Social Studies First grade social studies focuses on learning about ourselves and each other. First graders will learn about individual similarities and differences that make up the fabric of the surrounding community. They also explore citizenship values, traditions, and celebrations in order to gain an understanding of the people in the community. Students also use Scholastic News to discuss current events. First grade geography work focuses on “Viewpoints,” allowing students to see the world. Students will focus on learning how to read basic maps to better understand their neighborhood, country, and the globe. Using Nystrom’s Encompass program, which focuses on hands-on geography to increase engagement, students will work cooperatively and analyze primary and secondary sources in order to explore our world. Students are introduced to beginning map skills, identifying map symbols, and using cardinal directions. Project Work Students use the Project Approach to gain knowledge of what they think they know and begin to ask questions for what they want to know. Through research and discovery, students document their learning. Learning is shared and documented in a variety of ways Project topics vary from year to year depending on student interest. Music In first grade, students build the foundations of musical understanding through joyful, physical, and playful music-making. They learn to feel and maintain a steady beat using their bodies, voices, and classroom instruments, connecting movement directly to sound. Through word chains, rhythmic syllables, and visual icons, students begin performing simple rhythmic patterns and explore early melodic work using sol–mi– la on barred instruments. Collaboration is emphasized as students work with partners on musical ideas. They respond to music with both locomotor and non- locomotor movement and begin to recognize basic notes and rhythms on a simplified musical staff, laying the groundwork for future musical literacy. Physical Education First graders focus on mastering fundamental skills like throwing, catching, striking, kicking, and dribbling, preparing them for various sports. Students refine their locomotor skills – running, jumping, skipping, sliding – and conquer challenging obstacle courses that test their agility and balance. Students practice
with jump rope routines, basic stunts and tumbling routines, and climbing with the rock wall and ladder challenges in the Cook Road gymnasium. In addition, students will practice ice skating at the McCann Ice Arena, as well as take advantage of games and activities on the turf athletic fields that promote teamwork and sportsmanship. Science Students use their senses as they explore how to be scientists. They work on what it means to be a scientist and what science is. They work on using scientific vocabulary and being introduced to the scientific method, building their probing skills, making observations, collecting data, organizing, and developing reasoning for their solutions. Experience is guided by student interest and topics are chosen by what the students are interested in. All topics involve physical, life, environmental science, and engineering. First Lego League Explore begins in first grade. This program introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children through authentic learning. Participants gain real-world problem solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. This level focuses on the fundamentals of engineering and the exploration of real-world issues. Students learn to design, code, and create solutions with the use of Lego robotics. Visual Art Students continue to build on material exploration and proper care of supplies, while building their skills more independently during longer class periods. More vocabulary is implemented and students continue to work with the elements of art applying them to drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, fibers, and printmaking. Student projects are linked to art history, nature, and classroom collaboration. Collage and mixed media are introduced more in depth, along with more detailed ceramic concepts. A first grade project might include, but is not limited to, a collage of a city block inspired by artist Jacob Lawrence. Built to Thrive The Built to Thrive program meets twice a month for all first grade students. This program enhances social- emotional intelligence through literature, play, and reflection. Built to Thrive provides thoughtful activities to practice students’ social-emotional learning, develop empathy for others, and practice problem- solving skills. Children also work on identifying and managing their own and others’ emotions.
First Grade
Literacy In first grade, students begin the year mastering consonants, short vowels, and digraphs to read words fluently. Lessons progress to glued sounds, base words with the suffix “s,” consonant blends, and “r” controlled vowels. Word instruction consists of high frequency words, “trick words,” and vocabulary. Students practice reading with the teacher, with partners, and independently with the goal of building their comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and stamina. Decodable books complement lesson progression. The classroom library provides choices of good fit books, a collection of books at a variety of reading levels, picture storybooks, informational books, and chapter books. Students also explore the different purposes of reading. Phonemic Awareness Students work on developing rhyming, fluency, blending, isolating phonemes, and segmenting. As skills develop further, students are able to add, delete, and substitute syllables or phonemes. Word Study Students practice with a multisensory approach in reading and writing instruction that also involves encoding instruction.
Writing Students develop legible and fluent handwriting. Instruction begins with lowercase letter formation working to distinguish between lowercase and uppercase letters. Daily practice includes letter formation instruction including dictation. This work encourages students to develop good writing habits. They learn the beginning concepts of sentence structure to include beginning sentences with uppercase letters and proper ending punctuation. Skills develop through a variety of activities including journal writing, expository writing, letter writing, and descriptive writing. Mathematics In first grade, the Singapore Math approach is utilized through the Math in Focus curriculum. The concrete-pictorial-abstract methodology of introducing topics and skills through Math in Focus allows students to gain an understanding of numbers through manipulatives and pictorial representations before moving to more abstract concepts. Topics and skills through hands-on instruction include basic mathematical facts, place value, mental math, and geometry concepts. Additional topics include understanding numbers to 120, addition and subtraction within 40, shapes and patterns, calendar and time, length and weight, graphs, and money.
2026-2027 ULS Curriculum Guide
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Lower School | First Grade
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