First Grade

Kindergarten students continue to use the borrowing and return procedures of the LMC. They also learn to name two possible sources of information to answer a question and begin to work more formally in groups to pursue and generate information. As part of the coordination of LMC teaching with classroom curricular goals, the students experience “authentic learning” activities, such as acting out nursery rhymes. They continue to participate in both listening and interactive story times, drama groups, and individual consultations for book selection.

Kindergarten students learn basic terms and functions of the computer, and acquire foundation skills such as how to use the mouse, log on and off a network, open and close folders, and start and quit programs. They learn the basics of keyboarding (left hand versus right hand keys, space bar, delete key, and shift key). They also create artwork in graphics programs, and begin to transfer skills between programs. With careful teacher guidance, students begin to explore the Internet as a source of information and means of communication, viewing selected web pages. The i-SAFE curriculum is used to teach Internet safety topics.

Examples from past projects: • Students created poems and computer-generated artwork which wass celebrated in their very first e-books. • Students created a presentation and shared their knowledge of frogs.

Language Arts

First grade students continue to develop their decoding ability, reading fluency, and sight word recognition. Comprehension of written text develops through setting a purpose for reading, implementation of reading strategies, and discussion of story elements. In addition, students’ understanding of new vocabulary words helps to strengthen their comprehension. Students are exposed to various genres, both through reading and in directed writing assignments. They also undertake their first research study, using library resources and preparing a final project. First grade is a year of tremendous progress in writing. First graders work on punctuation, grammar, and editing skills, as well as phonetic spelling and handwriting. Specific decoding objectives include using sound-syllable relationships, understanding word patterns and families, and a beginning structural analysis of words. First grade students continue to develop their decoding ability, reading fluency, and sight word recognition. Comprehension of written text developes through setting a purpose for reading, implementation of reading strategies, and discussion of story elements.

First graders focus on four critical areas: adding and subtracting numbers to 20; building understanding of the relationships between whole numbers and place value, with practice grouping into tens and ones; developing an understanding of linear measurement using non-traditional units; and exploring geometric shapes and their attributes. The use of ten frames, number bonds, and other pictorial tools is highlighted as a way to strengthen mental math skills.

Science

First graders continue to build on the science skills learned in kindergarten. Students start the year studying monarch butterflies as part of a cross-curricular unit with Spanish, art, and the homebase classroom. In science, students observe the life cycle of a monarch, from egg to butterfly, wing coloring, and migration. The unit ends with students modeling monarchs as they travel the school “migrating” to Mexico as part of Day of the Dead celebration in Spanish class. Throughout the year, students continue to observe, explore, ask questions, and investigate other science topics. Past topics in first grade have included solids and liquids, plants, air, and parachute design.

Social Studies

Students in first grade use the theme of “Wants vs. Needs” as the focus for social studies. The year begins with a unit on the wants and needs of the class, the individuals in the class, and the school community. Students also begin to learn about the services that enable neighborhoods and cities to function. Through the study of cities in the United States, including Wilmington, and in Spanish-speaking countries, the students are able to recognize how cities are organized to meet the wants and needs of their citizens. First graders also take a close look at more rural and suburban areas in the U.S. and abroad to understand some differences between urban, suburban, and rural settings, as well as the different ways in which wants and needs are met. Throughout this work, students develop map and citizenship skills and an awareness of similarities and differences among individuals and communities.

Spanish

In first grade, students build their Spanish language skills by practicing familiar vocabulary through games involving increased recognition and recall as well as activities that incorporate beginning reading in Spanish. They also learn specific content vocabulary such as shapes and features of the weather. They develop their skills in following oral directions and communicating in basic phrases with their teacher and peers. Using the first grade cultural focus on Mexico, students make comparisons and connections among various Hispanic cultures.

Computer Science

First grade students continue to build and transfer their programming knowledge using both physical and graphical programming environments. Math applications are also used to reinforce concepts taught in the homebase classroom.

In first grade, students begin to understand the conceptual foundations of music, and they learn to identify symbols and terminology such as repeat sign, dynamics, forte, piano, tempo, meter, accent, bar line, time signature, and introduction. Through a variety of activities, students begin a more formal sequential study of rhythm and melody. For example, first graders listen to recorded music focusing on particular elements, such as distinguishing between duple (simple) and triple (compound) rhythms, and they perform more complex rhythmic and melodic exercises, like singing and playing rounds. First graders also continue to develop their ability for aural recognition of instruments (like violin and trumpet), and learn to identify the basic orchestral instruments and their families.

Physical Education

First graders engage in fitness activities while continuing to develop their foundation skills. Children are introduced to multi-step directions, while becoming more sophisticated in their knowledge and use of shuttle, relay, and line formations. Lead-up and tag games, utilizing concepts and skills that underlie team sports, are also introduced. First graders develop an understanding of fair play, safety, and cooperation through group play.

Visual Arts

The first grade visual arts experiences are connected to student interests, their environment, and other disciplines. Students explore concepts and topics that include the elements of design, and ways that artists use and organize them. They engage collaboratively to generate ideas and discover ways of using various tools and techniques. Some of the projects at this level may involve multiple sessions. Each project is designed to accommodate students at their own level of development. Open studio sessions have been interspersed between assignments to allow students investigative choices. They paint, print, draw, collage, weave, and sculpt. First graders also design portfolios that are kept in the studio as a way of organizing and storing their works in progress. They produce visual art journals that will be revisited periodically throughout their lower school experience. It is in these journals that students will document their learning using vocabulary that describes the concepts and their personal solutions to assignments. Students will contribute their own work to ongoing group displays.

Library Media Center/Information Literacy

First graders become increasingly sophisticated in their approach to information sources, acquiring a conceptual understanding of citing sources and developing their ability to read for information and to take notes with adult assistance. In two different units, they work together to identify and categorize facts. They learn to approach a research topic by examining many different library books in a “book tasting.” First graders continue to participate in drama groups and increase their book selection skills through individual consultation with the library staff. First grade students expand their understanding of computer terminology and function. They add skills in keyboarding and word processing and learn to highlight, edit, and proofread text. Since they begin to do more story writing in first grade, students use tools to assist them in planning and brainstorming. They also begin to use a greater variety of tools for creating and manipulating graphics, and increase their understanding of the Internet, and begin to define its place in information-seeking and problem-solving strategies they learn in the integrated curricula of the homebase classroom and the Library Media Center. Internet safety is woven into every topic that is taught.

Example from past projects:

• Students created their own city and country book, using

Storyjumper, as a culminating activity in their study of communities. • Students used Paintbrush to create artwork for their books and 2D drawings of city buildings. • They then were paired in “construction teams,” learned how to use Tinkercad, a 3D drawing software, to create their buildings. • The buildings were then printed using lower school’s 3D printer, and finally were assembled into a mini-3D city.

Second Grade

Language Arts

Second grade students develop reading comprehension and fluency through a variety of experiences, including reading independently, in pairs, and in larger groups. They make more sophisticated inferences and predictions, draw conclusions, and differentiate between fiction and non-fiction. Second graders deepen their understanding of spelling patterns, phonics, and word structures. In their writing, students learn to organize their thoughts, improve their handwriting, and use proper writing mechanics. A growing awareness of parts of speech is also developed. There is a greater emphasis beginning in second grade on following written (as well as oral) directions, and on moving beyond phonetic spelling, as students proofread their work using tools such as a word wall and an editing checklist. The basics of process writing are developed further, including writing narratives, opinion pieces, and non-fiction research projects.

Mathematics

Second graders continue to develop their understanding of place value and number patterning, and to work on strengthening their mastery of addition and subtraction facts. Using a variety of strategies, including algorithms, students work with adding and subtracting three-digit numbers. Second graders apply addition and subtraction skills to real-world problem solving, and begin to use bar modeling to visualize word problems. Second graders are introduced to basic geometry concepts, and measurement. Students also begin working with basic multiplication facts and fractions.