Math
In first grade math, students build confidence, curiosity, and a strong foundation using the Bridges in Mathematics curriculum. Through hands-on activities, real-world problem-solving, and collaborative learning, they develop essential math skills in a way that is both engaging and meaningful.
Key Areas of Focus
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Addition & Subtraction: Students work with numbers up to 20, solving story problems and building fluency with addition and subtraction facts up to 10.
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Place Value & Counting: By exploring numbers up to 120, students learn about ones, tens, and hundreds, deepening their understanding of the base-ten system.
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Geometry & Shapes: Through activities that involve identifying, sorting, and drawing shapes, students strengthen their spatial reasoning skills.
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Shape Composition & Fractions: Students combine shapes to create new ones, solve puzzles, and explore early fraction concepts in an age-appropriate way.
At St. Elizabeth’s, we make math engaging, interactive, and fun, helping every child develop a positive math identity and a love for learning!
Language Arts
At St. Elizabeth’s, our 1st-grade students continue to build strong literacy skills through the Expeditionary Learning (EL) Curriculum and Learning Without Tears for writing. Reading and writing are connected, helping our young learners become confident, independent communicators.
Reading – Exploring Big Ideas
In the EL Skills Block, students develop foundational reading skills in small, targeted groups. They also dive into four exciting reading units:
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Building Good Reading Habits: Learning strategies to become independent readers.
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Readers Have Big Jobs to Do: Tackling tricky words and understanding stories.
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Learning About the World: Exploring nonfiction texts to build knowledge.
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Story Elements: Understanding characters, settings, and plots.
Writing – Expressing Our Ideas
Using Learning Without Tears, students strengthen their handwriting, sentence formation, and composition skills while exploring fun, creative writing units:
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Letters Home: Writing personal letters to families.
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Opinion Writing: Crafting persuasive pieces.
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Poetry: Playing with rhythm, rhyme, and expression.
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Nonfiction Writing: Researching and writing country reports.
Science and Social Studies Topics
Our hands-on learning is also connected to exciting science and social studies topics:
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Bubbles: Introduction to the Scientific Method.
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Matter
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Light and Sound
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Patterns in Science
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Life Science
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Latine Heritage Month
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Families
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Indigenous People’s Month
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Holidays Around the World
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Community, Justice, and Action
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Patchwork Quilt Stories
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Community Economics and Money
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Geography
Through engaging projects, real-world connections, and active learning, our 1st graders grow as confident thinkers, developing a love for learning every step of the way!
