.

Physical Education

Physical Education

First graders refine movement skills and encounter basic sports as they practice working with peers toward a common goal.

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Students build healthy habits, personal and community awareness, and positive social skills. Among other topics, first graders learn to identify and respect similarities and differences in others. 

Social Competency and Health and Wellness

Social Competency and Health and Wellness

Students build healthy habits, personal and community awareness, and positive social skills. Among other topics, first graders learn to identify and respect similarities and differences in others. 

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In addition to library visits, first graders begin using technology more frequently, narrating stories on iPads and building and programming robots.

Information Literacy and Technology

Information Literacy and Technology

In addition to library visits, first graders begin using technology more frequently, narrating stories on iPads and building and programming robots.

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Our Grade 1 Teachers