“How does water get into the faucet at my house?” “Why do ants walk in a straight line?” Where do worms come from after it rains?” First graders are full of questions and creative approaches to just about everything. The first grade experience capitalizes on both their curiosity and creativity by allowing for personal exploration and individual expression while, at the same time, building a strong sense of community.

First Grade: The Lower School Journey Begins!
First grade is an exciting year—a time for new experiences, roles, and responsibilities as Lower School students. The children make tremendous strides academically, socially, and physically. The language arts curriculum is comprised of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, with the primary goal of constructing meaning from language. Each day, students practice using a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate literature.  

Weekly visits to the library, book talks, read-alouds, literature circle discussions, and ample time for free reading complement the direct reading instruction. The first grade classroom is a print-rich environment that encourages students to see themselves as skilled, capable readers who are passionate about books and love to read! 

First graders are also emerging writers. They master basic grammar and spelling concepts and practice handwriting skills. They learn to use the six traits of effective writing in their own work—ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions—at a level appropriate to their growing understanding of language. Writing projects emphasize both skill development and creativity.

Experiential Learning Across the Curriculum
A hands-on, experiential approach to math and science encourages young learners to explore, experiment, and problem solve. Critical and logical thinking are required as children expand their understanding of sorting, classifying, patterns, number concepts, measurement, addition and subtraction, and probability. In-depth science units on animal and plant diversity, machines and inventions, and water pique students’ curiosity about the world around them as well as teach scientific inquiry methods. 

In Social Studies, first graders explore past and present communities, local and world geography, early American leaders, and the story of Jesus and his teachings. In addition, the children have regular art, music, P.E. and Spanish classes, taught by specialists in each area. 

As the first graders become part of the Lower School community, throughout the day they focus on practicing respect for self and others, courteous communication, working together, and cooperation. The classroom is a nurturing, child-centered environment, allowing for many individual choices while providing the structure young children need to thrive.