First Grade

First grade is a bridge between kindergarten and the grades. The child is now ready to begin to work imaginatively in new, more focused and explicit ways with the mind. The first grade curriculum is designed to meet the children at their particular developmental level. First graders learn and live through imagination, feeling, and movement.

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Main Lesson Subjects (covered daily in 3 hour sessions, 2 or 4 days per week)

• Math: Qualities of numbers; introduction of the four operations in arithmetic

• Language Arts:  Pictorial and phonetic introduction to letters; writing; fairy tales from around the world; poetry recitation

• Natural Science: Nature stories; nature walks in all seasons

• Social Studies: Multicultural stories, class community building

• Handwork: Introductory Knitting, beeswax modeling

• Visual & Performing Arts: Form drawing, painting, crayon illustration, music

Enrichment Subjects (1-5 days per week)

• World Language: Introduction to Spanish through songs, stories and rhymes, imitation and gesture

• Living Science:  Introduction to the scientific method & the laws of science through hands on experiments; introduction to building and architectural structures

• Forest School: A four hour outdoor, experiential nature immersion class

• Visual & Performing Arts: DRAMA and MUSIC (introduction to recorder)

• Handwork: Knitting (fine motor skills, concentration, sense of form), simple woodwork accompanied by story and song

• Movement/Physical Education/Games:  Circle games, imaginative and cooperative games; movement combined with music and singing; throwing and catching, rhythmic stepping, balancing.

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During the year, your child's teacher will plan field trips to enhance what's being taught in class. Advance notice will be given and we encourage parents to plan to attend whenever possible.