FIRST GRADE CURRICULUM

Philosophy Statement: Development of a biblical worldview based on God’s Holy Word is the foundation to living the Christian life. Immersing students in Scripture content begins at an early age through grade level Bible curriculum and biblical integration in every core curriculum. Study of God’s Word leads students to the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom guiding students in the development of godly inner character, and the pursuit of a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Students’ spiritual, emotional and intellectual needs are met as they commit Scripture to memory, lead an active prayer life, and apply biblical truths daily.

Course Objective: The students will survey the Bible, conduct an in-depth, personalized study of selected biblical passages, and participate in activities to help them apply the Scriptures to important issues faced by first grade students. The materials are designed to capture the students’ interest and encourage them to think and become more Christ-like. The focus is on personal Bible study and the understanding of principles which can guide all of life’s decisions.

Resources/Textbook:
• Holy Bible (NIV)
• Positive Action Bible Curriculum
• Summit Curriculum

Materials:
• Student workbook
• Praise and worship music

Time Allotment: 30 minutes per day, 4 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• God’s gift: The world
• God’s gift: Special promises
• God’s gift: Worship
• God’s gift: A Savior
• God’s gift: Children
• God’s gift: Friends
• God’s gift: Special blessings

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation, workbook pages, memory verses and quizzes.

Additional Activities:
• Chapel (once a week)
• Drama
• Creative writing
• Singing
• Sharing
• Prayer time

Philosophy Statement: By looking at the themes of social studies (commonality and diversity, conflict and cooperation, continuity and change, individualism and interdependence, and interaction with environment) we can see that God has a plan He is carrying to completion; history records the progress of that plan. Through studying history and geography, students can better understand the world and become active citizens.

Course Objective: Students will be exposed to essential knowledge in the area of history and geography that will establish a firm foundation for upper level courses.

Resources/Textbook:
• Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook, Grade 1
• Holy Bible (NIV)
• What Your First Grader Needs to Know
• Pearson Learning History and Geography

Materials:
• Various teacher created materials
• Maps

Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day, 5 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Mesopotamia
• Ancient Egypt
• Aztecs, Incas, Mayas
• Columbus/Conquistadors
• English Settlers
• World Religions
• American Revolution
• American Symbols
• Westward Expansion
• Mexico

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation and assignments, unit assessments and core journals.

Additional Activities:
• Readers Theatre
• Hands-on activities such as cooking, experimenting, re-enacting, celebrations, related art projects, writing, songs, games and literature-related activities

Philosophy Statement: The natural world was created by the word of God and reveals facets of the character and nature of God. Science is taught through problem-solving, hands-on experiments, observation and conclusions. Science education should provide students with an understanding of His created world, creating a sense of awe and wonder concerning God. Foundations of scientific understanding can be used for further study and academic preparation to equip students to compassionately care for people and wisely steward creation.

Course Objective: The students will be exposed to essential knowledge in the area of science that will establish a firm foundation for upper-level courses.

Resources/Textbook:
• Purposeful Design Science, Grade 1
• Mystery Science
• Holy Bible (NIV)

Materials:
• Teacher-created materials
• Discovery/center activities
• Science experiments

Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day, 5 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Life Science – Animals (mammals, fish, birds, insects)
• Physical Science – Movement and machines
• Life Science – Human body, teeth, bones, muscle, heart, blood, lungs, stomach
• Earth & Space Science – Seasons and space

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation and assignments, unit assessments and core journals.

Additional Activities:
• Readers Theatre
• Hands-on activities such as cooking, experimenting, re-enacting, celebrations, related art projects, writing, songs, games and literature and math-related activities.

Philosophy Statement: The language arts are based on the knowledge that God is a communicating God. He desires for us to understand and obey his spoken and written Word. He has given us the ability to communicate with each other. We desire to develop this gift to become effective communicators by a strong emphasis on reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Course Objective: The first grade language arts program will be a balance of reading and listening to different genres of literature and producing a variety of written expressions such as stories, reports, letters and poems. Instruction in spelling, grammar and penmanship will develop the skills necessary to be successful and effective readers and writers.

Resources/Textbook:
• Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook, Grade 1
• Holy Bible (NIV)
• Scott Foresman Reading Street Basals and workbooks
• Saxon phonics, Level 1
• Leveled Readers
• Accelerated Reader Program

Materials:
• Reading Benchmark Assessment Kits
• Star Reading Assessment
• Zaner-Bloser Handwriting, Grade 1
• Various teacher resources and publications
• Various language arts websites
• Mountain Language
• Easy CBM

Time Allotment: 120 minutes per day, 5 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Grammar
• Penmanship
• Spelling
• Writing

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation, teacher observation, quizzes, checklists, tests, self-evaluation, and activities.

Additional Activities:
A variety of other activities are included.

Philosophy Statement: Mathematical truths demonstrate the orderliness, precision, and consistency of God. Man’s creativity, like God’s, often requires mathematical understanding, and the knowledge of mathematical concepts add to our understanding of expressions in other areas of life.

Course Objective: The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate the ability to perform basic mathematical functions and problem-solving in the areas of number concepts, patterns, addition, subtraction, measurement, place value, geometry, fractions and two digit numbers.

Resources/Textbook:
• Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook, Grade 1
• Holy Bible (NIV)
• HMH GO Math Curriculum

Materials:
• Practice and enrichment worksheets
• Manipulative materials
• Games
• Math Centers
• Mountain Math
• Various games and websites

Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day, 5 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Computation
• Geometry
• Measurement
• Money
• Numbers and number sense
• Patterns, classification and sorting
• Place value
• Graphing
• Problem-solving
• Introduction fractions
• Telling time

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation and assignments, homework assignments, unit assessments.

Additional Activities:
A variety of other activities are included.

Philosophy Statement: Art is based on the truth that God is the Supreme Creator and is interested in beauty (Genesis 1:1). His original creation is both artful and awe-inspiring. Christians are to understand and appreciate the beauty of God and utilize their imaginations to create works that reflect his nature and inspire worship.

Course Objective: The students will explore and experience various mediums, while studying art history including artists, works of art, and movements. Students will also become familiar with color theory, the elements of art, principles of design and artistic concepts and techniques. Integrating God’s word will help students grasp that God is a God of beauty.

Resources/Textbook:
• Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook, Grade 1
• Selected prints from the Core Knowledge Sequence for Visual Art
• Holy Bible (NIV)

Materials:
• Drawing paper
• Graphite, oil pastels, charcoal, drawing materials
• Various types of paints and related materials
• Various materials for collage, sculpture, etc.
• Clay/Kiln for firing
• Color wheel

Time Allotment: 25 minutes per day, 1 day per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Art from long ago
• Elements of art
• Kinds of pictures: portrait and still life
• Sculpture

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation, project quality and completion.

Additional Activities:
• Free Draw – students will have drawing time to encourage creative thinking.

Philosophy Statement: Music is one of the essential parts of a Christian’s existence. It is the translation of ideas, feelings, and experiences into audible expression before our Lord. As the Bible says, we are created and called to “Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day… “(1 Chronicles 16:23) In music, students will continually be called upon to see, explore and react to the glory of God and His creation through singing, listening, moving, and playing instruments.

Course Objective: The elementary music program includes instruction in three areas of study: general music, choral music and instrumental music and aligns both with the Oklahoma PASS skills and the National Standards of Music. Performance and basic music theory skills are taught and reinforced within an ensemble structure.

Resources/Textbook:
• Core Knowledge Teacher Handbook, Grade 1
• Selected songs from the Core Knowledge Sequence for Vocal Music
• Quaver Curriculumn, Grade 1
• Holy Bible (NIV)

Materials:
• Instruments
• Boom whackers
• Rhythm instruments
• Various multi-sensory materials
• Various music CDs

Time Allotment: 25 minutes per day, 2 days per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Elements of music
• Listening and understanding
• Songs
• Language of music
• Music history and culture
• Music expression
• Music appreciation

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation.

Additional Activities:
Required participation in seasonal programs.

Philosophy Statement: God’s word says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” This is our approach to physical education and athletics. Physical education is a tool to develop attitudes toward a personal commitment to health, physical activity, and lifetime fitness that glorifies and honors God.

Course Objective: Students will experience various games and activities while developing gross motor skills and becoming more aware of the importance of physical fitness.

Resources/Textbook:
• Holy Bible (NIV)

Materials:
• Various supplies/equipment needed for some activities.

Time Allotment: 25 minutes per day, 1 day per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Obstacle courses
• Movements and music
• Games
• Basketball skills
• Tennis skills
• Volleyball skills
• Floor hockey skills
• Kickball skills
• Soccer skills
• Stunts and tumbling activities
• Jump rope skills
• Speed stacking
• President’s Fitness Testing

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation.

Additional Activities:
A variety of other activities are included.

Philosophy Statement: Ethical use of technology and honorable business practices should glorify God. Technology is broadly defined as the creative use and application of knowledge to achieve a practical result. With these things in mind, students will learn effective and ethical business practices to create and use technology to produce results that glorify God.

Course Objective: Students will receive instruction and be able to use technology in conjunction with creative problem solving, project management, and interpersonal communication skills. A major component of the Technology Curriculum is the development of a general set of profiles describing technology-literate students at key developmental points in their pre-college education. These profiles reflect the underlying assumption that all students should have the opportunity to develop technology skills that support learning, personal productivity, decision-making, and daily life. These profiles and associated standards provide a framework for preparing students to be lifelong learners who make informed decisions about the role of technology in their lives.

Resources/Textbook:
• JumpStart Phonics
• JumpStart Math Blaster
• Read, Write and Type
• KidsPix Deluxe

Materials:
• Classroom website
• Student projects
• Computer with Internet access
• Office productivity software
• Graphics communication hardware and software
• Multimedia hardware and software

Time Allotment: 25 minutes per day, 1 day per week, 2 semesters

Course Content:
• Basic operations and concepts
• Social, ethical, and human issues
• Technology productivity tools
• Technology communications tools
• Technology research tools
• Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

Areas to be evaluated:
Class participation, project quality and completion.

Additional Activities:
• Group projects
• Problem based learning