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 

  • 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 to forest and beach areas.

  • Living Science:  To cultivate a sense of awe in the students regarding science and the natural world around them using experiences with scientific concepts, observations, and experiments to form meaningful impressions that can build onto future experiments and deeper learning. Focus: Trees, local fauna, and flora/ seasonal

  • Social Studies: Multicultural stories, class community building

  • Handwork: Introductory Knitting, beeswax modeling

  • Visual & Performing Arts: Form drawing and drama. Each class will be practicing and performing a class play or presentation tied to the curriculum which is shared with class families.

 

Special Subjects 

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

  • Visual & Performing Arts: Music (introduction to recorder), watercolor painting, beeswax modeling

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

  • Nature Immersion:  All-weather hikes and immersion in the forest beach areas on Fridays.

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Depending on the needs of an individual child, and the homeschooling plan the family is following, more study may be needed at home to compliment the classes chosen at Spring River.  Talk to your teacher or the Program Director for more information.  At Spring River, the parents are ultimately in charge of their children's education, and the school is here to supplement and support.

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