Grade 1
In First Grade, curiosity thrives and friendships blossom.
Math
First Grade mathematics expands upon the foundational principles laid in Kindergarten, propelling students to intricate understandings of addition and subtraction strategies up to twenty. This progression involves exploration of whole number relationships, emphasizing a comprehensive grasp of place values within the tens and ones. Additionally, students delve into the realm of standard units of measurement, geometric shapes, and time, enhancing their mathematical acumen.As they advance, students skillfully apply their understanding of whole numbers to tackle complex addition and subtraction story problems, showcasing proficiency in solving equations with unknowns in all positions. This robust curriculum empowers First Grade learners to develop a robust mathematical foundation, setting the stage for continued mathematical success.
Language Arts
In our First Grade reading curriculum, we elevate the love of reading. The reading workshop unfolds as an exciting journey where students learn explicit strategies employed by skilled readers and actively apply these skills during independent reading time, each with their personally selected “just right” book.
Our approach involves dynamic partnerships, small group interactions, and one- on-one teacher sessions strategically tailored to enhance each student’s reading proficiency and address individual needs. With a focus on phonics skills, students are adeptly taught to reread for clarity and self-correct for accuracy, honing various essential skills that contribute to text comprehension. First Graders not only discover a passion for beloved authors but also practice the art of retelling stories and articulating key story elements. Our comprehensive approach ensures that First Grade
students not only become strong readers but also relish the joy and purpose embedded in the wonderful world of literature.
The First Grade writing curriculum uses the workshop model to guide students through the entire writing process multiple times across many genres. It begins with students channeling their excitement as growing readers and writers into writing personal narratives and stories from their own lives. Students are guided to focus on the story and add details to their characters and settings. During the nonfiction study, students learn to write all about a topic they know and care about, becoming teachers through their writing skills. First Graders hone their persuasive writing skills by writing reviews to convince an audience to do, see, or experience things the students love.
The study of poetry teaches students about the tools poets use to write short and accessible poems. Each poet writes poems that are added to an elementary compilation of poetry. The year wraps up with a fiction unit in which students work on bringing life to their stories to “show, not tell,” the action, dialogue, and feelings of the characters.
Word Work Phonics
First Grade phonics builds on the knowledge from the previous year, reviewing those skills while making new ones. Instruction continues to be explicit, solidifying the foundational skills necessary to become proficient readers. Students grow in their automaticity and confidence as readers as they apply these skills in reading and writing.
Word Work – Vocabulary
First Grade vocabulary curriculum follows the same structure as Kindergarten, explicitly teaching rich vocabulary words through whole class read-alouds, group discussions, and direct instruction. Students continue to be exposed to various words that are specifically chosen based on the frequency and importance of understanding the text. Teachers present the words in a child-friendly context, using examples, comparisons, and real-world scenarios to guide students to understand the words more deeply. Students participate in drawing pictures and writing sentences to represent each word.
Word Work – Handwriting
The First Grade handwriting curriculum builds on the letter knowledge from Kindergarten and continues it, reviewing explicit instruction for proper letter formation and ample practice opportunities. The repetition helps solidify student skills as they apply this handwriting in everyday writing.
Word Work – Grammar
The First Grade grammar curriculum explicitly teaches basic sentence structure, inviting students to notice and apply standard grammar conventions. Students learn about proper capitalization, specifically beginning sentences and proper nouns. They also focus on appropriate sentence endings, using periods, question marks, and exclamation marks. Students are introduced to parts of speech and begin to identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives correctly.
Science
The First Grade science curriculum offers a robust learning experience, integrating diverse programs that actively engage students in problem-solving and the scientific process using hands-on materials. Through a comprehensive study of insects, students delve into life cycles and the pivotal role of pollination in our environments. Exploring the properties of sound and light, they investigate the intricacies of how these elements travel from source to receiver, experimenting with various manipulation methods. Additionally, students apply their nuanced understanding of light and shadows to observe celestial object movements, identifying patterns that distinguish between night and day.
Social Studies
The First Grade social studies curriculum is crafted to instill a profound understanding of students’ roles in the world while nurturing empathy for diverse cultures. Kicking off with an engaging “All About Me” unit, students celebrate their individual uniqueness and delve into the importance of self-care and consideration for others. The exploration of communities becomes a dynamic experience as First Graders foster a sense of belonging among The Cooper School staff, cultivating a supportive environment for all.
Taking a broader perspective, students embark on a global journey delving into Australian geography, biomes, and the rich culture of the Aboriginal people. This comprehensive approach not only builds a strong foundation for social awareness but also ignites a curiosity about the interconnectedness of our world and the myriad cultures within it.
Projects & Presentations
First Graders will transform into budding entomologists during the Insect Study. Their mission? Unravel the mysteries of biomes, environmental resources, insect life cycles, and their impact on humans. Throughout this engaging project, students will cultivate fundamental research skills and immerse themselves in hands-on exploration, focusing on the intriguing journey of various bugs as they undergo mesmerizing transformations. Not stopping there, the curious entomologists will discover a perished insect within their community, taking the initiative to preserve it for an in-depth study spanning the duration of the unit. This immersive project won’t just be about insects; it will be an exciting journey of discovery, learning, and scientific exploration.
This project is designed to immerse students in the impactful and purposeful realm of expressing opinions through writing. Through engaging activities such as ranking, categorizing, explaining, and convincing, students gain a profound appreciation for the influential nature of writing. They discover techniques to make and defend critical decisions, utilize writing as a tool for introspection and communication, and craft insightful reviews spanning a range of topics, including artwork, music, food, and movies. Culminating in a collaborative effort, students unite to publish a class newspaper, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to share their thoughts and creations with their families.
This immersive reading and writing project is crafted to deepen students’ understanding of both classic and contemporary authors. Guided by their personal preferences, students select a favored author to delve into, explore multiple works, conduct research, and craft insightful reflections on the author’s literary craftsmanship. As budding author experts, students meticulously plan and compose an original narrative, drawing inspiration from a mentor text by their chosen author. They skillfully develop characters, establish a setting, introduce conflicts and resolutions, and culminate the project by presenting their final creations in a captivating presentation for their parents.
Art
First Grade artists build upon the foundations learned in Kindergarten, continuing their understanding of the elements and principles of art. Students develop techniques, vocabulary, and systems for painting, clay, collage work, drawing, and sculpture. Visual art in First Grade is still exploratory and play-based, encouraging students to test the boundaries of processes and materials. First Graders create realistic/observational drawings of insects during their insect study and illustrate them with watercolors.
Physical Education
In First Grade PE class, students continue developing motor skills and introducing more structured games and activities. Students will learn the basics of team games like soccer and basketball, though the focus is less on competition and more on participation, teamwork, and skill development. In addition to these sports, students will participate in activities that promote coordination, balance, agility, and strength, like hula hoops, skipping ropes, and relay races. We emphasize the importance of fair play and respect for others.
Music
In the First Grade music class, students continue to develop mindfulness of others and self-expression. Students get a chance to express their own ideas in song and dance and practice working together in small groups and as a class. Singing, dancing, and trying new instruments are popular First Grade activities. Though more musical concepts are introduced, the focus is on communication, sharing, cooperation, and fun!
Choir
The curriculum focuses on experiencing music as a community and learning the meaning of ensemble with classmates. Students learn beginning vocal techniques through simple exercises and engaging songs.
Yoga
Play is incorporated into yoga sessions and students explore how to mindfully handle all of life’s little lessons. Toward the end of the school year the students create a yoga sequence together that we will also practice throughout the rest of our time together. The class is 45 minutes and will incorporate breathwork, yoga poses, rest and meditation.
Language
Students are encouraged to explore the Spanish language and culture through literature, music, and art. In these early grades, the priority is language acquisition and exposure. Throughout the year, students will rely on total physical response and the natural approach to begin recognizing and understanding the sounds and nuances of the Spanish language. Students acquire language through comprehensible input in Spanish through gestures, illustration, everyday objects, and artwork. We avoid translation as students will learn a second language using methods similar to the way they acquired their first. We read stories, role play scenarios, listen and dance to music, and create projects. Students take pride in their work and, overall, their acquisition of Spanish. Generally, these skills take about 2-3 years to fully develop.