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Language Arts
Much of a first grade student’s day at MES
is spent on language arts activities.
Students read a wide selection of literature from the Harcourt
reading series, practicing new vocabulary, working on comprehension
skills, and developing various reading strategies each week.
In addition, other stories, charts, and poems are provided to build
enthusiasm for reading. Spelling
and supplemental phonics are taught every day.
Learning basic writing skills is an essential part of our language
arts curriculum. The children
have many opportunities to write, such as in their journals, during timed
writing exercises, guided writing lessons, daily oral language time, and
also through their studies in science, social studies, and math. Grammar
skills, handwriting, ideas, organization, and the use of creative language
are all worked upon in first grade.
Math
Our Math Trailblazers program provides
the students with many opportunities to develop their problem solving
skills. Math strategies are
taught, but creative approaches to solving problems are encouraged.
Through exploration, the children learn to become independent
thinkers and to communicate mathematical ideas.
During the year, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division concepts will be taught. Students
will also be given experiences to learn graphing skills, data recording,
estimation, measurement, time, money concepts, and much more.
Science
In science, first graders study insects and
their life cycles. We learn
about mealworms, ladybugs, ants, and caterpillars.
Observations using magnifying glasses are made regularly, and data
is recorded. What fun to watch
the various stages of our insects from larva to adult!
Throughout the year during science lessons, the children also learn
about the four seasons, and the various types of weather in New England.
Daily weather and temperatures are recorded and graphed.
Many math concepts are included in our weather study.
Finally, the children learn about shadows, during science time.
They learn how shadows are formed, and why shadows change size and
shape.
Social Studies
Our first grade social
studies curriculum consists of “visiting” many regions of the United
States through literature, art, writing, and music.
Throughout our travels, we study New England, the Amish country,
Alaska, and other areas of the United States.
The children especially enjoy the month of November, when we learn
all about the first Thanksgiving in New England.
The basic theme in social studies is to explore how our New England
environment compares to other areas of our country.
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