1st Grade

In first grade, you will learn about the elements of art (line, shape, color, texture, and space) and subject matter (portrait, landscape, seascape, still life). 

Reading Comprehension

The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Reading Units of Study through Teachers College.

The Units of study in first grade include:

• Building Good Reading Habits
• Learning about the World: Reading Nonfiction
• Readers Have Big Jobs to Do: Fluency, Phonics & Comprehension
• Meeting Characters and Learning Lessons: A Study of Story Elements

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is taught through the units above as well as through whole group read aloud and small group guided reading lessons.

Writing

Written language instruction is based on the Writing Units of Study through Teachers College.

The Units of study in first grade include:

• Small Moments: Writing with Focus, Detail, and Dialogue
• Nonfiction Chapter Books
• Writing Reviews
• From Scenes to Series: Writing Fiction

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction

The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction. 

Foundational Skills

Project Read is our program that teaches letters and letter sounds through phonics units.

Elementary general music curriculum in Rose Tree Media begins in first grade and aligns with the Pennsylvania Core Standards for the Arts.  As the students progress in their musicianship, they are given opportunities to create, perform, and respond to music of a variety of styles, genres, and cultures.  Students are introduced to music through singing, dancing, playing classroom instruments with a focus on music literacy and ear training.

Numbers and Operations 

• Read and write numbers
• Place value: tens and ones
• Use place value to add and subtract
• Word problems within 20
• How adding and subtracting relate to each other
• Add and subtract within 20
• The meaning of the equal sign
• Working with equations

Geometry

• Describe shapes
• Circles and rectangles into parts
• Distinguish 2-dimensional  and 3-dimensional shapes

Measurement, Data and Probability

• Measure length
• Tell time to the nearest half-hour
• Organize objects
• Represent and interpret data using tables and charts

Life/Biological Science:

Unit - Habitats (Fish Tanks)

• Understand that organisms have external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. (LS1.A)
• Understand that all organisms are made of cells and can be characterized by common aspects of their structure and functioning.
• Describe and understand how and why organisms interact with their environment and what are the effects of these interactions.

Physical Science:

Unit - Balancing and Weighing

• Understand the relationship between objects size, shape and density.
• Being able to understand and figure out how to compare and contrast objects.

Topics of study include:

• rules and responsibilities of the classroom
• holidays around the world 
• reading & understanding maps
• comparing long ago/today
• historical figures (presidents, civil rights)
• black history month (inventors, scientists, entertainers, athletes)
• american symbols