Science lessons concentrate on gathering information and experimenting in natural and physical science. In fine arts, students are introduced to a few famous artists and their works, poetry memorization, and music through song. There are usually two or three field trips each year. First Grade First grade students continue building reading skills through Project Read and the introduction of a literature-based reading program. Daily creative writing is an important part of the program, as is instruction in the mechanical skills of writing.
Students learn to write basic sentences, then move to paragraph formulation.
They learn basic punctuation, plurals and possessives, capitalization, contractions, and parts of speech. Vocabulary words are introduced in individual subject areas. Math includes addition and subtraction facts to 18, regrouping, place value, money, and measurements. Social studies concentrates on families, the community, Native Americans, the introduction of the map of the United States, continents and oceans on the globe, and a unit on Africa. Science classes study reptiles, amphibians, mammals, African animals, birds, the five senses, and the four food groups.