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Curriculum - First Grade
First grade students continue
learning new skills in the areas of mathematics,
reading, and writing. Phonics work is strongly
emphasized along with daily reading. Social
studies, computers, music, and art are also
introduced to the curriculum at this level.
First graders are encouraged to learn about
their relationship to God, others, and their
surroundings through concrete activities
that develop each student's unique gifts
and talents.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Bible - God's Plan. (Christian
Schools International)
In first grade students study
God's plan for his people throughout the
Old and New Testaments. The curriculum highlights
God's creation, his care for the Israelites,
and the leaders he provided. First grade
students also focus on the life and purpose
of Jesus from his birth to his ascension,
as well as the early church. Story telling,
discussions, memory work, and creative projects
are ways for students to express their understanding.
Math - Saxon Math 1. (Saxon)
Through the use of a step-by-step
(incremental) study of math skills, first
graders learn to understand the order of
God's creation. Some of the topics include
doing addition and subtraction, telling
time, counting money, recognizing shapes,
understanding basic fractions, graphing,
and sequencing. In class, a variety of techniques
such as the use of manipulatives, written
and oral practice, problem solving, and
group work are used to meet each student's
learning style.
Phonics/Reading - Saxon
Phonics 1. (Saxon)
Saxon Phonics is the primary
tool in teaching reading. The program progresses
through the following targeted skills: letter
sounds (vowels and consonants), blending,
digraphs, diphthongs, word endings, and
syllables. Students learn these things using
a series of beginner books and spelling
practice, as well as student and parent
guides. In addition to the phonics work,
a strong emphasis is placed on daily reading.
Language - Treasury of
Literature. (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich)
The language program provides
a wonderful introduction to quality children's
literature. Through each story, students
begin to develop basic comprehension skills
like sequencing, inferring, classifying,
comparing, and contrasting. In addition
to introducing literature, the curriculum
also provides an opportunity for creative
writing. This allows practice of basic writing
mechanics and encourages students to express
their ideas in storybooks and journals they
create themselves.
Social Studies - A Child's
Place. (HBJ)
Because first grade students
are constantly learning how they relate
to God and to others, the Social Studies
curriculum is a study of different kinds
of communities. The lessons start with small
communities like family, church, school,
and neighborhood, and progress to larger
communities such as city, country, and world.
We aim to help students understand their
role, as children of God, within the different
types of communities. Main features of the
year include creating a time line, visiting
community helpers, creating and presenting
personal projects, and doing whole class
projects (construction paper city, land
form display).
Science - CSI Science.
(CSI)
The study of science helps
students learn about the ways God reveals
himself in his creation. Some of the things
students investigate are living and non-living
things, plants, animals, water, air, weather,
machines, and magnets. Throughout the year,
students learn through discussions, models,
demonstrations, experiments, and group and
individual projects.
Health - Healthy Living
1: Stepping into Health. (CSI)
In health education students
learn about personal safety, understanding
their bodies, making healthy choices, and
relationships within families. Students
practice safety drills, recognize danger,
and learn appropriate responses. They are
also encouraged to view themselves as unique
children of God, fearfully and wonderfully
made. The curriculum focuses on body systems,
emotions, and senses. Children learn to
make healthy choices in obedience to God.
Social Development - Second
Step. (Committee for Children)
It is a student's responsibility
as a follower of Christ to develop appropriate
social interactions. The Second Step program
encourages students to develop anger management
skills, to resolve conflicts, to understand
their emotions, and make good choices.
Music - The Music Connection.
(Silver Burdett Ginn)
Since Music at SJCS begins
in first grade, the year is an introduction
to the building blocks of music. First graders
practice simple rhythms, beginning solfege
(do-re-mi . . .), steady beat, instrument
recognition, vocal skills, and listening
skills. Throughout the year students begin
to experience and see music as a gift from
God for us to enjoy and use for His glory.
Art - First Grade
Art at SJCS begins in first
grade and therefore is an introduction to
the mediums, types, and vocabulary words
of art. Students work with design principles
and elements, painting, color awareness,
collage, printmaking, ceramics, art history,
and beginning art vocabulary. Through this
curriculum students gain an awareness that
God is the ultimate artist, as seen through
his creation.
Physical Education - Physical
Education 1. (CSI)
In Physical Education, first
grade students focus on developing fundamental
skills, fitness awareness, understanding
of movement, and self understanding. Children
practice non-locomotor and locomotor skills
and develop manipulative skills while participating
in a variety of activities throughout the
year. Students gain an understanding of
self by recognizing that they are God's
precious children who need to take care
of their bodies which are God's temples.
Computers - Techworks
Students review the basics
of computer use and learn about different
types of computers. Keyboarding / touch
typing and especially word processing form
a large part of the first grade computer
curriculum. Students are encouraged to write
short stories and illustrate them using
the computer. Phonics skills are practiced
using programs like Word Munchers.
Spanish - Teach Them Spanish.
(Instructional Faire, Inc.)
Spanish lessons expose students
to a different language using simple translations
and conversations while teaching the basics
of the Spanish language. Such basics include
the following: ABCs, colors, days of the
week, months of the year, body parts, songs,
Bible verses, and more. Lessons also emphasize
a growing appreciation of God's big world
which contains different groups of people
and different languages. In addition to
Teach Them Spanish, students will utilize
audio, visual, and reading materials, as
well as worksheets and games.
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