List of 8 items.

• Art

  The young artist’s world is especially vibrant in First Grade, when they are introduced to color families and explore basic color theory in their work. The materials and techniques available to them expand as they learn proper techniques for watercolor, tempera, and acrylic paints. The study of artists and associated historical movements puts these skills into context.

• Humanities

  Through the integrated thematic lens of change, students become self-­reliant readers and writers able to express their own creative ideas. Through higher-level thinking activities within their language arts curriculum, students learn strategies to increase elaboration with description, use context and audience to structure writing, deepen research skills and prove with evidence, and to understand biographies as “stories of lives.”

   

  During time in the library under the direction of the Innovation and Media Specialist, students delve deeper into research and conversations about literature. Through these projects and discussions, students gain footholds in media literacy. They sharpen their understanding of the intellectual property of others while simultaneously learning how to inform and communicate their own ideas.
  
  

  In social studies, students further engage with the thematic lens of change by examining the impact of humans on both historic and current societies, as well as looking to the future to understand how they can become ethical and productive global citizens. Through local service-learning opportunities, students will gain an intimate understanding of their own community responsibilities.

• Innovation and Technology

  Technology continues to be integrated across the First Grade curriculum as a learning, productivity, and creativity tool; students focus on best practices, safety, organization, design thinking, and digital citizenship. Students take part in makerspace-based activities with hands-on construction; playful learning; experimentation with coding, structures, circuits, and simple materials — all with an eye towards the development of perseverance and empathy. 

• Mathematics

  Students focus on building fluency with addition and subtraction, extending understanding of the base ten number system, using standard units of linear measurement, and describing and analyzing shapes by their attributes. Regular assessments ensure that differentiated, small-group instruction is calibrated appropriately as students move through the curriculum.

• Music

  First Graders use the same concepts and instruments from Kindergarten while being challenged by more developed musical material. Children continue to solidify a sense of beat and pitch, and are now ready for more sophisticated Orff orchestration and singing simple rounds. Rhymes, poems, and folk songs provide text for musical improvisation. Students continue to engage in cross-curricular discussions of how music can serve as a lens for their world.

• Physical Education

  In accordance with Shape National Standards, First Grade students continue to focus on sportsmanship, coordinated movement, spatial awareness, locomotor/psychomotor skills and bodily awareness. Collaboration with classmates during physical fitness activities and game play encourages the development of social-emotional skills. 

• Science

  Science in First Grade is built on the study of waves, space systems, earth systems (including the water cycle, formation of land masses, and plate tectonics), and space systems (including patterns and cycles). These young scientists will also begin incorporating experimentation, data recording, and engineering design in their work, becoming familiar with the proper tools to engage in the process of scientific inquiry.

• World Languages

  Beginning in First Grade, students choose to specialize in either a Mandarin or Spanish language track. In a playful and age-appropriate environment, instructors focus on building skills for listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Beyond language study, a rich cultural context is provided by assignments involving crafts, games, music, and dance highlighting Mandarin or Spanish-speaking cultures.