FIRST GRADE

Overview:

St. Peter’s Prince of the Apostle’s first grade forms the foundation for the primary years.

 

Goals and Objectives:

Language Arts

Language Arts at St. Peter’s include reading, phonics, spelling, communication, handwriting and composition.  During the first few weeks of school, reading readiness skills are reviewed and reinforced.

Our spelling program is McGraw Hill.  We start within the first few weeks of school.  The spelling words are integrated into the reading selections.

The reading program includes reading readiness skills, listening, speaking, and word recognition with emphasis on phonics, comprehension, study skills, vocabulary, and appreciation of literature.  Oral and written communications, as well as creative writing are parts of the curriculum.  In addition, students are introduced to grammar concepts.

 

Reading

_ Word decoding, meaning and oral reading

_ Emphasis on sight words and phonetic sounds

_ Recognizes details, main ideas and sequence to a story

 

English

_ Understands purpose for writing

_ Writing and recognizing complete sentences

_ Punctuation and capitalization

_ Writing a paragraph

_ Grammar concepts

 

Handwriting

 The correct formation of letters is reinforced continually.  Neatness, formation and spacing are expected to improve as motor skills improve.  They start writing on first grade wide paper and by the end of the year they will be writing on wide ruled notebook paper in preparation for second grade.

 

Learning Activities:

Classes include oral and silent reading, whole class discussions, small group discussions hands-on-activities, board work, partner work, audiovisual materials, learning centers with activities to further enrich their knowledge on a concept.  Fun projects are done to encourage reading at home.

 

Mathematics:

First grade mathematics teaches concepts and computational skills.  Included among the topics presented are:

_ Addition and subtraction concepts

_ Addition and subtraction facts to 18

_ Geometry, spatial senses, and patterns

_ Place, value and patterns to 100

_ Money

_ Time

_ Measurement and fractions

_ Exploring multiplication, division, and two-digit addition and subtraction

The first grade program includes the use of math workbooks, activity sheets, and on the use of manipulatives.

 

Learning Activities:

The students are able to use manipulatives such as cubes, beans, attrilinks, a number line, money, clocks, and other tools to help them learn the concepts.  Math concepts are integrated in all areas of the curriculum daily.

 

Science:

The curriculum includes the areas of human body, life science, physical science, and earth science.  The units include:

_ Your senses

_ Growing and changing

_ Living and non-living

_ Learning about plants

_ The sky

_ The earth

_ Learning about animals          

_ Grouping things

_ Weather and seasons

_ Light, sound, and heat

_ Moving and working

 

Learning Activities:

They will learn how to become observant of the environment and world surrounding us.  They will do experiments, planting, charting and graphing results.  Art projects and field trips will enhance their learning.

 

Social Studies:

The curriculum contains six units. The program uses maps, charts and graphs, references such as a dictionary of geographic terms and a picture glossary.  The units include:

Where We Live

_ Family and friends

_ Communities

We Belong

_ Neighborhoods

_ Voting

People at Work

_ Using natural resources

_ Moving goods and people

Our World

_ Land and water

_ Needs and wants

It Happened in America

_ The first people in America

_ Using time lines

_ Country of many people

Americans Celebrate

_ Holidays and Presidents

_ Using calendars

_ Symbols for U.S.A.

 

Learning Activities:

Activities will include class discussions, small group discussions, art projects and voting activities.

 

Religious Studies

Faith

The first grade program focuses on the goodness of God.  The children will come to realize that through Baptism they became children of God and the God loves and cares for them like a good father.  The children will know that God made the world for them and that after Adam and Eve sinned God promised to send a Savior so they could be happy with God forever in heaven.  They will also learn that Mary consented to be the Mother of Jesus and that the two great laws of love that God gave us and help them understand how to live these laws.  They will know that they can go to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for forgiveness when they have done wrong.  The children will also become familiar with the Paschal Mystery.

 

Prayer

Experiences are provided to help the children realize that when they are silent Gad can speak to them in a special way.  They are encouraged to reach out to God during quiet moments and to make space for God in their lives by choosing times for silence.  During the lessons the children are given time to reflect on what they have heard and to absorb the message.  The prayers explained and taught are the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Prayer to the Guardian Angel, and the Doxology (Glory Be).  The children will learn the importance of daily prayer and are introduced to the meaning of the Church’s liturgical prayer.

 

Liturgical Life

The first grade program offers the children frequent opportunities to participate in religious rituals rich in symbolic gestures.   In celebrations throughout the year the children unite in praising and thanking God in song, readings, processions, offerings, and prayers.  Lessons for a particular feast or season are taught prior to its celebration so that the children will understand what is being celebrated and why.

 

Moral Growth

The first grade program encourages the growth of Christian attitudes and values by helping the children experience the joy of living as Christians conscious of God’s presence in their lives and the peace that comes from listening to God and acting on God’s word.  The lessons will:

† Make the children more conscious of the signs of God’s creative love and of the ways they  can express care for fellow human beings and the gifts of the earth

† Lead the children to appreciate God’s love for the uniqueness of each person

† Introduce the children to the practice of prayer of the heart and other means of developing their relationship with the Father

† Present the example of Jesus and his invitation to reach out to others in love

† Use discussion and role-playing to help the children experience and develop kindness,  honesty, forgiveness, concern for others, and other Christian values

 

Social Responsibility

The children will be involved in prayer and Christian service designed to awaken an awareness of the needs and feelings of others.  They are encouraged to follow Jesus in loving others and will be given concrete experiences designed to promote concern for others and growth in social morality.

 

 

 

 

 

Specials:

 

            ART:

All students are introduced to the creative art process.  They learn the principles and elements of art and begin to create paintings in various media.  They also learn about the lives of artists and the different art genres.

LIBRARY/MEDIA SKILLS

Overview

Library/media skills are taught to all students from 1^st grade with the goal they will become life-long readers with the ability to enter any library equipped with the knowledge to locate and use all available resources.

The care and location of materials, browsing and checkout procedures and notable authors and illustrators are introduced in the primary grades.

Library use skills are reinforced in the upper grades with particular emphasis on the arrangement of fiction and non-fiction materials.  With the completion of automation, students will be taught to use the computerized card catalog, electronic resources and traditional print materials to enhance classroom instruction and reading enjoyment.

 

Philosophy

Students are encouraged to read recreational books including fiction and non-fiction.  Picture books are read to all students and teachers to encourage interest in favorite authors and illustrators.

 

Objectives:

_ Library Orientation - students will learn library procedures

_ Browsing and book checkout

_ Location of materials and other resources

_ Proper care for all materials and return policy

_ Be courteous and exhibit good conduct

_ Utilization of resources - students will learn to identify materials

_ Alphabetical order-fiction materials are arranged by the first three letters of the author’s last

                name

_ Locate periodicals in ABC order by title

_ Determine how books are classified and where they will be shelved

 

Research and Study Skills

_ Identify parts of a book

_ Use reference tools such as an encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc.

_ Use the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for magazine articles on specific subjects

_ Use newspaper for current events

_ Special activities

 

Our library has weekly activities to include all students.  The librarian reads to all classes and uses book talks to interest students in checking out books for class assignments such as book reports, summaries or research projects.  Materials are made available in the library to support classroom curriculum and teaches may request library use at any time.

Books on the Bluebonnet and Texas Lone Star reading lists are available and our library also subscribes to the Junior Library Guild as a source for good reading material.

Book fairs are scheduled during the school year and are an excellent source for books and fun.

 

Authors are invited to our school to share their time and talent and are welcomed by all students and faculty with great enthusiasm

 

        

Music:

Students develop their intellect and refine their emotions, understanding the cultural and creative nature of musical artistry and making connections among music, the other arts, technology, and other aspects of social life.  Through creative performance, students apply the expressive technical skills of music and critical thinking skills to evaluate multiple forms of problem solving (as per Texas State TEKS music introduction).

Students will:

·         Learn and sing songs that are coordinated with the season, themes liturgical year and different multicultural artistry

·         Students will use rhythm instruments that will coordinate with songs

·         Taught how to keep time, rhythm and tempo

 

 

Physical Education:

Overview:

In this physical education class students will gain knowledge in several different sports.  We will also be learning rules, skills and technique of these games.  The overall objective of the physical education courses at both the primary and middle school level is to teach activities, which will form the basis for a lifetime of physical fitness.

 

Instructional Content:

~ Be able to apply physical education to life

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which better enable participation in group and      team sports

~ Assess physical fitness levels and participate in activities that improve fitness, wellness, and      cardiovascular capacity

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which will better enable participation in            individual and dual sports and recreational activities.

 

 

SPANISH:

Students will develop Cultural awareness of traditional Mexican/Latin events and holidays.

The class will:

·         Introduce Spanish vocabulary development

·         Numbers development

·         Colors

·         Masculine and Feminine objects

·         Family members

·         Development of Spanish vocabulary words and sounds of letters CH,LL,RR and N

·         Writing development of Spanish words

·         Spanish alphabet

 

Technology:

·         Use proper fingering in keyboarding

·         Use and understand proper terminology and parts of the computer

·         Age appropriate software/websites

·         Word processing, graphics, electronic encyclopedias and spreadsheet programs used

·         Projects and reports involving other classroom subjects generated

·         Computer center in homeroom