Curriculum Overview

Language Arts 

The Language Arts Curriculum is offered through an integrated approach based on the six themes in our Language Arts Program, StoryTown (Harcourt School Publishers). StoryTown is a research-based, developmental program that engages students through the use of high-quality fiction and non-fiction selections. Instruction is sequentially based and moves the children through a process of direct instruction, modeling, guided practice, and application. Ongoing formal and informal assessments are valuable in identifying when skills have been mastered or if intervention through additional instructional support is necessary. The technology component of this program, Splash into Phonics, offers opportunities to reinforce phonics skills and high frequency words. The following skills are addressed in our Language Arts Curriculum:

• Phonemic Awareness
• Phonics
• Vocabulary
• Fluency
• Comprehension
• Spelling
• Writing
• Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics
• Listening, Speaking, and Performing

Our Language Arts curriculum follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks which incorporate the Common Core State Standards.

Math 

Skills and concepts are presented in our Math Curriculum using a variety of methods to help students become confident thinkers and problem solvers. Engaging direct instruction lessons are combined with fun, hands-on learning activities to help the children build a strong foundation in math. In First Grade we use the Houghton Mifflin Math Program and supplement it with teacher-created and commercially-prepared materials, games, and manipulatives. The following math concepts and skills are introduced:

• Number Concepts, Operations, and Graphing
• Addition
• Subtraction
• Place Value to 100
• Problem Solving
• Time and Money
• Measurement
• Geometry and Fractions

Our Mathematics curriculum follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks which incorporate the Common Core State Standards.  The Frameworks include additional Massachusetts standards and features that clarify and enhance the Common Core State Standards.

The integration of Science, Social Studies and Religion is constant throughout the year. Through hands-on activities, literature, and real-life experiences, students explore many different areas. Technology will be used to reinforce skills, writing and projects.

Religion

Our Religion Curriculum introduces some of the basic teachings of the Catholic Church. Throughout the year discoveries involving God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will be our focus. The following concepts will also be covered under four sections: Jesus teaches us about God's love, we are followers of Jesus, we belong to the Church and we celebrate and live our faith. First Grade students will deepen their understanding of the following:

• God creates all things/the gift of life comes from God
• We are special because God loves us
• God gives us special people to care for us
• God blessed us with many gifts
• The most special gift is Jesus
• The Life of Jesus as our model
• Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist
• The gift of the Holy Spirit
• The importance of belonging to the Catholic Church
• Mass
• Prayer
• Church Celebrations, including Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter
• Community service projects (food and clothing drives, Senior Luncheon)

Science

Our Science Curriculum is based on the Massachusetts and the National Science Education Standards. Resources which include The Scott Foresman Science Program, Internet sources and supplemental books offer science content and hands-on activities. The Science Curriculum is developed to focus on building an awareness of the natural world and observation of patterns of change. Our curriculum will include:

• Life Science-Plant and Animal Life Cycles and Human Body
  • • • Identify the similarities and differences in familiar plants: how plants grow and parts of plants
      • Describe the care of plants and animals and their need for food, air and water.
      • Recognize how plants and animals grow, reproduce and move.
      • Observe and discuss the life cycles of plants and animals.
    • Heredity
      • Identify the way in which many plants and animals closely resemble their parents
    • Evolution and Biodiversity
      • Recognize that fossils provide us with information about living things from the past
    • Human Body
      • Discuss safety, hygiene and nutrition
  • Earth Science-Weather
    • Document how weather changes from day to day and over seasons
    • Recognize repeated patterns: seasons of the year, day and night
    • Understand the sun supplies heat and light and is necessary for life
    • Discuss temperature, weather, clouds, precipitation and rainbows
  • Physical Science-Solids, Liquids and Gasses
    • Observe Properties of Objects (Size, shape, color, weight and texture)
      • Identify objects and materials as solid, liquid and gas
      • Recognize that solids have shape and liquids and gasses take the shape of container

Social Studies

Our Social Studies Curriculum is organized around eight strands: History; Geography; Economics; Government; Citizenship; Culture; Science, Technology and Society; and Social Studies Skills. The content is correlated to the National Council for the Social Studies Standards. The Macmillan McGraw-Hill program teaches the importance of freedom and patriotism and pays tribute to the values of our country. The Grade One program is based on the following Big Idea questions:

•     What is a Family?
•     What is Geography?
•     What makes a Good Citizen?
•     What is Work?
•     What is History?

Technology

Essential Question: How is technology affecting the learning process?

Students in Grade 1 use desktop computers in their classroom. Grade level software and appropriate websites are used to enhance their curriculum.
 
Beginning in October, students are introduced to our wireless computer lab and the laptop computer. Students are taught how to handle the laptop, turn it on, use the mouse pad and buttons, to close down all applications, and turn the laptop off. First graders use Paint software to become familiar with maneuvering the mouse. Students are also taught how to access the Internet using the laptop computer to visit sites that support their math and language arts curriculum. Students are introduced to coding using www.code.org.