First Grade Curriculum
	Beginning Math Description: Students attend class no less than 50 minutes a day/five days per week in grade appropriate activities designed to develop higher order thinking skills, problem-solving skills, an understanding of mathematical concepts, and an ability to make appropriate, correct calculations. Text(s): Title: Saxon, Math I, An Incremental Development (2nd Ed.) Authors: Larson, Nancy Publisher/Copyright Date: Saxon Publishers, Inc. and Nancy Larson, 2001 General Objectives: 1. The student will learn to value mathematics, reason mathematically, communicate mathematically, develop confidence in the use of mathematics, solve problems using mathematics, and compute accurately. 2. The student will continue to develop effective thinking skills and problem solving strategies, basic number applications, estimation, measurement with metric and English units, organizing data, basic probability, basic statistics, and basic geometry.   Beginning Science Description: Students study elementary life science, earth science, physical science, and health enriched with a heavy emphasis on experimental hands-on learning. Text(s): Title: Scott Foresman Science Authors: Cooney, DiSpezio, Foots, Matamoros, Nyquist, and Ostlund Publisher/Copyright Date: Addison/Wesley Educational Publishers, 2000 General Objectives: 1. The student will be introduced to basic concepts in life science, physical science, earth science, and the human body.   Reading Description: For two and a half hours each morning, students read the basal reader, write in skills workbooks, and are engaged in activities which strengthen their language arts skills and further promote written and oral language development. Text(s): Title: SRA Open Court Reading Books (Level 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, Level 1) Author(s): Marilyn Jager Adams, Carl Bereiter, Ann Brown Publisher/Copyright Date: SRA/McGraw-Hill/2000 Title: World of Language Author(s): Marian Davies Toth, Nancy Nickell Ragno, Betty G. Gray Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver Burdett Ginn, Inc., 1996 General Objectives: The student will: 1. correctly write all letters of the alphabet. 2. identify all sounds of consonants. 3. understand the concepts of long and short vowels, vowel diagraphs, and blends. 4. use correct language usage. 5. use critical thinking skills in analyzing stories and poems. 6. write creatively.   Spelling Description: Students memorize one unit of spelling words each week. Text(s): Title: Rebecca Sitton’s Spelling Sourcebook for First Grade Teachers Author: Sitton, Rebecca Publisher/Copyright Date: Egger Publishing, Inc., 2002 (2nd edition) General Objectives: The student will: 1. Achieve spelling success in writing and on spelling achievement tests. 2. Receive ongoing instruction and practice in basic spelling skills. 3. Learn to spell frequently used words. 4. Learn to spell words with unusual patterns. 5. Improve visual skills and proofreading ability.   Introduction to Social Science Description: The study of beginning civilizations, geology, and American history. Text(s): Title: A Child’s Place Harcourt Brace Social Studies Author: Dr. Richard G. Boehm, et al. Publisher/Copyright Date: Harcourt, Inc., 2002 General Objectives: The student will: 1. be introduced to concepts in: a. school days b. at home with family c. living in a community d. in and around the land e. my country, my heroes f. my world near and far g. school-wide selected countries   Art Description: Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes and study sequential and interdisciplinary studio and classroom experiences in the visual arts. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. enjoy the world of art and showcase personal abilities. 2. develop and expand fine arts knowledge. 3. develop and express skills related to the fine arts. 4. acquire knowledge of historical and cultural developments. 5. build a base from which to make informed aesthetic judgments. Music Description: To develop an appreciation for music and learn basic music values, notations, and qualities. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. by listening, singing, moving, and playing instruments, the student will be able to: a. distinguish beat and rhythmic patterns b. recognize and respond to dynamics c. describe melodic movement d. recognize the presence of harmony e. identify instruments f. identify various forms g. distinguish tempos   Physical Education Description: A basic program designed to promote good physical health and encourage a lifelong interest in physical activity. Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Demonstrate competency in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms. 2. Apply movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. 3. Exhibit a physically active lifestyle. 4. Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. 5. Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. 6. Demonstrate understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activity settings. 7. Understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.   Library Description: The first graders come to the library once a week for approximately forty-five minutes to expand their library skills. Text(s): Title: The Complete Library Skills Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 Author: Linda Turrell Publisher/Copyright Date: T.S. Denison, 1994 Title: LiBEARy Skills Grades K-3 Author: The School Librarians on Chambersberg, Pennsylvania Publisher/Copyright Date: T.S. Denison, 1990 Title: Hooked on Library Skills Author: Marguerite Lewis, Pamela J. Kudla Publisher/Copyright Date: The Center for Applied Research in Education, 1988 General Objectives: The student will: 1. continue to learn the proper behavior in and use of a library. 2. continue to learn information about the kinds and parts of books. 3. be introduced to the basics of the Accelerated Reader program.   Computer Description: A study of basic computer components and functions, with reinforcement of the skills taught in first grade classroom and review of concepts learned in kindergarten. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. be exposed to the different parts of the computer- computer, keyboard, monitor, screen, diskette, disk drives, mice, and internal parts of the computer (motherboards, daughter boards, etc…). 2. learn how to handle the mouse, keyboard, computer parts, and diskettes. 3. reinforce lessons taught during regular class time. 4. be taught how to connect to the network. 5. be taught how and when to use a few of the special keys on the computer.   Spanish Description: A basic introduction to Spanish culture and language. Students attend class twice a week for 15 minutes. Text: None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Ask and answer simple questions in Spanish. 2. Use greetings, farewell expressions, and polite expressions in Spanish. 3. Carry out a few commands. 4. Identify objects, colors, numbers, days of the week, months, dates, seasons, parts of the body, emotions, animals, hobbies, clothing, and foods. 5. Describe themselves and discuss things they like to do.